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Low Pressure Sodium with CFL Ballast
I copied yuandrew's setup from [url=http://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-45671] here [/url]
and it works great.
18 watt SOX lamp connected to a Fulham Workhorse WH2-120-C CFL ballast, about $16.00 US.
The ballast starts it right up, warms up quickly, and both the ballast and lamp are cool to the touch.
I've run it in my office every day now for over a month.
My Kill-o-watt tells me 0.15 amp draw, 17-18watts.   I'm currently scrounging for a DIY housing. Working now on a 90 watt LPS.
Keywords: Miscellaneous

Low Pressure Sodium with CFL Ballast

I copied yuandrew's setup from here
and it works great.
18 watt SOX lamp connected to a Fulham Workhorse WH2-120-C CFL ballast, about $16.00 US.
The ballast starts it right up, warms up quickly, and both the ballast and lamp are cool to the touch.
I've run it in my office every day now for over a month.
My Kill-o-watt tells me 0.15 amp draw, 17-18watts. I'm currently scrounging for a DIY housing. Working now on a 90 watt LPS.

IMG_1045.JPG 2011-01-14_16-39-35_503.jpg stuff_011small.jpg DSCN5375.JPG CIMG3351.JPG
File information
Filename:stuff_011small.jpg
Album name:Matratt / Miscellaneous
Keywords:Miscellaneous
Company and Date Manufactured:Philips SOX-E
Wattage:18 watts
Lamp Type:SOX/LPS
Filesize:73 KiB
Date added:Jan 13, 2011
Dimensions:816 x 616 pixels
Displayed:250 times
Color Space:sRGB
DateTime Original:2011:01:12 00:07:40
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Exposure Mode:0
Exposure Time:32/3439 sec
FNumber:f/4.5
Flash:Flash
Focal length:6.39 mm
ISO:100
Make:Hewlett-packard Company
Max Aperture:f/8
Model:hp PhotoSmart 320
URL:http://www.galleryoflights.org/mb/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=4647
Favorites:Add to Favorites

Comment 1 to 12 of 12
Page: 1

SeanB~1   [Jan 13, 2011 at 07:50 PM]
You need proper sockets!
GullWhiz   [Jan 13, 2011 at 10:17 PM]
I have a socket if you would like me to send it to you....it will work with it (thanks to the guy who commented above, I have plenty!)

There are also other ways to power up the LPS......but why are you using a photocell taped up? You can go without a photocell unless you are actually using the photocell to turn off when sun goes up..

By the way I fixed your description to make your URL clickable....
rjluna2   [Jan 14, 2011 at 01:46 AM]
Hi Matratt! Welcome to Gallery of Lights!
joe_347V   [Jan 14, 2011 at 06:18 AM]
Welcome to GoL, I also have a 18w LPS lamp too which is I also run on a electronic fluorescent ballast, my ballast's a F32T8 ballast though.
dor123   [Jan 14, 2011 at 07:58 AM]
I think you overdrove the lamp if it is warmed up quickly.
Most of the LPS lamps takes 9-15 mins to warm up with the correct ballasts.
Thing that i don't understand about LPS and it is why their electrodes aren't preheated before the ignition, or at least heated during it, like in fluorescent lamps, and the lamps just ignited in the manner of HID lamps (With superimposed or semi-parallel ignitors, instead of glow starters or electronic starters that operates in the manner of that of the fluorescents).
Matratt   [Jan 14, 2011 at 03:08 PM]
Thanks for the kind socket offer GullWhiz, I have some on order from Semperlite, cheapest I've found at $9
The photocell is an old one I had laying around that will be used with it when I will eventually mount this on a pole in the backyard, the tape is so it runs during the day in my office for now.
This thing warms up in about 11 minutes.
I have another 18watt LPS that uses the standard L69 ballast, that one draws 1.05 amps and 32watts. I like this setup better, time will tell how long it will last.
GullWhiz   [Jan 14, 2011 at 06:09 PM]
Cool dude......

Well expereimenting can help us learn things too...I sorta found using F32T8 one lamp electronic ballast kinda underdrive but 2 lamp F32T8 with the two red wires connected and two blue wires connected seemed to overdrive the 18 watt version...

you could tell if its overdriven by faster warmup and the sodium is a bit way too liquidy when you move the lamp a bit...while in operation....I have an old pic I will look for to show the surprising results!

I also used an Advance Smartmate Programmed start electronic ballast that runs a few types of fluorecent lamps, which powers 2 lamps such as two 42 watt triple, two 32 watt triple, two 26 watt quad, two 26 watt triple and it also can do a few other lamps like one 40 watt T5 circline, two 24/27 long twin tube. I tried powering up TWO 18 watt LPS lamps on it and it seemed to work fairly well!
Matratt   [Jan 14, 2011 at 07:26 PM]
I bit the bullet today and ordered the Fulham WH5-120-L to try with my 90watt SOX. Will post pics if successful. That ballast runs lots of lights.
It will do 3 F32T8 with line current 0.93A
traffic light1   [Dec 31, 2012 at 02:58 PM]
Will 18w lps work on a 20w t12 ballast??? Confused I would like to know Very Happy .
joe_347V   [Jan 01, 2013 at 05:17 AM]
Your best bet would be a F32T8 electronic ballast or a 20ish watt electronic CFL ballast. Most T12 magnetic ballasts don't have enough OCV to strike the lamp.
traffic light1   [Jan 01, 2013 at 12:19 PM]
Thank you. If the T8 ballast is 32w will that work on a 18w lps. or just going with the T8,32 is best.
joe_347V   [Jan 01, 2013 at 10:16 PM]
Most people here had luck with 32w instant start ballasts...

Comment 1 to 12 of 12
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