By Tom O'Neill
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Reds' new stadium raised a new sparkle Monday: The first daily test run of Great American Ball Park's lighting system ran until 6 p.m., bringing a glow to the fog-shrouded afternoon commute as the stadium inched closer to completion.

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The lights in Great American Ball Park were turned on Monday. Two to four towers will be tested each day in November. (Ernest Coleman photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

Two sets of light stands at Great American will burn each day for 10 to 12 hours, beginning at 6 a.m. The "burning in" process is expected to continue through November.

The 1,500-watt GE Ultra Sports Lights will be turned on by a computer program, two or four towers at a time, until each light has burned for about 100 hours to eliminate impurities in the halide lamps. The process began Monday with the lights in right field, and will proceed clockwise.

The lighting system is similar to those at Jacobs Field in Cleveland and PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The lights are smaller than in older stadiums, but burn more brightly and at a higher temperature.

"It was kind of neat to walk in there," said job supervisor Dan Ruehl of Mayers Electric.

The lights are not aimed yet, he said, "so you don't get the full effect, but you have to prove they're reliable."

E-mail toneill@enquirer.com