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?
High pressure sodium lamps
- JK
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Re: High pressure sodium lamps
straight from our electrician:
Ballast is failing
Ballast is failing
Re: High pressure sodium lamps
Thanks- I thought so- unfortunately no spares, but at least I wont have to climb the foremast, the ballast unit is at the bottom.
Re: High pressure sodium lamps
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.
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.
- JK
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- Posts: 3066
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:29 am
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Re: High pressure sodium lamps
Thanks for the update. I guess that means you had to climb the mast?