Suggestions????????

Goose · Oct 16, 2011

'Bout a year ago, I put a metal halide night light on the front of my shop, both for security and to have light when I come and go after dark.

Dang thing comes on early, goes off late, and added $40 a month to my electric bill. Can't even recall the wattage on it.

With a deputy sheriff in our rental house a coupla hundred yards away, and his patrol car parked there when he's off duty, security might not be the issue it once was, but I'd still like to have some light by the shop.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what might give me a bit of light for cheap?

Lloyd In South Carolina · Oct 16, 2011

Keep the same light, add a dual funstion timer. Have it come on at dusk and shutoff at mid-night, then come on again 1 or so before sunrise.

L.

Dean Olson · Oct 16, 2011

I use a motion sensor. No electrical use unless someone/thing is moving.

David G · Oct 16, 2011

Metal Halide wont work with a motion sensor, the warm up time is too long. I have had bad experience with timers, you have to reset them as the days change, or if power goes out.

Put a 70W high pressure sodium light in.

TomH in PA · Oct 16, 2011

Maybe a LED retrofit bulb? The bulbs are ridiculously expensive, but they last forever and use almost no electricity so it would pay for itself within a year.

I think this is the future of lighting, those compact fluorescent curly bulbs were never a good idea.
LED bulbs

Ray · Oct 16, 2011

You can buy dusk till dawn lights at walmart ,lowes,menards or any hardware store that work good.

Paul from MI · Oct 16, 2011

If you don't need security, put up a couple of 75W floods controlled by a switch. If you need security, add a motion detector. Don't worry about efficiency unless you are going to have it on a lot. Cheap and easy to put up, and instant on in cold weather.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 16, 2011

Have you talked to your utility company? I have a Kentucky Utilities supplied, installed and operated light on the pole by my barn. Comes on at dark, off at daylight costs $5.60/month. 3 years so far, no problems.

huntingreen2day · Oct 16, 2011

Sounds awfully high for one metal halide light. I have a 400 watt one in my back yard and have had it since 1994. Replaced the bulb one time. It is on a photocell.

Greyhorse · Oct 16, 2011

I"ve always thought that those "security lights" just make it easier for the guy trying to steal your stuff to see what he"s doing.

Dan-IA · Oct 16, 2011

I second this but note that a 75 equivalent CFL is like 24 watts, that should be much cheaper.

NW Ohio Tim · Oct 16, 2011

How is the light mounted and which way does the eye face?? I've seen mercury vapor lights, mounted on the west side of a building, with the eye facing east, do as you say. The light fixture shades the eye as the sun is setting, making it come on early, and the building shades the rising sun.

Maybe readjusting the eye to face north will fix your problem.... or put a new one on with a clean lens over the photocell. millions of them work properly, it's prolly an easy fix.

Tim

Geo-TH,In · Oct 17, 2011

I use a 100 w florescent dusk/dawn light. It costs about $3/ month to operate. Got it at Menards.

Goose · Oct 17, 2011

Mounted on the east side of the building with the eye facing north.

Ken Macfarlane · Oct 17, 2011

Inlaws have one in their backyard, photocell is bust, stays on 24/7 costs 40$ a month. I keep bugging them to fix it but they can't be bothered.

oldtanker · Oct 17, 2011

(quoted from post at 04:25:38 10/17/11) I use a 100 w florescent dusk/dawn light. It costs about $3/ month to operate. Got it at Menards.

Problem with those is they don't like exstream cold.

Rick

buickanddeere · Oct 17, 2011

Face the photo-cell window due south.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 17, 2011

I have used mine for 3 years in W Centeral Indiana. They work just fine in the winter.

If you think about this post, a 200w light running for 10 hours will use 2 KW-hrs of electricity. Where I live, that's $.20 worth. Perhaps $6/month give or take. Mercury vapor lights are around 175 watts. There is no way a dusk to dawn light is going to use $40/month.

barnE · Oct 17, 2011

Computations are good but don't forget all the extra charges and fees on your utility bill. Take bill TOTAL and divide by kwh to get the real cost of electricity. Dave

Frankmn · Oct 17, 2011

I think that mercury vapor lights operate cheaper. When you have the electric co op furnish a light for so much a month, that is what they use. They also operate in Minnesota winters.

NW Ohio Tim · Oct 17, 2011

Face the photo-cell window due south.

This is great advise if you want them to last about 6 months. Direct sunlight will, for lack of a better term, smoke the eye. Face it north away from direct sunlight is the best....... read the directions.

I suppose if you live in Australia, South might be the right direction.

Tim

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