
GE
GE 26430 LUCALOX 250W HPS Mogul Base Light Bulb
★★★★★
250W
28,000 initial lumens at 2,100K deliver a warm, high-output sodium wash built for 24,000 hours of commercial service.
$23.92*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.
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Overview
Key Features
250-Watt Light Bulb
Rated Life of 24,000-Hours
LUCALOX HID High Pressure Sodium Mogul Base Light Bulb
GE for every application
LU250/CP
Specifications
Brand
GE
Model
26430 (LU250/CP)
Wattage
250W
Lamp Type
High Pressure Sodium (HPS)
Base Type
Mogul (E39)
Bulb Shape
ED18
Bulb Finish
Clear
Color Temperature
2,100K
Initial Lumens
28,000
Color Rendering Index (CRI)
22
Rated Life
24,000 hours
Bulb Diameter
2.250 inches
Maximum Overall Length
9.750 inches
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- 28,000 initial lumens from a 250W lamp delivers high luminous efficacy of 112 lumens per watt, making it one of the most energy-efficient HID options available.
- 24,000-hour rated lamp life significantly reduces replacement frequency and maintenance costs in hard-to-access commercial fixtures.
- Clear ED18 envelope with mogul base fits standard commercial HPS fixtures without modification or adapter.
- 2,100K warm spectrum minimizes blue light scatter, providing effective illumination in fog, dust, and haze conditions common in outdoor industrial settings.
- Proven high-pressure sodium technology requires no warm-up period beyond the standard 3-5 minute ignition cycle and delivers stable output throughout its rated life.
👎 Cons
- CRI of 22 renders colors extremely poorly, making this bulb unsuitable for any application requiring accurate color discrimination such as retail, signage, or security camera identification.
- Requires a dedicated 250W HPS ballast, adding cost and complexity to initial installation compared to direct-wire LED alternatives.
- 3-5 minute warm-up to full brightness and restrike delay after power interruption make it impractical for applications requiring instant-on illumination.
- Contains mercury and sodium, requiring proper hazardous waste disposal at end of life — it cannot be discarded in standard waste streams.
- The narrow amber spectrum cannot be filtered or corrected to produce white light, limiting its use strictly to applications where color quality is irrelevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the color rendering index of this bulb, and what does that mean for visual tasks?
The CRI is 22, which is extremely low. High-pressure sodium lamps produce a narrow-spectrum amber-gold light that renders colors very poorly — reds and greens will appear muted or indistinguishable. This bulb is designed for area illumination where lumen output and lamp life matter more than color accuracy, such as roadways, parking lots, and security lighting.
What ballast does this bulb require?
This is a 250W high-pressure sodium lamp that requires a compatible 250W HPS ballast (typically an ANSI S50 reactor or electronic equivalent). It cannot be operated on a metal halide or mercury vapor ballast, and running it without the correct ballast will damage the lamp or prevent ignition entirely.
How long does this bulb take to reach full brightness after ignition?
HPS lamps typically require 3-5 minutes to reach full output after the initial arc strike. If power is interrupted, a restrike period of approximately 1 minute is needed before the lamp can reignite. This warm-up characteristic is inherent to all high-pressure sodium technology.
What is the mogul base, and will it fit standard household sockets?
The E39 mogul base is significantly larger than a standard E26 household socket. It is used exclusively in commercial and industrial fixtures designed for HID lamps. This bulb will not physically fit a standard household lamp socket.
At 2,100K color temperature, what does the light actually look like?
2,100K produces the characteristic amber-gold glow associated with street lighting and industrial area lights. It is far warmer than any residential LED or incandescent lamp and has almost no blue content, which makes it effective for reducing light scatter in foggy or dusty environments.