Mercury Vapor Conversion to LED

Ignored MV Fixture in Tree

What is a High Intensity Discharge (HID) Light?

High Intensity Discharge is an overarching term for a gas-discharge light. They are the oldest type of electrical lights but are rapidly becoming outdated by new efficient lighting technology.  Among the common types of HID lights are mercury vapor, low and high pressure sodium and metal halide lamps.  If your outdoor lighting system was installed before the year 2005, it is likely to be a high intensity discharge lighting system.

What are Mercury Vapor Lights?

One of the more common HID light used for outdoor lighting was a mercury vapor lighting system. The mercury vapor lamp works by creating an electric current to mercury vapor within a sealed glass jacket. The lamps require a ballast to supply the proper voltage and regulate the current to the electrodes.

Why Change from Mercury Vapor?

According to the Energy Policy Act that Congress passed in 2005, mercury vapor bulbs and ballasts could no longer be sold as of 2008. This decision was made to phase out mercury vapor lamps in favor of newer, more efficient lighting technology. You are still allowed to use mercury vapor lamps and ballasts, although you can’t purchase any replacement parts. However, efficiency and lack of governmental support aren’t the only disadvantages to these lights. They contain mercury, which complicates disposal.

Old Well Light

How can I convert my current system to LED?

Some LED replacements utilize the existing metal halide ballast, so the retrofit is simply a matter of removing the metal halide bulbs and replacing them with LED in the same socket. The other option, ballast bypass, requires rewiring the fixture to take the ballast out of the circuit and supplying line voltage directly to the sockets.

Many manufacturers now offer LED replacement lamps but not all LED lamps are the same! It is important to use a high quality lamp to experience the benefits of converting to an LED system.

Do I need to install a whole new system?

This is often the one of biggest concern for clients and in many cases, we are able to use the fixtures from your current system retrofitting them with LED replacement lamps.  Of course, this all depends on the quality of the system you had installed as well as the maintenance it has received over the years.

How Will I Benefit From An LED Retrofit?

1. Energy efficiency improvements – Retrofitting your current lighting with an energy efficient LED solution can save you up to 80% in annual energy costs
2. Reduction in maintenance costs – A high quality LED lamp can last 4 times as long as a Mercury Vapor lamp reducing the ongoing maintenance cost and often comes with a manufacturer’s warranty guaranteeing its longer lifespan.
3. Improved lighting quality – An LED retrofit provides improved lighting quality over a Mercury Vapor system.

Ballast Box Embedded in Tree

If you’re considering an LED retrofit or conversion, contact Landscape Lighting Guru today and let us help you put together a comprehensive plan to maximize your savings.  We offer a free evaluation of your current system and will provide a written proposal with our recommendations.  [maxbutton id=”3″ ] or call 210-710-7737  

For more information on retrofitting, please see our website for more details.