Convert A Industrial Facility From Metal Halide Lights To Fluorescent Lights

Industrial facility with fluorescent lighting

Metal halide lights consist of a high intensity discharge (HID) bulb, a ballast to control the electrical supply to the bulb, and a fixture to support the other components and to shape the light beam. Fluorescent lights have, usually, two or more fluorescent tubes, a ballast for the tubes and a fixture that directs the light. When changing from one type of lighting to the other you need to replace one style of fixture with the other. Location of the fixtures and electrical loads on the lighting circuits are also things you must consider.

Instructions

1. Make a survey of the existing metal halide light fixtures. Show the location of the fixtures on a floor plan or on a reflected ceiling plan. Designate the type of each fixture on the plan by using a letter, such as A, B and so on, unless all the fixtures are of the same type. Measure the height above the floor of each fixture and record the height on the plan.

2. Make a list for each type of fixture showing the manufacturer, the model number and the wattage of the bulb. Obtain from the manufacturer the lumen output of the fixture by going online, talking to the electrical parts distributor from whom you intend to buy the replacement fluorescent fixtures or contacting a manufacturer's representative. As an example of what you want, a standard 250-watt metal halide lamp has an initial output of 20,500 lumens. Calculate the total lumen output of the existing lighting at its initial output points.

3. Find out from your supplier what the lumen outputs are for suitable fluorescent replacement fixtures. For example, the two four-foot T-8 tubes in a pendant reflector [p.5] have a total initial output of 5,900 lumens [p.3]. Divide the existing total initial lumens by the fluorescent fixture lumens number. The result will give you the number of fluorescent fixtures you will need. Note that for the fixtures in the examples you will need about 3 1/2 times more fluorescent fixtures than metal halide fixtures.

4. Use your floor plan to lay out the locations of the fluorescent fixtures so as to provide the lighting you need in your facility. Hire or use a licensed electrician to plan, calculate and document the necessary changes in the lighting circuits so that you have the information you need to pull a building permit for the lighting change work.

5. Create a bill of materials listing the fluorescent fixtures you need and purchase the fixtures after your application for the building permit has been approved. Have the wiring changes and fixture installation done by the licensed electrician.

Tags: fluorescent fixtures, initial output, metal halide, building permit, each fixture