Author Topic: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior  (Read 4032 times)
Miles
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Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « on: February 13, 2019, 01:53:17 PM » Author: Miles
I've got a couple of 160W Philips (Canadian origin) Self-Ballasted MV lamps running in outdoor "barn" lights. They're NOS, but after a while of use, they start to randomly cycle. One took 7-8 months, one took 1 month the other 3 weeks before acting up.

Anyone knows what could be the issue?

They're not burning out and the cycling is random, some nights will be constant ON / OFF / ON / OFF and other night steadily burning. Could the bimetallic strip be malfunctioning in these? Something is causing them to extinguish. I don't believe it's the sockets.
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refridgedude1841
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #1 on: February 13, 2019, 02:50:27 PM » Author: refridgedude1841
Low voltage maybe? 
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Miles
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #2 on: February 13, 2019, 04:11:13 PM » Author: Miles
I don't believe so, I've tested them on other sockets and fixtures, same thing happens.
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wide-lite 1000
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #3 on: February 13, 2019, 10:06:17 PM » Author: wide-lite 1000
have you checked your voltage with a meter ? I've found SBMV's are a little tempremental when is comes to fluctuations / spikes in voltage . and yes, it could be something defective with the lamps ! GOOD LUCK! :mv: :mv:
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Miles
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #4 on: February 14, 2019, 04:12:25 PM » Author: Miles
127V at the socket, steady. Same tested in a portable socket, and in another fixture too.
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Medved
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #5 on: February 17, 2019, 04:24:17 AM » Author: Medved
Does the operating position match the lamp rating? They use to be sensitive on that.
Mainly when worn out.
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Miles
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #6 on: February 18, 2019, 05:50:36 PM » Author: Miles
Hmmm there isn't any marking suggesting base up or down, but they're operating base up, which I think would be fine.
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Keyless
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #7 on: April 01, 2019, 10:11:57 PM » Author: Keyless
What voltage are the lamps rated?


I don't know how well MV lamps tolerate over voltage, but a 127/220 volt system will have a higher nominal then a 120/208 volt system. 
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dor123
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #8 on: August 24, 2019, 12:41:23 AM » Author: dor123
Self-ballasted mercury lamps, are intended to operate in BU. Horizontal position, may cause them to cycle, and both horizontal and BD shorts their lifespan significantly.
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #9 on: August 24, 2019, 03:54:51 AM » Author: Roi_hartmann
Isn't that only for lower wattage SBMV lamps?
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dor123
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #10 on: August 24, 2019, 05:22:36 AM » Author: dor123
The filament of 160W SBMV lamps is the same single coiled design as the 500W, so I expects that the high wattage ones would also being limited to at least vertical burning position.
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I"m don't speak English well, and rely on online translating to write in this site.
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Rommie
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Re: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Behavior « Reply #11 on: November 11, 2019, 01:10:46 PM » Author: Rommie
The filament of 160W SBMV lamps is the same single coiled design as the 500W, so I expects that the high wattage ones would also being limited to at least vertical burning position.
The burning positions quoted by manufacturers seems to vary on this. I have several which are definitely quoted as universal burning, but the Philips 160W ones I just bought quite clearly state on the packaging that they are vertical plus or minus 30 degrees, cap up OR down.
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