How often do you like to run your HID lamps? « on: June 23, 2022, 07:20:21 PM » Author: 108CAM
I usually like to run my HID lamps at least once every 2 months to ensure the gasses don't leak out and to make sure the gear still functions properly. The reason for my infrequent runs of my HID lamps is for 2 reasons, firstly due to how much power the large ones use and secondly because I'm trying to keep the lamps in working order for as long as possible.
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Fluro starter pings combined with a 50hz ballast hum and blinking tubes is music to my ears.

Rest in Peace Electronic Lamp Manufacturers of Australia
1925-2002

Bring back the AJF Zodiacs!

Total incidents since joining LG: 18
Lamps accidently broken or smashed: 15
Ballast explosions/burnouts: 3

	Re: How often do you like to run your HID lamps? « Reply #3 on: June 25, 2022, 10:36:33 AM » Author: funkybulb
When I do run my Hid lamps it will be running for that night  And there peice paper with date last run and it running  Hours time.  It could be any where from 20 watt to 2000 Watts.  It would cost me 1 dollar to run a MV for the night.
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No LED gadgets, spins too slowly.  Gotta  love preheat and MV. let the lights keep my meter spinning.

	Re: How often do you like to run your HID lamps? « Reply #5 on: June 29, 2022, 08:56:53 AM » Author: bulb_tester2009
Start all MHs every half a month to two months, and operate for about 10 ~ 30 minutes each time (restart every 15 minutes after turning off the switch).
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I've been collecting light bulbs since I was 2 years old and I've been collecting them ever since.
 
One of the few Chinese users here
Note:
Bulb base in China:E12(CES) E14(SES) B22d(BC) E27(ES) E40(GES)

	Re: How often do you like to run your HID lamps? « Reply #6 on: June 30, 2022, 04:55:28 AM » Author: ultraviolet
every day of course, lots of our flood lighting is hid
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applying obsolete lighting technologies for the enjoyment of the masses; why not use a magnetic ballast for a new installation? and when they tell you you can't run a t12 off that "t8" ballast.... just look back to the old preheat systems where wattage was the only spec listed.

	Re: How often do you like to run your HID lamps? « Reply #7 on: June 30, 2022, 05:55:05 AM » Author: dor123
I run my Philips ML 160W and my Osram HWL 160W SBMV lamps only at the winter, since they heats me up in the summer.
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I"m don't speak English well, and rely on online translating to write in this site.
Please forgive me if my choice of my words looks like offensive, while that isn't my intention.

I only working with the international date format (dd.mm.yyyy).

I lives in Israel, which is a 220-240V, 50hz country.

	Re: How often do you like to run your HID lamps? « Reply #8 on: June 30, 2022, 07:29:20 PM » Author: 108CAM
Nice to see the responses. Hopefully I can run my fixtures more often in the future when I obtain more replacement lamps
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Fluro starter pings combined with a 50hz ballast hum and blinking tubes is music to my ears.

Rest in Peace Electronic Lamp Manufacturers of Australia
1925-2002

Bring back the AJF Zodiacs!

Total incidents since joining LG: 18
Lamps accidently broken or smashed: 15
Ballast explosions/burnouts: 3

	Re: How often do you like to run your HID lamps? « Reply #9 on: July 11, 2022, 05:41:39 PM » Author: arcblue
I'm not sure if it's bad for lamps to sit years or even decades unlit, but would guess ballasts that contain capacitors shouldn't be let to sit for many years unused. I suspect lamps can suffer in storage too, as I've had some spare fluorescents that wouldn't work when finally put into use. So, I'm planning to try to light spares/collectibles once a year for a few hours at at time. I do worry about my spare ballasts going bad and wish they were easier to hook up and run periodically. In many cases collectible lamps are safer being installed in a fixture, as they are less likely to be dropped or broken. At least that has been my experience, or maybe I'm just...clumsy sometimes. I run my collectible fixtures & vintage lamps several times a year at least. I think at least a 30 minute run is necessary but a few hours is better, especially with SOX lamps and maybe medium-pressure mercury lamps too. I don't like to run 400w and higher lamps for longer than an hour due to the electricity use though plus they are unnecessarily bright in a house.
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I'm lampin...