Pro vs con: MV bulbs self-ballasted vs external

[mountainpathfinder]

Does anyone have an opinion as to whether one is better than the other? Several webpages refer to home-built rigs with external ballasts.

[leptraps]

A 175 Watt Mercury Vapor with an external ballast produces 20% more Blue UV than a 250 Watt Self Ballast Bulb.

I have said this many times. Mercury Vapor Light Bulbs and their ballasts as well as Mercury Vapor Self Ballast were regulated into obsolescence with the 2005 Energy Bill. I have included some photographs of the legislation. Over 20,000 copies of this legislation were printed. I attempted to read the entire bill. However, if you are into the were as, or hither to, with respect to, this is you kind of reading. This is the same bill that gave us the CFB (Compact Fluorescence). The use of CFB was to create jobs in the USA. Virtually all CFB's are produced in Asia.

To be brief. The sale, manufacture, import or resale of bulbs and ballast, including lighting fixtures ended officially on 31 May 2006. Advanced Ballast, Phillip's Electronics and Robertson Power no longer produce ballasts for MV and list MV as obsolete.

Mercury vapor bulbs are extremely inefficient and Mercury Gas contained within the bulbs is not exactly environmentally friendly. However, there is no better UV light in the world than MV for attracting insects. And, it still has many industrial and scientific uses that a number of exceptions were included the bill. Entomology is one of those exceptions. If every entomologist purchased a 175 Watt MV Bulb and Ballast, their sales would be less than 100 per year. As owner of Leptraps, I should know.

There is only one remaining manufacture of MV bulbs. But their problem is the Glass of the bulb. To produce the glass for the bulbs requires a minimum of 5,000 units. With no volume, none will be made. The only MV bulbs still produced are the 160 & 250 Watt MVSB with a medium base. These bulbs are used in the processes of ceramics and powdered metals. These may be around for another decade. LED's will eventually replace them. There is still some stock of 250 & 450 watt MVSB with Mogul Base and the manufacture has some glass remaining. However, there is no more glass for 750, 1250 and 1450 Watt bulbs.

If you still have 175 Watt Bulbs, they will work with a 175 Watt Metal Hi-lade Ballast. the cost is around $100.00. Although they will operate the bulb, they will make the ballast run excessively hot. The life expectancy is less than 500 hours. Also, this is a 120, 208, 220 tap type ballast. Follow the wiring directions. if not, the bulb can explode. Although it will work, I do not recommend using the Metal Hi-lade ballast with MV bulbs.

I currently use two 250 watt Mogul Base MVSB. They seem to work as well as 175 Watt MV. Some on this site think otherwise.

I believe Europe ended MV lights in the 1980's

[leptraps]

I forgot the photograph. Front page only.

Attachments:

[leptraps]

This is the entire Bill, 2 1/2 inches thick and printed on both sides.

I was told that if each copy of the Bill was converted to toliet paper, Congress would have enough TP to last for several days.

Their so full of it, if you know what I mean

Attachments:

[Chris Grinter]

Have you tested metal halide much in the field? I know Wikle has been using a 175 halide for a few years and has noticed no real difference in the number of leps that come in. It seems like it may be undeniable that mercury produces a better spectrum, but halide seems to attract a few different species. Every time I've been out in the field with him there are one or two species that come to sheet but are hardly seen in the traps (15w). I don't know how many times we've said "oh there will be tons in the traps" and we end up with only 2-3!

[evra]

I've used metal halide for several years, as well as mixed metal. Both are very good substitutes for MV.

[saturniidave]

You can still buy MV bulbs and ballast here in England.
www.watdon.co.uk/the-naturalists/acatalog/Moth_traps.html

[leptraps]

I checked out the "Choke". I love that word in relation to Lights. The E754 is a multi bulb ballast. it will operate just about any 175 HID bulb. However, when used with MV it is at the maximum limits and will generate a lot of heat. They will work with MV but there Light Expectancy is rather short.

A 175 Metal Hi-lade will emit UV light from the bulb to 1250'. A 175 MV will emit a wider spectrum of UV to a greater distance from the bulb, 1500'.

The same thing can be said for BLB, some species will come to BLB, but never to BL. The new generation of BLB peaks well into the 400 NM range. The distance the UV bands travel out from the bulb is less than 200'. I currently have some samples bulbs that are 404NM of violet/blue.

[58chevy]

I stocked up on MV when I heard they were being phased out. I now have two 400w ballasts and six 400w MV bulbs, all but one unused. Does anyone know the shelf life of MV bulbs? Most gas stations in my area still use MV lights that attract many insects. I assume they will be replaced with another type (hopefully metal halide) as they burn out.

[Chris Grinter]

A lot of applications are switching to LED lights because they consume much less power. They are also pretty terrible for moths...

[mikelock34]

I have used 1000W MV lights for decades. They work exceptionally well whether in the open or in heavily forrested areas. They bring in all types of insects both large and small, male and female. I have never had trouble with insects landing well away from the light. They come right in.