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Sylvania Powerlite B2255
I've had this light for quite a while now but I never did take a newer pic showing the NEMA tag I added to it as well as the reproduction tag showing the revised light source and wattage. The B2255 is rather large and heavy for a 400w light and as you can see a 1kW BT56 lamp will fit comfortably in the large reflector.

A 1kW variant exists and was known as the Sylvania Powerlite B2228. It omits the socket spacer that the B2255 has to accommodate the larger BT-56 lamp. As the B2228 was signifcantly rarer here than the B2255 I debated converting this to 1kW MV but chose not to as the conversion would have required me to drill out the rivets holding the socket spacer to the reflector.

I believe back in the MV days, some of the highways here were fitted with 700w-1kW MV B2228s. The B2255 was more popular here, with the early units being MV and the later ones being HPS. They're still common in some parts of Toronto but in the outer suburbs have been replaced by LED. This particular one was removed during an intersection reconstruction 10 years ago.

Sylvania Powerlite B2255

I've had this light for quite a while now but I never did take a newer pic showing the NEMA tag I added to it as well as the reproduction tag showing the revised light source and wattage. The B2255 is rather large and heavy for a 400w light and as you can see a 1kW BT56 lamp will fit comfortably in the large reflector.

A 1kW variant exists and was known as the Sylvania Powerlite B2228. It omits the socket spacer that the B2255 has to accommodate the larger BT-56 lamp. As the B2228 was signifcantly rarer here than the B2255 I debated converting this to 1kW MV but chose not to as the conversion would have required me to drill out the rivets holding the socket spacer to the reflector.

I believe back in the MV days, some of the highways here were fitted with 700w-1kW MV B2228s. The B2255 was more popular here, with the early units being MV and the later ones being HPS. They're still common in some parts of Toronto but in the outer suburbs have been replaced by LED. This particular one was removed during an intersection reconstruction 10 years ago.

Image~0.jpeg 20200711_153038.jpg COL_IMG_1049.JPG Lithonia_wall_pack28229.jpg Image~0.jpeg
File information
Filename:COL_IMG_1049.JPG
Album name:joe_347V / My Streetlight Collection
Company and Date Manufactured:Sylvania Canada/Powerlite Devices Limited
Model Number:BC2255S
Wattage:400w
Lamp Type:Mercury Vapour
Filesize:262 KiB
Date added:Jul 29, 2020
Dimensions:1920 x 1280 pixels
Displayed:169 times
Color Space:sRGB
DateTime Original:2020:05:21 00:59:08
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Exposure Mode:0
Exposure Program:Program
Exposure Time:1/60 sec
FNumber:f/4.5
Flash:Compulsory Flash
Focal length:37 mm
ISO:800
Make:Canon
Model:Canon EOS REBEL T3
URL:http://www.galleryoflights.org/mb/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=25486
Favorites:Add to Favorites

Comment 1 to 9 of 9
Page: 1

Model25FanForever   [Jul 29, 2020 at 07:09 PM]
Wow i never noticed that Chatham had tons of B2255's. How many B2255's do you have now, 2?
joe_347V   [Aug 01, 2020 at 05:12 PM]
Nah, just the one. They're a bit large to have two of. Laughing

If I were to get a second one, I'd probably convert it to 1kW MV or something.

Interesting to see how many B2255s used to be in Chatham before they LEDized everything.
Model25FanForever   [Aug 02, 2020 at 03:44 PM]
Eh whats one more Laughing Wink

Would look nice with an old MV lamp back in it
joe_347V   [Aug 04, 2020 at 07:39 PM]
Laughing If I got a second one I'd probably convert it to run 1kW lamps. Maybe even add a second capacitor so I can have a dual wattage 700/1000w fixture.

Also just realized the description was for the Revere lights instead of the B2255. Rolling Eyes
NiMo   [Aug 05, 2020 at 03:47 AM]
Here in the US, they were marketed under the "Regent" brand back in the 1980s. The glass was originally used for the extremely rare Pemco 400 watt fixture. How do I know this? I have one.
Mike   [Aug 10, 2020 at 12:31 AM]
Here's a lamp sleeve I found showing the R37 during that time frame.

joe_347V   [Aug 12, 2020 at 08:24 PM]
Nice catch. Interesting that they called the R37 the Power-Lite too as the name for the fixture.

This 1972 Spec Sheet shows the B2255 being sold under the Sylvania name.
Model25FanForever   [Aug 14, 2020 at 12:36 PM]
That spec sheet you attached is i think the first time ive seen nomenclature for powerlites
joe_347V   [Aug 17, 2020 at 02:31 AM]
Yeah not much info on them unfortunately. Note that in 1972 only 400w HPS was an option, I guess by 1980 they added 250w HPS as an option.

Comment 1 to 9 of 9
Page: 1