Need help wiring 220 volt mercury vapor yard light

[Farwell]

I purchased 2 mercury vapor yard lights that have a built in transformer and am not sure which legs on the transformer to hook the 220 volt supply wires to. Most transformers have markings on or near the connecting pins that identify the supply pins but these do not. I have searched the Internet for a data sheet or wiring diagram without any luck.
The lights are Thomas and Betts 175 watt units.
Thanks in advance.
Farwell

 

[George2615]

There should be a wiring diagram with the light or inside the fixture or on the transformer. Can you post a pic of the transformer? How many terminals are on it and are they numbered? It might be a multi voltage transformer also.

 

[EddieWalker]

Interesting.

All mine are 110 and I never considered that there would be 220 volt ones. Is there an advantage to 220 over 110?

Eddie

 

[George2615]

Lights will draw fewer amps on 220 than 110. Real important for reducing the electric bill if lights are on all night.

 

[Inspector507]

4 amps on 110V versus 2 amps on 220V still costs the same amount per hour to operate.

 

[Highbeam]

Yeah, not real important for the electric bill. You should be able to run lighter gauge wire and the line loss due to friction will be less due to the smaller amperage flow but you are splitting hairs.

 

[Farwell]

Eddie,
I never thought about 220 volt mercury vapor lights either until I saw them for sale on Ebay for $12 each plus shipping.
I was going to use flood lights but figured the 220 volt lights may save a few $ in electricity over time and I wouldn't feel so bad about leaving them on all night.
Farwell

 

[Farwell]

George,
I have the light apart and there is only two connection points on the transformer, one says line and the other says lamp which makes sense. I have some books on transformers and am going to try to find them and see what it says about 220 volt transformer hook up. The lamp is 120 volt 175 watts. I tried taking a few photos but they are not clear enough to make out the wiring and connectors.
Farwell

 

[CTyler]

How many wires do you have on the line side? What color are they?

How many wires on the lamp side? What color are they?

If you only have two wires on each side its a no brainer.

 

[GaryM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Eddie,
...figured the 220 volt lights may save a few $ in electricity over time and I wouldn't feel so bad about leaving them on all night.
Farwell
)</font>

Don't forget that mercury vapor lamps lose efficiency as time passes, but unfortunately they consume the same amount of power.