If you really want longevity, I'd suggest going for a DTL, Ripley, Fisher Pierce, or Intermatic product. Those are the brands typically used for street lighting. I found an Intermatic here for about $10 shipped, and a DTL here for about $11 shipped.

Utilitech is Lowe's in-house brand.

The receptacle on my Regent yardblaster would twist so you could point the photo eye north after installing the photocontrol. You might have to loosen a screw to allow it to turn...I'm not totally sure.

The receptacle on my Regent yard blaster would twist so you could
point the photo eye North after installing the photo control.

You might have to loosen a screw to allow it to turn... I'm not totally sure.

I grabbed a mirror and looked at the receptacle, and indeed, there's a recessed Phillips screw in the center.  

After loosening the screw, I rotated the receptacle one way, then the other way where it easily rotated and I guessed where it would land North.  I tightened the screw just enough where I can still turn the receptacle with the new controller plugged-in to finalize pointing North.   I removed the controller to firmly tighten screw.  

I also put in a new 175W MV Philips lamp.  The used lamp (also a Philips) is now a spare backup.  I don't how many years this old lamp has, but it probably has a lot of life leftover.  

When I reapplied power at the electrical box, the lamp lit!   Oh, no!  Defective controller?   After about 30 seconds, the lamp turned-off.

I suppose something in there needed 'warmed-up' to open the relay.  

The old Photo Controller is now a back-up, always on device. 

I wonder if some of the reviewers for the Lowe's UtiliTech thought 'defect' and returned their controllers?  Or did the lamps stay on for many minutes or hours at daylight?



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That delay sounds normal for photocells/photocontrollers.

That delay sounds normal for photocells/photo controllers.

Pj's Reply:

Yeah, the controller states an on/off delay for up to two minutes.  What caught me off guard was when came on this morning during daylight upon power-up before it shut-off after about 30 seconds.   I guess all controller brands of this type do the same. 




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Pj's Reply:

Yeah, the controller states an on/off delay for up to two minutes.  What caught me off guard was when came on this morning during daylight upon power-up before it shut-off after about 30 seconds.   I guess all controller brands of this type do the same. 




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they just have a heater in them that has to warm up and open the connection, that is what causes the delay. If you want a very good lamp for this, get one of these:
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/1815/MV0175-0005E.html

I purchased the clear lamp vs the coated one from Home Depot. 

They are both listed at 7,900 Lumens.  Would the coated one be as bright at the longer distance as the clear lamp?

I also see a shadow-line across the back yard.  Is that from the 'nipple' on the inner tube?




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The arc tube support wire, probably.

A coated lamp will provide a pinkish-white light with higher color rendering than the clear lamp's blue-green light. Clear MV lamps make plants look really nice, though they aren't good for actually growing plants.

Coated bulbs look more "home" like, but I prefer clear bulbs for their more industrial look.

So, is the illumination the same at long distance with coated and clear?

I suppose the coated ones have softer shadows vs the clear lamps?


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So, is the illumination the same at long distance with coated and clear?

I suppose the coated ones have softer shadows vs the clear lamps?


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The coated would be smoother because the coating acts like a diffuser.
Clear has a greenish tinge in a good way.

I would guess coated would give better illumination at a distance.