High pressure sodium lamps

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Vegman
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High pressure sodium lamps

Post by Vegman »

Does anyone know what causes high pressure sodium lamps to come on and off intermittently?
We have a floodlight that comes on brightly for few minutes, then goes dim, but not completely out, it sputters and flickers for a while and then comes on again at full brightness. It cycles like this every three or four minutes.
I suspect that this is something to do with the ballast unit., which seems to consist of some sort of inductor and two capacitor type looking things.
Any ideas?
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JK
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Re: High pressure sodium lamps

Post by JK »

straight from our electrician:
Ballast is failing
Vegman
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Re: High pressure sodium lamps

Post by Vegman »

Thanks- I thought so- unfortunately no spares, but at least I wont have to climb the foremast, the ballast unit is at the bottom.
Vegman
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Re: High pressure sodium lamps

Post by Vegman »

Actually it turned out not to be the ballast but the lamp.
Apperently this cycling is typical behaviour for a HP sodium lamp as it nears the end of its life.
The wikipedia page on HP sodium lamps explains the electro-chemical process involved.
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JK
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Re: High pressure sodium lamps

Post by JK »

Thanks for the update. I guess that means you had to climb the mast?
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