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In-Bay and Vac Station Lights

It’s pretty hard to make a good comparison when you’re not using the same equipment (Fixtures) or the same bulbs. There’s a big difference in a 42 watt CFL and a 85 or 105 watt CFL.
 
I installed 40w CFL's in my vac station fixtures on 3-29-2011. I haven't had one fail yet. They are enclosed fixtures out in the heat of the sun. I think Meps conversions were in the bays. That's why it doesn't make sense to me....I guess it could be the quality of the bulbs. I bought all mine at 1000bulbs.com.....I have a hard time believing the fixture would have anything to do with it. I can believe different wash locations may have voltage/wiring issues that are causing problems. I get a perfect 120v coming into my wash, maybe that has something to do with why mine are lasting so long.
 
2Biz said:
I installed 40w CFL's in my vac station fixtures on 3-29-2011. I haven't had one fail yet. They are enclosed fixtures out in the heat of the sun. I think Meps conversions were in the bays. That's why it doesn't make sense to me....I guess it could be the quality of the bulbs. I bought all mine at 1000bulbs.com.....I have a hard time believing the fixture would have anything to do with it. I can believe different wash locations may have voltage/wiring issues that are causing problems. I get a perfect 120v coming into my wash, maybe that has something to do with why mine are lasting so long.
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Which 40 watt cfl's did you use for the vacs? Do you have the street lamp type light fixtures in your vac area? That's what I have and I want to replace the 150 watt metal halide that I use now. I converted the lights in one wash to 105 watt cfl's but at my other wash the lights are the type that hang on the ceiling and the bulbs point down, so there isn't enough clearance for the 11.5" 105 watt bulb. Any suggestions on what cfl to use there? I want to get as much light output as possible but the clearance seems to only be about 8.5-9".

Thanks.
 
I used these bulbs in my vac fixtures: http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/2734/FC40-S50OD.html

Medium base...5000K...I replaced all the mogul bases at the wash with medium bases so I have as much room as possible in the fixtures.. My vac lights fixtures are like these:
https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-13535-250-watt-pole-light-w-bulb-10-arm-rcs-a10-p25.aspx The 40w - 150w equivalent bulbs put off enough light for me. I rarely have vac customers at night anyway. Its more for security. Since my vacs are at the entrance to my bays, it helps light up the front of the wash.

I use the 85w - 5000k (400w equivalent) bulbs in my bays...http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/8254/FC85-S50OD.html I think 105w bulbs would have fit, but I am very satisfied with the results of the 85W. I think the pics I took early on in this thread show the difference between the 175w metal halides and the 85w cfls.
 
MEP001 said:
This is the same thing I used, but with a mogul base:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/6823/FC42-S41277MOG.html

I don't recommend them. Unfortunately it's the only mogul-base bulb that will fit in place of what you have.
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Did you use these in your ceiling lights, or vac lights? Why don't you recommend them? Is there any disadvantage to using a medium base bulb with an adapter?

Thanks for the info. If switching to a medium base socket would give me more room, I would just do that. Do you know which medium bases you used? Was it simple to switch? I want to compare sizes and if it would save me around 2" I should be good to go.
 
I used these sockets:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/3813/SOCK-243201.html

These sockets will save you appr. 1" over the mogul base. Yes very easy to install since they have attachment screws on the back plus 9" wire leads. My fixtures all had a 1/2" wide aluminum bracket that bolted right up to the back of this base. Along with 2 wire nuts it was a piece of cake! :-)
 
2Biz said:
I used these sockets:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/3813/SOCK-243201.html

These sockets will save you appr. 1" over the mogul base. Yes very easy to install since they have attachment screws on the back plus 9" wire leads. My fixtures all had a 1/2" wide aluminum bracket that bolted right up to the back of this base. Along with 2 wire nuts it was a piece of cake! :-)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. They are pretty cheap too. I'll order a couple to try then redo all the lights if they work.
 
slash007 said:
Did you use these in your ceiling lights, or vac lights? Why don't you recommend them? Is there any disadvantage to using a medium base bulb with an adapter?
Click to expand...
The ones I used were medium base, but otherwise they're identical to the ones I linked. I linked them because they'd fit in place of your standard bulb with no modifications other than bypassing the ballast. I don't recommend them because they all failed within two months, which I believe was due to heat because I had four in one fixture, but even the last one that burned by itself for two weeks after the other three failed still went out. I don't think they'll work in any sealed fixture.

The one 2Biz linked should fit with no problem.
 
I have only had (2) of the (9) 85w bulbs fail since I did this conversion in April of 2011 - 2 1/2 years...None of the 40w bulbs have failed. I don't know why Meps failed so quickly? It Doesn't make sense. All my bulbs are in enclosed/sealed fixtures.
 
I just bought a few 100 watt LED flood lights made in the USA with CREE LED lights rated at 100,000 hours for $120 each. I hope to get them installed this week and check them out. I also have some 65 watt LEDs of the same type with photo eyes for $80. Going to try these by my vacuums. Seems like these are about 1/4 the price of similar wattage LEDs I had been looking at.
 
The LEDS I bought are a full fixture. The 100 watt fixture should replace a 400 watt Metal halide and give similar light. According to the company, payback time is only 6 months with energy savings. A 65 watt should equal a 250 watt MH. One picture is a 65 watt LED next to a 65 watt cfl light during the day. Other picture is of 100 watt LED.
 
soapy said:
The LEDS I bought are a full fixture. The 100 watt fixture should replace a 400 watt Metal halide and give similar light. According to the company, payback time is only 6 months with energy savings. A 65 watt should equal a 250 watt MH. One picture is a 65 watt LED next to a 65 watt cfl light during the day. Other picture is of 100 watt LED.
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The companys always seem to quote payback if you burn them 24 hours a day. If you use 10 cents a KW hour as an easy rat for calculation, yours may vary, 100 W = 1 cent. So a 100 W saves 3 cents an hour . If you burn them 12 hous a day thats 36 sents. So at that usage you make itt back in a little less than a year. Adjust individual figures for rates and usage.
 
soapy said:
The LEDS I bought are a full fixture. The 100 watt fixture should replace a 400 watt Metal halide and give similar light. According to the company, payback time is only 6 months with energy savings. A 65 watt should equal a 250 watt MH. One picture is a 65 watt LED next to a 65 watt cfl light during the day. Other picture is of 100 watt LED.
Click to expand...

Soapy,

Look good, where did you get them?
 
I bought some last year just like soapy pictured installed two over top of my equipment room and changers and they went out in 8 months bought them off ebay brand new. Lesson learned spend the extra money at a local Electrical supply house where they give a parts warranty. I did like them when they worked just buy local with warranty.
 
soapy said:
The LEDS I bought are a full fixture. The 100 watt fixture should replace a 400 watt Metal halide and give similar light. According to the company, payback time is only 6 months with energy savings. A 65 watt should equal a 250 watt MH. One picture is a 65 watt LED next to a 65 watt cfl light during the day. Other picture is of 100 watt LED.
Click to expand...

Soapy - Where did you get the 100W LED Light?
 
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