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Sylvania 64046 250W Metalarc Mogul Base Halide Bulb — main product image
Sylvania

Sylvania 64046 250W Metalarc Mogul Base Halide Bulb

★★★★★5.0 (4 reviews)

250 watts of 3800K metal halide output delivers broad, consistent industrial-grade illumination with a 12,000-hour rated lifespan.

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Overview

The Sylvania 64046 is a 250-watt metal halide lamp in the ED28 envelope with an E39 mogul base, designed for sustained, high-output commercial and industrial illumination. At 3800 Kelvin, it produces light that reads as bright white with a slight warmth — suited for large-area coverage in warehouses, manufacturing floors, parking structures, and exterior commercial fixtures. With an ANSI code of M153/E, it is compatible with a wide range of existing HID ballast systems, making it a practical replacement lamp for aging infrastructure where fixture replacement is not in scope. The CRI of 65 means this lamp delivers functional, adequate color rendering for most industrial and task environments, though it falls short of the CRI 80+ threshold recommended for retail or color-critical spaces.

Build quality is consistent with Sylvania's commercial Metalarc line — the lamp is rated for universal burn position, allowing installation in any fixture orientation without voiding performance specifications. Like all metal halide sources, the 64046 requires a warm-up period to reach full output and a cool-down period before hot restrike, which is a fundamental operating characteristic of the technology. The 12,000-hour rated lifespan positions it as a low-frequency maintenance item in high-bay or hard-to-access fixtures. Thermal management is handled at the ballast and fixture level — the lamp itself has no active cooling requirements beyond adequate fixture ventilation.

Specifications

Brand
Sylvania
Wattage
250W
ANSI Code
M153/E
Bulb Shape
ED28
Base Type
Mogul E39
Color Temperature
3800K
CRI
65
Rated Life
12,000 hours
Burn Position
Universal

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The 12,000-hour rated lifespan makes this lamp a low-maintenance choice for installations where re-lamping is difficult or disruptive — industrial ceiling fixtures, high-bay mounts, and exterior housings where access requires equipment.
  • Universal burn position compatibility means this bulb can be installed in a wide range of fixture orientations without requiring a position-specific lamp or separate SKU.
  • The ED28 bulb shape and E39 mogul base are industry-standard form factors, making the 64046 a straightforward drop-in replacement for existing 250W M153/E metal halide installations.
  • At 250 watts, this lamp produces high lumen output relative to its wattage for broad-area coverage in large commercial and industrial environments where illuminating wide footprints efficiently is the priority.
  • Sylvania's Metalarc line has a well-established track record in commercial lighting, and the 64046 benefits from consistent manufacturing tolerances across lamp batches.

👎 Cons

  • The CRI of 65 is below the threshold for color-critical applications — this lamp is not suitable for retail display lighting, photography, or any space where accurate color rendering under light is important.
  • Metal halide technology requires a compatible M153/E ballast and cannot be connected directly to line voltage — the lamp is only part of the required system, and ballast compatibility must be confirmed before purchase.
  • Warm-up and cool-down cycles are inherent to metal halide operation. The lamp cannot be instantly restarted after a power interruption, which can be a significant limitation in applications where consistent on/off control is needed.
  • The ED28 envelope is physically large compared to more modern HID and LED alternatives, which can limit fixture compatibility in tighter housings.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Sylvania 64046 has a CRI of 65, which is considered adequate for industrial and commercial spaces but below the threshold for color-critical work. For warehouse lighting, parking structures, or large-area task lighting, CRI 65 is functional. For any application where color accuracy matters — retail display, photography, or film — this lamp is not the right tool.
This lamp is rated at 3800 Kelvin, which sits between warm white and neutral white — noticeably cooler than incandescent (2700K) but warmer than daylight fluorescent (5000K+). In large commercial spaces it reads as bright white with a slight warmth compared to standard metal halide output.
Yes, metal halide lamps require a compatible HID ballast — this lamp is not self-ballasted. The ANSI code is M153/E, which must match your ballast. Installing a lamp on an incompatible ballast will result in poor performance, premature failure, or a safety hazard.
The 64046 is rated for universal burn position, meaning it can be operated in any orientation — base up, base down, horizontal, or angled — without affecting performance or rated life.
The lamp is rated for 12,000 hours. Like all metal halide lamps, it requires a warm-up period of several minutes to reach full output, and a cool-down period before it can be restarted — this is a characteristic of the technology, not a defect.

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