Fixture Build Quality

[joe_347V]

........Hence the infamous lack of quality.................

[Mike]

I wonder what the best yardblaster company is quality wise. None seem to be exeptional quality, but one is probably better than the others. The MV blasters seem good. MV parts are so simple and inexpensive upfront, so the quality was a bit better than the HPS and MH ones of today.

[joe_347V]

The older MV ones didn't have a fail prone ignitor inside them too and you could always swap the lamp and PC with a better one.

I guess the older yardblasters were better built, I think I've seen a pic of a older one with a heftier ballast inside.

[Mike]

The older blasters used ballasts close to the quality of NEMA head ballasts from what I've seen.

[joe_347V]

They also came with Westy lifeguards too.

[Mike]

Lifeguard lamps???

[joe_347V]

Here's an example, feel free to comment on that page.

[Mike]

wow. I'm sure today's NEMAs aren't as good as they were either....

[joe_347V]

Yeah but I guess they're still better than the yardlights we have today.

[Mike]

Yeah. NGrid doesn't use NEMAs here. They're in love with the M-250R2. Sometimes a new M-250R2 just pops up where there was no light before or a M-250R2 replaces a different model that's still working great. Ideally, a company would want all their lights to ne identical, but companies seem to discontinue models so fastly, it's next to impossible.

[joe_347V]

I think utilities or mine at least like to find the cheapest lume to put on because if they wanted the lights to be identical they would be still installing OV 15s and OV 25s. 

[Mike]

Sometimes a comapny will give you a discount if you only purchse their products. NGrid uses almost ALL GE products. It woulnd'nt surprise me that GE owns them. (they don't of course).

[joe_347V]

Sometimes a comapny will give you a discount if you only purchse their products. NGrid uses almost ALL GE products. It woulnd'nt surprise me that GE owns them. (they don't of course).

It also depend whether or not they use contractors, my area uses contractors and the replacement lume often depends on what's on the truck that day. 

[Mike]

That's true. If different contractors do different areas the lights will differ. Are the lights owned by your municipality or by the contractors?

[joe_347V]

I believe by the municipality but they're serviced by the utility.