I am doing some work on a small horse barn, and they currently have one 220V Mercury vapor light installed in the roof joists. I am trying to find out how much it is costing to operate this light and compare it to flouresent or smaller 110V sodium vapor lights. Does anyone know where I can find a cost comparsion based on type, size and length of usage? The light is approx. 15 feet off the floor. Thanks.

 

When you say "cost" are you referring to electrical consumption, or are you also considering lamp life and ballast life (maintenance cost) into the equation?


Given the wattage of the current fixture and the wattage of the desired replacement options, a rough estimate could be given.

But, if you like playing with neat computer programs and have some time. I highly recommend going to www.lithonia.com and requesting a copy of Lightware 7.0 . This is a free CD that contains there entrie catalog of lights, as well as some slick design programs. Including a rather nice cost estimator for lighting.

If you don't have the time or inclination for that, just post the wattage of the current light here and I'll run it through the cost program and get back to you.

 

The light is 220V, 455Watt the tag also shows 2.3Amp 60Hz. I hope this helps. I do not know what I am going to replace it with considering flouresent or sodium 110V.

 

So, you have a barn with lights hung at 15 ft.

How long and wide is the barn?
is it heated?


These are your two big questions.

In an unheated space, flouresent becomes a lot less desireable (at least in cold climates.)

The length and width of the barn will help to determine wether one light or multiple lights would be more appropriate.


Incidentally, if you opt. for HID lighting, I'd skip the sodiums and go directly to Metal halide. Much cleaner, brighter light and a longer lamp life.

 

The barn is appox 40' square. It has a center aisle wit stalls an either side. The aisle is 16' wide. The barn is located in northern South Carolina so it gets down into the upper 20' low 30's in the winter months. No it is not heated. My origanal thoughts were to replace the one 220V mec/vap with at least two other 110V sodiums or halide or 2- 8' strips of flouresent. I am trying to find someway to show the owner that not only wil they better lighting in the barn but it will save on his electrical bill. Right now I estimate the light would be on 5-6hrs every evening. Thanks for your help.

 

i will suggest that metal halide will be alot more brighter than mecury vapour light what you have now . sound like you have old 400 watt mecury vapour luamaire now . really i will suggest if want more light can use the low bay light fixure with 320 Watts Pulse Start Metal Halide light that will put out more than old 400 watts mv will do


400 watts mv = 22,000 lumes(brightness)

320 watt PSMH = 30,000 lumens (typically)


250 watt PSMH= 23,000 lumens (typically)

110 watt H.O flourescent bulbs= 8,500 lumens ( give or take 1500 lumes depend on manufacter and type) X 2 bulbs for strip fixures that end up 17,000 lumens total per fixure and wattage will be about 220 plus ballast too

there are quite few manufacter have both hid and flourescent verison there ..


the reason i did not mention high pressure sodium light here because of color issuse here . they do put out alot of light yes but the orange colour can drive some people nuts ...
ps the color will be almost the same as forum on yellow colour



merci , marc

 

Well, French already pointed out the light level comparisons.

Based on the space involved, I would suggest two 250W Metal Halide low bays.

Off the top of my head, I can tell you the power consumption would be slightly less for the two halides, over the present light.

If you want some hard proof of that, send me an e-mail through my profile. I'd be glad to run the numbers on my software and forward it to you, but I need aan actual e-mail address to do so, I can't send attachments through here.

 

CSelectric have right idea about using 250 w MH it will spread the light in more uniform pattern without much shadow as old one is now and using lowbay will be excellnt suggest to use and alot of lumaires manfactures do make this size so only issuse is the cost of lumiare is pretty much up to you .. i really can't tell the cost here because there are too many variation and options to use


merci , marc

 

Thank you for your help and suggestions. I was never too keen on the flouresents, but would not have known the diffences and advantages of the metal halide over the sodium. Thanks again.