O/T Barnyard and Equipment Area Lighting Preferences

Suffolk1 · May 31, 2009

Need to put up a yard light in the barnyard and equipment storage area to help when doing chores and storing equipment after dark. I have a used power pole about 35 feet in length I can set to support the light. The radius distance from the pole location to the feed bunks or storage shed is 100 feet or less. I only need the light on when I'm in the area and don't need a "dusk to dawn" automatic light. I want one that I can turn off and on when needed. In the winter, during chore time, the light may be on for one half hour to an hour at a time. Have looked at Low and High Pressure Sodium, Mercury Vapor and other fixtures which seem to be more suited for automatic "all night" lights, not for lights turned on for short intervals. Have also considered regular outdoor spotlights. Don't want to have to change the bulbs frequently on a high pole either. For the distances involved and intended usage what kind of lighting have you used or would you recommend?

Vic S. · May 31, 2009

I'm using just a 75 watt florsent, that says it is equal to 300w, I have them under sort of a hood, but it doesn't protect them very good, They have lasted over one year. They come on at dark and turn off 10 hrs later. So they should last you a lifetime.

Russ from MN · May 31, 2009

We have a 500w quartz on the front of our garage at the cabin, works well in cold weather, and gives light immediately, had to change bulb last fall but I don't remember how old it was, maybe 20 yrs, used it on a skating rink for a few years. They do make the meter spin, but for short duration the low initial cost will offset that.

Mark - IN. · May 31, 2009

That will certainly do it. I have Mercury Vapor at the drive and around the barns, but years back owned a home in town and like a dummy put one halogen flood on each corner of the rear of the house, and in a Tim "Tool Time" Taylor guy kind of thing put two on the front of the house on each side of the drive so could work when the sun went down. Holy cow, when I turned them on I lit up the neighborhood like a football stadium. I didn't mean to and knew halogen were bright, but didn't figure on that bright. Even when I lit only one in the back at a time, I blinded the neighbors and they were angled down as far as I could and our houses were about 200' apart. Same with the front using just one cause I was on a hill but the neighbors across the road weren't. One halogen flood light goes a long ways.

Oh yeah, halogen flood lights with an off/on will certainly do the job quick.

Mark

IH2444 · Jun 1, 2009

How about a halogen with motion detector mounted on the barn?

I like those motion detector lights, just drive up and they come on go away and they go off.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 1, 2009

My wife related a story she witnessed at a friends house one night. They had a motion sensor for the backyard flood light. They were looking out the back window after dark and the light came on and there was a possum at the edge of the yard. When the light came on it froze. After a couple minutes the light went off then shortly came back on again. Possum had unfrozen in the dark and taken a couple of steps triggering the light which again froze the possum. This cycle continued and it took the possum half an hour to work his way across the back yard.

buickanddeere · Jun 1, 2009

The colour of a high pressure sodium is bad and low pressure sodium is even worse.

Bill(Wis) · Jun 1, 2009

The most entertaining yard light I ever heard of was on my friend Frank's ranch in Kansas. He had a lot of natural gas wells on his property. He mounted a great big pail on a high pole and ran a natural gas line to it. To turn it on he would turn the gas valve on, wait a little bit, and then throw a lighted torch at it. If he hit it just right, POOF, instant yard light. If he was a little off, he'd have to throw it again. Eventually, there would be plenty of gas released to make up for any further inaccurate throws. And, BOOOOMMM. Light everywhere. Have you considered that?

Oldmax · Jun 1, 2009

I use a 35 watt Florsent indoor flood light . Under a Shade.

tjdub · Jun 2, 2009

That could go on all night of the possum forgets which way he was going.

O/T Barnyard and Equipment Area Lighting Preferences

Suffolk1

Member

Vic S.

Member

Russ from MN

Well-known Member

Mark - IN.

Well-known Member

IH2444

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

buickanddeere

Well-known Member

Bill(Wis)

Well-known Member

Oldmax

Member

tjdub

Member

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