I plan on getting a new Cobra Head for exterior use but can not decide which one. 150 watt HPS, reactor ballast and drop lens. What is the difference between the two? Which is more durable / reputable?

I plan on getting a new Cobra Head for exterior use but can not decide which one. 150 watt HPS, reactor ballast and drop lens. What is the difference between the two? Which is more durable / reputable?

I have the m250r2 and the build quality is very good. I don't know about the 115 though. If this will be residential use I would suggest ordering it with a PSMH ballast instead. Your neighbors probably wont like the bright orange light and would prefer white light, plus the visibility would be much better. The 150w PSMH m250r2 has a medium socket, but the 115 has a mogul socket. Mogul base 150w lamps are kind of hard to get compared to the medium base lamps.They both look much nicer with PSMH lamps (my m250r2 is 250w PSMH) and so it would be ideal to order a PSMH unit instead.

Thanks, I will consider MH, though my sites are set on HPS, preferably a dual arc tube standby HPS. MH does not run as well when burned horizontally, nor is the life the same. Sylvania offers a 80,000 hour HPS if I ever need it:

https://www.sylvania.com/en-us/newsroom/press-releases/Pages/OSRAM-SYLVANIA-Introduces-80,000-Hour-LUMALUX-PLUS-XL-ECOLOGIC-Lamps.aspx



The mogul base will not be all that much of an issue, Lowes carries Mogul base 150 watt S55 lamps and they can always be ordered online. However, I do understand your concern regarding the light. White looks better than orange when using the back yard.       

Personally,

I would order the GE M250R2.  Doesn't matter if it is HPS or PSMH, The quality is greater, as is the customer service.  If you should have any issues with your M250R2, GE will either fix it or replace it right away with a brand new one.  Not sure how AEL warranty dept. is.

I would like to add that many utilities use the M250R2 as opposed to the AEL 115.  Not exactly sure why 100%, but there has to be a good reason for it.  My utility uses a mix between M2RR and M2RC of all wattages.  for anything over 250W, they use the MSRL (M400R3) or MSRC (M400R3 FCO).  With GE, you definitely get your money's worth.  They have also designed a new capacitor unit, as the old capacitors had a flaw that caused them to fail early in some units.  The new units work better.

Who makes GE's ballasts? AEL uses advance that I know of, which is the best imo.

Who makes GE's ballasts? AEL uses advance that I know of, which is the best imo.

GE makes their own ballasts.  All GE Fixtures come with a 6 year (I believe) warranty, so any problems in materials/workmanship, GE will replace the fixture free of charge (after troubleshooting)

Sounds like GE is the way to go. GE has a street side socket while AEL has a pole side socket? Ive seen it go both ways on AEL and I think the ballast might have something to do with it.

Sounds like GE is the way to go. GE has a street side socket while AEL has a pole side socket? Ive seen it go both ways on AEL and I think the ballast might have something to do with it.

Where are you ordering this from?  or planning to order from?

Local electrical supply house, but I would be open to something better.

No, you're doing the right thing.  You could get them cheep (so cheap, they use 2 e's instead of using the a stamp for cheap), but you did it the way I did.  You'll get GE's 5 year warranty by getting it from the electrical distributor, and GE builds their M250s to order, so you may have to wait, maybe not, but you'll get a fixture that is brand new, and not missing parts. 

Just type in the model number and hand it to them? I like that.

One last question. Does street side vs pole side make a difference? 

Just type in the model number and hand it to them? I like that.

One last question. Does street side vs pole side make a difference?  

Tell them you want to order this:   M2RR25S0A2GMS3358

M2RR is the M250R2 internal designation code
25 stands for 250w HPS
S stands for sodium lamp
0 stands for multi-tap ballast (120x208x240x277)
A stands for Auto-reg ballast
2 stands for photocontrol receptacle included (photocontrol NOT included)
G stands for glass drop lens
MS3 stands for the Medium Cut-Off Type 3 lens
358 is internal

Street Side/Post Side is shaped accordingly, the lens only fits one way.

I plan on a 150 watt lamp and reactor ballast though. But I can get together a code either way. FWIW AEL mounts their lamps pole side, not sure if that makes a difference.

It doesn't make a difference.  The M400R2 had a street side socket whereas the R3 has a pole side.  The M250R2 has a street side, but with the drop lens you can't tell the difference