Do low pressure sodium lights need ballast?

Do low pressure sodium lights need ballast?

LED lights also do NOT need ballasts, but use a different kind of electrical regulator called a driver. This leaves us with gas discharge lamps, including fluorescent, metal halide, high pressure sodium, low pressure sodium, and mercury vapor lamps. All of these require lighting ballasts.

What are low pressure sodium bulbs used for?

Low pressure sodium lamps are used in outdoor lighting of some parking areas and bridge underpasses. The very yellow color does not attract insects but it distorts colors. While these lamps are highly energy-efficient they are rarely used because all objects under their light appear to be yellow or yellow-gray.

What is the difference between high pressure and low pressure sodium lamps?

The principal difference between low and high pressure sodium lights is the operating pressure inside the lamp. As indicated by the name, “high” pressure sodium vapor lights operate at a higher internal pressure.

Which ballast is used in sodium?

Normally to obtain HPF in electronic ballast for high pressure sodium lamps a power factor preregulator (PFP) is used between the mains and the electronic ballast. The main idea in this work is to present a simple and cheap electronic ballast with HPF for HPS lamps.

Can I replace a sodium bulb with LED?

In fact, they’re roughly as efficient as LEDs in terms of their light output for each watt of energy used. LEDs, however, are better able to control their light, which is why a lower-watt LED can replace a higher-watt high pressure sodium bulb.

Can I replace a high pressure sodium bulb with LED?

Do sodium bulbs need a ballast?

The primary visual difference between them is that metal halide light is white and the light emitted from a High Pressure Sodium bulb is amber orange. These bulbs cannot be interchanged without changing their ballast, the regulating element in all light bulbs.

What is electromagnetic ballast?

Ballasts can be classified as electromagnetic type and electronic type. Electromagnetic ballasts have been used since their invention in 1940’s and are basically consisting of recyclable magnetic core and copper winding. The expected lifetime is 15 years.

How can you tell the difference between magnetic and electronic ballast?

Stand under the light or a place close to the light and point your cell phone camera at the light.

• If you can see some strong dark strips flickering in your camera, it must be a magnetic ballast based light.
• Otherwise it should be an electronic ballast based light.

Can I use a metal halide bulb in a HPS ballast?

Yes, you’re allowed to change your mind—at least when it comes to MH and HPS lighting. Although the two fixtures use what are normally incompatible ballasts, conversion bulbs will let you switch lighting types. Some conversion bulbs allow MH light to work with HPS ballasts, and others let HPS work with MH ballasts.