high pressure sodium
#1
high pressure sodium
What causes a high pressure sodium light to cycle on and off about every five minutes? Ballast, bulb, or transformer? Thanks.
#4
This is a typical end-of-life condition for an HPS lamp called "cycling". You can often observe this phenomenon in streetlights. Replace the bulb quickly when you see this happening, since you are placing undue stress on the ignitor, which is the capacitor-looking device near the socket. This device provides a high voltage pulse to establish the arc in the lamp. These too can fail over time, since they are only rated for a certain number of starts.
Your problem is most likely just the lamp, though. Be sure to replace it with one of identical wattage.
Your problem is most likely just the lamp, though. Be sure to replace it with one of identical wattage.