Metal Halide
Parking Garage Lights
Ideally, commercial parking garage lights should create five foot candles per square foot both horizontally and within the vertical cube itself. While many developers pay very close attention to horizontal foot candle levels, vertical lighting is actually more important. A person looking at a poorly lit column, wall, or oncoming vehicle will not be able to clearly distinguish its boundaries and may also have problems gauging its distance from his or her location. Lighting between parking spaces is also important because it eliminates shadows that could hide intruders or criminals.
Calculating these measurements often represents a very time consuming aspect of parking garage lighting. Sometimes, it even requires special software that smaller companies may not have access to, or be able to afford. This is where RLLD Commercial Lighting specialists can offer an added value. With basic data such as parking garage dimensions, total square footage, and general usage statistics, we can help the contractor save a step by calculating the levels of light that a parking garage needs for optimal safety and functionality.
Once the quantity of light needed has been calculated, it is necessary to also determine the quality of light needed. There are two major obstacles to overcome when lighting parking garages: glare and the "cavern effect." The cavern effect is a phenomenon where the garage actually looks darker than it really is, contributing to distorted depth perception and affecting the judgment of drivers and pedestrians. Glare is a major obstacle as well to clear visibility and occurs when the lighting in a particular area is noticeably brighter than surrounding general lighting. Both of these can create hazardous conditions if not proactively countered by proper selection of fixture design and proper placement of fixtures within the facility.
The most common parking garage lighting fixtures are high intensity discharge lights, or HID lights. RLLD Commercial Lighting recommends using Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium HID light fixtures in semi cutoff or refractor designs. Cutoff fixtures have too many drawbacks and with very rare exceptions make for rather poor parking garage light fixtures. While they are very good at keeping glare to a minimum, they actually magnify the cavern effect and render very poor vertical lighting. Semi cutoffs do a very good job of eliminating the cavern effect altogether, and with the proper fixture, will also do a very good job of lighting basic vertical surfaces such as walls and thick columns. For optimal vertical lighting and clear visibility, you should use refractor parking lot lighting fixtures. These keep the ceiling areas, vertical cube, and parking areas consistently lit throughout. Their only disadvantage is the possibility of glare if the wattage selected is too high. If you are unsure which wattage to choose, rely upon an RLLD Commercial Lighting expert who will help you calculate exactly how much power you need per the dimensions of your garage.
Parking garage lighting fixtures can house Metal Halide lamps, High Pressure Sodium lamps, or fluorescent lamps. Choosing a lamp type is just as much a matter of preference as it is of practical function and operating budget. HPS lamps last the longest but render color very poorly. Industrial facilities with little concern for aesthetics might want to go with HPS simply because it will help minimize replacement costs. Metal Halide lamps are excellent for corporate parking garage lighting because they give off a clear, bright light and can actually create an upbeat atmosphere with a light source nearly equivalent to daylight in quality. Due to their short lamp life (7,500 hours), however, MH lamps may not be the best choices for smaller companies who are feeling the bite of the recession. These organizations may want to consider fluorescent lamps instead. Fluorescent lamps have the best color rendering, the longest lamp life, and the highest lumens per watt efficiency.
Because commercial parking garage lighting is so complex, and because no two facilities are exactly alike, RLLD Commercial Lighting offers free consultation services to clients and serious inquirers, and reasonable fee-based advisory services to casual inquiries. With access to software tools that many smaller contractor firms may not have, and with vendor relationships with the world's top fixture manufacturers, we can offer the small architect or builder the resources of a larger company at no additional cost.
Why can't high pressure sodium bubls and metal halide work in each others ballasts?
I recently replaced a metal halide ballast kit with a high pressure sodium ballast kit. This was because my employer was out of the proper replacement, for the time being. I didn't notice the box for the kit had HPS on it, so after I wired it all up, I put in a new bulb (MH) and it only had a warm up glow and it would go no further. I do know from past experience that the (HPS) bulbs will not work properly in the (MH) ballast either. The (HPS) kit has in it a transformer, an ignitor and a small 7uf capacitor. I have done some "CSI'ing" and have found that the (MH) bulb has an ignitor inside the sealed bulb. In it's kit there is a transformer and a single 10uf capacitor. Both ballasts are 277vac, with 175watt bulbs, so what's the difference in the two kits and or bulbs, that they are not interchangable.?
It is a difference in the "run" and exciter current. I believe it is higher in the metal halide.
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HID Metal Halide Lamp 1500W Mogul Base BT56 QTY 12 | US $359.40 | 18m |
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Sylvania 250W MH lamp bulb Metal Halide NEW | US $18.60 | 22m |
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GE 100W MH lamp bulb Metal Halide NEW Made in USA | US $16.60 | 23m |
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HID Metal Halide Lamp 75W T7 RX7S base 3000K Color | US $19.95 | 33m |
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HID Metal Halide Lamp 75W T7 RX7S base 4200K Color | US $19.95 | 40m |
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HID Metal Halide Lamp 150W T7 RX7S base 4200K Color | US $19.95 | 48m |
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HID Metal Halide Lamp 150W T7 RX7S base 3000K Color | US $19.95 | 1h 1m |
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HID Metal Halide Lamp 150W RX7S base 4500K Color | US $.99 | 1h 11m |
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Philips MSR575 2 MSR 575 2 Metal Halide Lamp Bulb NEW | US $199.99 | 3h |
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1000w 5K Daylight Deluxe Metal Halide Conversion Lamp Universal Burn | US $117.95 | 5h 18m |
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400w 3K Warm Deluxe Metal Halide Lamp Horizontal Burn | US $72.95 | 5h 18m |
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400w 3K Warm Deluxe Metal Halide Lamp Base Up Burn | US $72.95 | 5h 18m |
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400w 4K Neutral Deluxe Metal Halide Conversion Lamp Universal Burn | US $57.95 | 5h 19m |
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MARINE COLOR 250W 20K 20000K SE METAL HALIDE BULB HQI | US $19.99 | 5h 39m |
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175 watt Metal Halide Mogul Base MH Philips | US $12.00 | 6h 12m |
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250 Watt Metal Halide Outdoor Wall Pack | US $138.00 | 6h 26m |
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MARINE COLOR“ HQI 150W 20K 20000K METAL HALIDE BULB DE | US $19.99 | 6h 40m |
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250W HQI 5500K Fc2 Double Ended Metal Halide 250 watt | US $19.60 | 6h 57m |
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Mogul Base E39 Metal Halide Bulb 175 Watt 10K 56303 | US $20.78 | 7h 11m |
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250W Metal Halide Bulb 20K E39 For Electronic Ballast | US $20.53 | 7h 11m |
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250W Metal Halide Bulb 20K E39 For Magnetic Ballast | US $20.81 | 7h 11m |
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DE Metal Halide 22000K HQI Lighting 250W Bulb | US $21.74 | 7h 11m |
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MH 175W 20000K Metal Halide Bulb Single Ended Mogul | US $20.79 | 7h 11m |
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70W 70 watt 13K HQI DE Metal Halide Bulb 13000K Reef | US $20.78 | 7h 11m |
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MH 175W 20000K Metal Halide Lamp Single Ended SE | US $20.79 | 7h 11m |
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250W 14000K Metal Halide Mogul E39 14K Probe Start | US $20.78 | 7h 11m |
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150W HQI METAL HALIDE BULB LAMP COLOR 10K 14K 20K AQUARIUM LIGHT FOR FISH | US $16.99 | 7h 34m |
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Philips ceramic metal halide ED 17 bulb NEW | US $10.95 | 8h 7m |
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COOPER LIGHTING LUMARK MHSS 400 480V 6F546A BALLAST HM M59 LAMP METAL HALIDE | US $9.99 | 8h 9m |
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Venture MH1000W U 72051 Lot of 2 Metal Halide Bulbs | US $70.00 | 8h 22m |
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Sunmaster 1000 watt MH Bulb Cool Dx Lamp Metal Halide | US $99.95 | 8h 55m |
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150W Metal DE Halide Lamp Aquarium Tank Bulb HQI Light | US $9.99 | 9h 10m |
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250 Watt 14000K Metal Halide Bulb Ushio Double Ende | US $64.99 | 9h 21m |
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Advance Metal Halide 70W Lamp Ballast 71A5282 NEW K63 | US $149.99 | 9h 21m |
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70 Watt 20000K Metal Halide Bulb Ushio Double Ende | US $49.99 | 9h 24m |
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RAB Metal Halide Lamp LMH400PS BU 0 | US $53.00 | 9h 35m |
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Atlas 100W Metal Halide Outdoor Wall Mount New in Box | US $65.00 | 9h 56m |
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400 Watt 22000K Metal Halide Bulb Megachrome Blue M | US $116.99 | 9h 57m |
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72 METAL HALIDE T5 HO AQUARIUM LIGHT LUNAR MOON MOONLIGHTS MARINE REEF NEW | US $539.99 | 10h 4m |
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KILLARK 250W Metal Halide Haz Location Flood light | US $382.50 | 10h 14m |
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250W 250 watt 10000K Metal Halide Aquarium Bulb 10K | US $20.99 | 10h 18m |
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Venture V90Y9610TK 775W M181 Pulse Start Metal Halide Coil Ballast Transformer | US $75.00 | 10h 30m |
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New Venture Pulse Start Metal Halide Bulb Lamp Mogul Base M181 775W BT37 PS 950 | US $49.00 | 10h 51m |
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400 Watt 15000K Metal Halide Bulb XM Mogul Base | US $75.00 | 11h 3m |
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Venture HID Metal Halide 320W Lamp Bulb MP BU ED28 UVS PS EM 950 Mogul EX39 Base | US $26.00 | 11h 9m |
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Venture HID Metal Halide 400W Lamp Bulb MP BU ED28 UVS PS EM 950 Mogul EX39 Base | US $30.00 | 11h 13m |
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New 400 Watt Hps W metal Halide Conversion Bulb | US $105.00 | 11h 28m |
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3x250W Metal Halide 4x96W PL 72 1134W Aquarium Light Hood Reef Coral LEDs Fans | US $552.95 | 11h 35m |
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GE METAL HALIDE BALLAST | US $50.00 | 11h 44m |
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VENTURE LIGHTING 320W Metal Halide Pulse Ballast | US $24.95 | 12h 5m |
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150W Metal Halide Electronic Ballast HQI Aquarium Light 110V to 240V Universal | US $79.95 | 12h 21m |
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2 X 250 WATT METAL HALIDE PENDANT WITH E BALLAST | US $219.99 | 13h 2m |
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48 760W Metal Halide Aquarium Light HQIi PL 4x65 2X250 Marine Reef LEDs Actinic | US $331.95 | 13h 21m |
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PHILIPS 34416 8 WHITE COATED METAL HALIDE LAMP NIB | US $10.00 | 13h 48m |
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24 100 WATT METAL HALIDE LAMPS BULBS MEDIUM BASE | US $246.00 | 13h 50m |
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10 100 WATT METAL HALIDE LAMPS BULBS MEDIUM BASE | US $116.00 | 13h 52m |
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100 WATT METAL HALIDE LAMP BULB MEDIUM BASE MH | US $14.75 | 13h 54m |
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70W 70 watt 14K HQI DE Metal Halide Bulb Lamp Reef | US $20.99 | 13h 58m |
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HQI Double Ended Metal Halide Bulb 400W 10000K Degree | US $31.49 | 14h 12m |
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Sfiligoi ACLS 250w Dimming Metal Halide Ballasts | US $243.51 | 14h 19m |
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SYLVANIA 64458 M250 C U METAL HALIDE BULBS PKG OF 3 | US $43.50 | 14h 21m |
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400 watt metal halide mh grow light ballast | US $25.00 | 14h 51m |
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SYLVANIA 64492 M400 C U METAL HALIDE LIGHT BULB PKG OF3 | US $43.50 | 14h 59m |
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MIXED LOT OF NEW PHILIPS METAL HALIDE AND HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM LAMPS | US $50.00 | 15h 1m |
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Plusrite Metal Halide Lamp 250 Watt Mogul M58 New Bulb | US $25.00 | 15h 11m |
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PHOENIX 250 W Watt HQI 14K Metal Halide Reef Coral Bulb | US $49.99 | 15h 16m |
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1000w MH Baddass Bulb Advanced Nutrients 1000 watt Veg Lamp Metal Halide | US $89.00 | 15h 18m |
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PHILLIPS MH175 U 175w Metal Halide Grow 175 Watt Watts Bulb M57E | US $8.50 | 15h 21m |
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SYLVANIA MVR400 VBU E 400W METAL HALIDE LAMP NEW | US $35.00 | 15h 21m |
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Sylvania Metal Halide Light Bulbs Metalarc Powerball EL L PAR38 24W Lot of 6 | US $77.88 | 15h 29m |
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GE Metal Halide Ballast GEM400ML5AA4 5 72300 NEW | US $129.00 | 15h 31m |
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MYTECH LB 2 LIGHT BAT CONTROL HID METAL HALIDE HPS UP TO 400W 240V 50uf 100cC | US $85.00 | 15h 50m |
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NEW AMERLUX MURRO II 100W METAL HALIDE TRACK HEAD 120V | US $129.95 | 16h 32m |
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400W METAL HALIDE HID BALLAST KIT QUAD TAP M59 CWA STND | US $95.06 | 16h 44m |
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NEW GE CMH100 U 830 MED METAL HALIDE BULB 100 WATT | US $5.09 | 16h 47m |
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3 brand new Plusrite Metal Halide Lamp | US $19.99 | 16h 48m |
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NEW AMERLUX TFB FLOOD 100W METAL HALIDE TRACK HEAD 120V | US $124.95 | 16h 51m |
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GE Metal Halide Ballast GEM70MLTLC3D 5 86847 NEW | US $64.99 | 17h 14m |
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Ballast 1500w Metal Halide w capacitor | US $140.00 | 17h 28m |
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Metal Halide 1000 Watt Ballast Kit Multi Tap 10 Units New Free Shipping | US $599.00 | 17h 31m |
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MS175 Venture 175W Metal halide Bulb | US $.99 | 17h 51m |
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250W HQI 14k FC2 Metal Halide Lamp for 220V 240 | US $20.99 | 18h 28m |
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250watt HQI 14k Fc 2 DE Base Metal Halide Lamp | US $21.05 | 18h 28m |
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250W HQI 14K DE Metal Halide European Voltage 220V | US $21.26 | 18h 28m |
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50w watt Metal Halide MH HID Ballast 120v 277v | US $33.88 | 18h 48m |
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70w watt Metal Halide MH HID Ballast 120v | US $31.76 | 18h 50m |
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70w watt Metal Halide MH HID Ballast 120v 277v | US $34.00 | 18h 51m |
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Sunmaster 1000 watt Grow Light Bulb MH Metal Halide Bulb Warm Deluxe | US $69.95 | 18h 52m |
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100w watt Metal Halide MH HID Ballast 120v | US $37.07 | 18h 54m |
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100w watt Metal Halide MH HID Ballast 120v 277v | US $39.71 | 18h 55m |
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250 watt 6500K Metal Halide HID HQI Bulb for Plants | US $21.11 | 18h 57m |
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Aquarium Bulb 250W HQI 20Kelvin FC2 Metal Halide HID | US $20.84 | 18h 57m |
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250 W 20000K Fc2 Metal Halide Bulb for Reef Aquarium | US $20.63 | 18h 57m |
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250 watt HQI 6500K FC2 DE Metal Halide for Plants | US $21.26 | 18h 57m |
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72 Metal Halide 250 T5 HO Aquarium Light Lunars NEW | US $629.99 | 18h 57m |
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175w watt Metal Halide MH HID Ballast 120v 277v | US $40.78 | 18h 57m |
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175w watt Metal Halide MH HID Ballast 120v 480v | US $45.10 | 18h 58m |
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250W 22000K 22K Metal Halide Super Blue Aquarium Bulb | US $25.73 | 19h |
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250W Metal Halide Bulb 14K E39 For Magnetic Ballast | US $21.05 | 19h |
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250W watt SE 10000K Mogul Metal Halide Screw In Base | US $21.00 | 19h |
light bulbs these days are getting replaced by compact fluorescents and LED based ones, original incandescent bulbs are power h :
light bulbs are good for lighting the home but stay away from incandescent lamps because they generate so much heat -~*