leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Mar 9, 2017 17:45:39 GMT -8
After almost a year of searching and chasing figments of Mercury Vapor Bulbs, I finally struck Pay Dirt as the expression goes. I found a small specialty Light Bulb Manufacture, who, of all things, has the components to make Mercury Vapor Bulbs. I will have six bulbs in my possession on Monday (I have a tracking Number) Mercury Vapor: 250 Watts-Clear-Self Ballast-Medium Base. You can purchase just the bulbs or as a Collecting Light Unit. There is a price increase, but it is not as bad as I originally thought.
I will posts an add tomorrow here I Insect Net. I will post it on my web site by the middle of next week.
By the end of March I should have MV 250 Watt-Clear-Self Ballast-Mogul Base and MV 500 Watt-Clear-Self Ballast-Mogul Base.
|
|
|
|
Post by Paul K on Mar 10, 2017 2:06:13 GMT -8
In Thailand they still sell MV self ballasted bulbs in home improvement stores, 160W for $3.00 and 275W for $6.00, they work very good as I used them but for 220V. I wonder if they would work on power converter unit. Disclosure , this post is not intend to make competition to Leptraps product
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Mar 10, 2017 2:35:49 GMT -8
My search was for MV Bulbs that are 110/120VAC. I have explained the plight of the MV Bulbs and a search of this topic will tell the tale.
MV Bulb for research, medical or UV to cure or process product are permitted. Find MV Bulbs is not a problem. All of the MV Bulbs in the market today have the White Coat to block the UV. Most are MV Bulbs are made in China. And in China, a minimum order is 2000 or more. Leptraps sell 25 to 30 MV Bulbs a year, if bussines is good.
Finding a specialty bulb manufacture is not easy. The Company I found still makes bulbs for Slide Projectors and Microscope Illuminator's. They also make single use Flash Bulbs for Camera's.
When was the last time you saw a flash bulb used?
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Mar 10, 2017 6:14:50 GMT -8
MV bulbs are still sold here in the UK but a great pity they do not now sell the all black lit type, somewhere in distant memory they called it woods bulb? You got 25 per cent catch compared with the 240 bulb, but it must have been great for a build up area there is no way you could run a normal bulb in my garden. Monsters would appear but they would not have green eyes, but probably they would be Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce Another runner in the night.
|
|
|
Post by Paul K on Mar 10, 2017 7:15:41 GMT -8
My search was for MV Bulbs that are 110/120VAC. I have explained the plight of the MV Bulbs and a search of this topic will tell the tale. MV Bulb for research, medical or UV to cure or process product are permitted. Find MV Bulbs is not a problem. All of the MV Bulbs in the market today have the White Coat to block the UV. Most are MV Bulbs are made in China. And in China, a minimum order is 2000 or more. Leptraps sell 25 to 30 MV Bulbs a year, if bussines is good. Finding a specialty bulb manufacture is not easy. The Company I found still makes bulbs for Slide Projectors and Microscope Illuminator's. They also make single use Flash Bulbs for Camera's. When was the last time you saw a flash bulb used? True, single use flash bulbs are relics. MV bulbs are white coated here but I am not sure if it really blocks UV as moths and other insects come to them like crazy. I also used them in French Guiana with great results. My 120V bulbs from Bioquip don't work with 220/120V converter here in Thailand so it may not work the other way too.
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Mar 10, 2017 7:28:36 GMT -8
Let's do this. I can spend the next week responding to MV light questions. Post your questions, thoughts and what you know and think you know, and I will respond all at once.
If I do not do this, we will have a thread and a very confusing thread like "Big Foot", only not as much fun.
Sooooooooooooooooooo, ask away!!
|
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Mar 11, 2017 0:27:23 GMT -8
I see this was a sales pitch and not a discussion of MV bulbs.
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Mar 11, 2017 4:41:07 GMT -8
Almost daily I receive request for information concern Mercury Vapor Bulbs, ballasts, and scores of questions, clear vs coated, Mogul vs Medium Base, etc.
As for a sales pitch. When you are the only source for such bulbs a sale pitch is seldom needed.
All I was attempting to do was to answer all the questions in a single response.
I hear all kinds of information concerning MV Bulbs. I have chased down many leads. Most go no where.
I have learned more about bulbs, how they are made and by whom. I was surprised to learn that someone still makes flash bulbs for camera. When I ask who used them, I learned Hollywood. They use them when making dates movies.
And, if you know where to obtain MV Bulbs, Self Ballat and clear. Let us know.
|
|
|
Post by africaone on Mar 11, 2017 9:57:49 GMT -8
And, if you know where to obtain MV Bulbs, Self Ballat and clear. Let us know. I Belgium I succeed recently to make a big stock (160, 250 and 500) for the rest of my life ... as i was afraid when earing that bulb for collecting will disappear. It was not easy and I took all the availabale bulbs my light retailer obtained (around 25) after some months of searching and at fair price. My retailer is and ex moth collector who understood very well my request.
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Mar 12, 2017 2:05:16 GMT -8
From one UK supplier NOTE: As from Mid-April 2015 all Mercury Vapour (MV) bulbs will start to be phased out as part of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) which effects the manufacturer of (not the re-sale of) This ban is designed to phase out less efficient lamps such as MV, it does not affect Actinic Light. At the time of writing (January 2017) ALS still have some years stock left and hope to conserve these thus restricting customers to two bulbs per purchase.
|
|
|
Post by Paul K on Mar 12, 2017 2:14:59 GMT -8
From one UK supplier NOTE: As from Mid-April 2015 all Mercury Vapour (MV) bulbs will start to be phased out as part of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) which effects the manufacturer of (not the re-sale of) This ban is designed to phase out less efficient lamps such as MV, it does not affect Actinic Light. At the time of writing (January 2017) ALS still have some years stock left and hope to conserve these thus restricting customers to two bulbs per purchase. No worries, Adam or I can supply you with MV bulbs, no problem to buy them here and compare to US suppliers they are very cheap. I really have no worries if I brake one by accident , I can not say that for one I purchesed from Bioquip 10 years ago for only $70 shipping include ( same bulb here Homepro-$3.00 ) but they are for 220V, so American clients have to relay on Bioquip and Leptraps.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2017 5:08:39 GMT -8
I have been using two 250 w bulbs together......a 250 w Mercury Vapor 6700k and a Plantmax MH 7100 k and have the same for two units of 400 w. I have had great success with these.....and they do have the ballasts separately I've put into ammo boxes. All of my bulbs...sorry Leroy......come from 1000bulbs.com and are ceramic mogul based. This year I'm going to try out the Ulta Sun 400 w T-18 MH which is way over on the Kelvin scale at 10000 k. This very edge of the spectrum might be great in that it broadcasts lumens very near the UV range at 380 or so nanometers on the spectral scale. My intent is to present light in the most preferred range of insect attraction as I've read and found out using the 7100 k lights and my 8100 k CFLs. I will report on this as I test it it out in the field. My experiences with self ballasted bulbs was not good......irregular lighting, spotty outages/ bulb performance and limited watt availibilty. MH bulbs and MV have both been good producers for me. Yes...I also put an array of BL blacklight fluorescent bulbs at the sheet. These are not the purple ones, but appear a dull white emitting good UV amounts of lumens. The purple ones have a BLB designation instead of BL. Lastly....all my bulbs are clear.
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Mar 12, 2017 15:40:44 GMT -8
I have stayed out of the Mercury Vapor Lights that require a seperate Ballast. BioQuip has a corner on that market. I offered 250, 550, 750 and 1000 with seperate Ballast for MV Set ups. The ballast were heavy and expensive to ship. When I found a specialty bulb manufacture I knew I had sources for Self Ballast MV Bulbs. Most of the self ballast bulbs I sold were destined for the tropics.
I do not know where Bill acquired his self ballast bulbs. They must be clear. Mercury Vapor bulbs produce extremely high levels of UV and are extremely bright an can quickly damage your eyes in a very short period of time. To reduce UV Bulb manufactures coated the inside of the bulb white. However, it was more cost effective to use hard white plastics for lamp lenses. The majority of MV Bulbs produced were clear.
Mercury Vapor bulbs are not very efficient and are expensive to operate especially when compared to Compact fluorescent or LED Bulbs. The 1995 Energy Bill eliminated the use, manufacture and/or importing of Mercury Vapor Bulbs and Ballasts. There were exception. Scientific, curing ovens, medical and research. Enter specialty Bulb manufactures.
Now comes the however. China still produces MV Bulbs. And when China makes something, it wants to make lots, by the millions and billions. I will not go into details, but every sample MV bulb sent to my as a sample, was a MV/MH hybrid. Virtually no UV. They will however operate with a MV Ballast.
My experience with Chinese bulb manfactures has been very contentious to say the least. I ordered 200 pieces at quoted price and with out confirming or notification or sending the required 5 piece sample for testing, a truck shows up at my door with 8500 pcs. I refused the shipment.
I was then given 5 samples. When I tested them, less than 10% UV out put. I once again refused the shipment.
After a year of arguments, the shipment was sent to Europe, it was refused there as well. They continue to pester me for some kind of partial payment.
If you want a good MV Bulb with seperate Ballast, try BioQuip. 175 Watt Clear.
With this post I will exit this Thread and I will no longer participate. If you want to further converse, send me a private email.
|
|
|
Post by exoticimports on Mar 13, 2017 4:30:20 GMT -8
Now Leroy, continue on where you left off. You're not under attack. And in Leroy's defense (which he did not reveal) is that following his initial post I was hitting him with questions/ discussion on MVs. It would be beneficial- particularly to new people- to have a single thread discussing MV. Also, since Leroy started this, I suggest he edit the first post to answer the most common questions; e.g., self-ballasting vs. external ballast, 110 vs 220, frosted or clear, etc.
I think it is high time to gather up all we know about MV in one place. Even if we disagree.
Chuck
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2017 8:25:49 GMT -8
I use a clear 160 watt MV for my collecting. No ballast needed or eye protection. Gets me all the moths I can stand.
|
|