There is a 250W Mercury Vapor Nema head (GE 201SA), and the lamp is starting to green out a little bit.  When it starts up, it no longer has that pink color, and at night, since there are no HPS lights near it, and it's kind of in the trees, it looks like the light from a Full Moon.  It is still pretty bright, and it is not completely green.  The lamp has been in there for 8-9 years now.  Probably has another 30 years of life left in it at this point.  I dunno, the ballast makes a WEIRD noise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLqHVCb7D2s

I really wish I could figure out why it does this.  It does it EVERY Night when it turns on.  I have the exact same model, and mine never does that when I turn it on.  So can anyone shed some light (no pun intended) on why the ballast makes that noise during start-up?

This should be in the Videos section.

The lamp is worn, so it has less emitter than new. It's rectifying. It's the same principle of fluoro on chokes rectifying. Lamps don't do this on CWA since the cap blocks DC. It sounds like there's either loose laminations or the ballast screws need to be tighten.

The lamp is worn, so it has less emitter than new. It's rectifying. It's the same principle of fluoro on chokes rectifying. Lamps don't do this on CWA since the cap blocks DC. It sounds like there's either loose laminations or the ballast screws need to be tighten.

Is there any danger currently associated with that lamp/luminaire, or will it eventually just burn up?

I don't think so, a preheat ballast would usually burn up since the starter would eventually stick. Since I think GE used plastic cool bobbins, loose lamination shouldn't be harm.

I learned that this light is not being paid for by anyone.  Not the resident, and not the city.  So, Ameren will not come fix it.  Not unless someone takes responsibility for it.  I sure as hell ain't gonna do it since I don't benefit from it.  It doesn't shine on my property.  Besides, the fact that it is one of the last working 250 watt GE Mercury Vapor NEMA heads, I am not gonna risk losing it.  It works, and even though it makes the growling noise during start up, It does work.  When it quits working, then I will worry about calling Ameren, but until then.  I'm leaving well enough alone.

Why did you remove the video?

I wonder too.

I wonder too.

That was an accident.  I will re-upload a new video in the next few days.  That light isn't going anywhere.