Changing 70W HPS bulbs

ritch007

Hi all,

I need to replace a 70W high-pressure sodium bulb in a outdoor wallpack unit.

The photocell has been bypassed with tape. I just can't find the circuit breaker switch! They aren't labeled properly...

Someone told me that I could get a nasty shock cause the unit produces high voltage at startup. Is there any real shock hazard?

Thanks

Speedy Petey

Ab-so-freakin-loutely there is a risk of shock!

What do you mean you can't find the breaker?? Put a tester on the incoming line and turn off each breaker until you find it.

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Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.

ritch007

Unfortunately I can't mess with these breakers. Some critical equipment runs.

But thanks for the advice. I won't touch this -or any- live HPS bulb.

ritch007

Another question... if I turn off the breaker for a 70W HPS wallpack, for how long will there be any residual current in the components (e.g igniter, ballast, capacitor)?

Thanks!

Speedy Petey

I'm not exactly sure, but in all my years and many hundreds of HID light repair/installs I have never gotten a shock from a de-energized fixture.

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Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.

andrew79

judging from what you've said this isn't a light located at home. Regardless of the output voltage at startup there's a good chance that's a 277v light and that's more than enough voltage to do alot of damage right there.. the igniter may toss out around a 2500v pulse on startup to get things moving.

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