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Sodium vapour lamps are still widely used on street lighting as well as industrial, commercial and residential outdoor security applications. Most of these uses cases are already slowly transitioning to LED lamps that offer much better performance with lower energy consumption and easy servicing. There are still some specific uses that are specific to this technology such as greenhouse lighting but special LEDs are also replacing them. Light appearance is golden yellow a bias towards greens and reds with very low ultraviolet emmission. | Sodium vapour lamps are still widely used on street lighting as well as industrial, commercial and residential outdoor security applications. Most of these uses cases are already slowly transitioning to LED lamps that offer much better performance with lower energy consumption and easy servicing. There are still some specific uses that are specific to this technology such as greenhouse lighting but special LEDs are also replacing them. Light appearance is golden yellow a bias towards greens and reds with very low ultraviolet emmission. | ||
Exterior lighting is a good application but most gardens and outside areas look rather dull. The lamp themselves do release some heat meaning that closed fixtures are not well suited if not specifically built for this purpose. A good high pressure sodium vapour fixture is flexible, being possible to repurpose it for mercury vapour or metall hallide lamps with some minimal rewiring and gear change, being a very popular and cheap option as sodium vapour fixtures have been manufactured in millions until recently and large stocks are still available worldwide. Modern lamp gears are more versatile as older ones, being able to operate all sodium vapour lamps of the specified wattage. Note that typical sodium lamp ballasts have three connections | Exterior lighting is a good application but most gardens and outside areas look rather dull. The lamp themselves do release some heat meaning that closed fixtures are not well suited if not specifically built for this purpose. A good high pressure sodium vapour fixture is flexible, being possible to repurpose it for mercury vapour or metall hallide lamps with some minimal rewiring and gear change, being a very popular and cheap option as sodium vapour fixtures have been manufactured in millions until recently and large stocks are still available worldwide. Modern lamp gears are more versatile as older ones, being able to operate all sodium vapour lamps of the specified wattage. Note that typical sodium lamp ballasts have three connections using the semi-parallel ignition scheme rather than the parallel ones as on metal hallide lamps. | ||
== Understanding manufacturer data == | == Understanding manufacturer data == | ||
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== Durability and Repair-ability == | == Durability and Repair-ability == | ||
Generally, sodium vapour lamps were very durable and most modern products were released with even longer typical lifetimes. This is mainly due to the fact that the main market of | Generally, sodium vapour lamps were very durable and most modern products were released with even longer typical lifetimes. This is mainly due to the fact that the main market of street lighting pressured producers to cot servicing costs which means that reliability improvements were mandatory. Unfortunately, due to the way that almost all lamps are designed, they age in a different way compared with other light sources. Sodium slowly permeates the ceramic arc tube meaning that the lamp voltage raises as the lamp ages, making it harder to remain in stable operation after startup. This creates the well known on-and-off lamp cylces that repeats every couple of minutes, accelerating as the lamps is close to demise. Eventually, the lamp does not start but this happens after a long cycling and gear stress that might span over months or even a whole year. | ||
Compared with modern LED lamps, sodium lamps compare favourably but they have a much poorer light output and require careful wiring. In most cases operational cost is lower as less powerful LED luminaires can be used since all useful light is directed downwards compared with the | Compared with modern LED lamps, sodium lamps compare favourably but they have a much poorer light output and require careful wiring. In most cases operational cost is lower as less powerful LED luminaires can be used since all useful light is directed downwards compared with the inefficient fixtures used on most sodium vapour lamps. Ballast and ignitors can survive tens of years if properly protected against direct rain or snow exposure. A complex circuitry means that lamp servicing is difficult and there are major risks due to improper wiring on servicing as large voltages may be present. 70, 100 and 150 watt lamps are very well built and they were highly popular. | ||
== Greatest features & flaws == | == Greatest features & flaws == | ||
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== Review == | == Review == | ||
These high pressure sodium vapour lamps are compact light sources that are viable for wide area lighting. Their poor colour reproduction and large output means that they are entirely suited to outdoor lighting or greenhouses as grow light. Compared with | These high pressure sodium vapour lamps are compact light sources that are viable for wide area lighting. Their poor colour reproduction and large output means that they are entirely suited to outdoor lighting or greenhouses as grow light. Compared with fluorescent lamps they were very compact, having great performance at low temperatures. A very long lifetime, that was around 16 to 25 times higher than tungsten lamps, and almost double that of some fluorescent lamps, meant that these lamps are well suited for use in places where lamp replacement was costly, as in high bay lighting, street lighting, tunnel lighting. | ||
High pressure sodium lamps had higher light output, almost double, of mercury vapour lamps while having very low quality colour reproduction. This means that mercury vapour lamps were still suited for areas where colour reproduction was moderately important and there was still an advantage from compact light sources. However, street lighting was a very important market as the lamp's efficiency ensured cost savings in labour and electricity use, after the 1970s oil crisis. There were some advances in colour reproduction with different lamp technology but standard lamps were not favourite of industrial, workshop lighting commercial premises. The light spectra was, however, highly beneficial for plant growth. | High pressure sodium lamps had higher light output, almost double, of mercury vapour lamps while having very low quality colour reproduction. This means that mercury vapour lamps were still suited for areas where colour reproduction was moderately important and there was still an advantage from compact light sources. However, street lighting was a very important market as the lamp's efficiency ensured cost savings in labour and electricity use, after the 1970s oil crisis. There were some advances in colour reproduction with different lamp technology but standard lamps were not favourite of industrial, workshop lighting commercial premises. The light spectra was, however, highly beneficial for plant growth. | ||
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These lamps are somewhat better suited for frequent switching but starting is still a major stress. They need less than two minutes to reach maximum light output and less than that to restart after being turned off. The light colour and output changes from start-up to normal operation from white to orange. White light at startup and then greenish light midway to warm-up suggests mercury is also used on the lamp. This slightly improves colour rendering but affects slightly reduces lamp life while the ones that do no change colour are either new or do not use mercury at all have a yellower light appearance. Lamps without mercury are more difficult to start but they have longer lifetimes and slightly higher efficiency. | These lamps are somewhat better suited for frequent switching but starting is still a major stress. They need less than two minutes to reach maximum light output and less than that to restart after being turned off. The light colour and output changes from start-up to normal operation from white to orange. White light at startup and then greenish light midway to warm-up suggests mercury is also used on the lamp. This slightly improves colour rendering but affects slightly reduces lamp life while the ones that do no change colour are either new or do not use mercury at all have a yellower light appearance. Lamps without mercury are more difficult to start but they have longer lifetimes and slightly higher efficiency. | ||
The lamp requires a conventional or electro-magnetic gear of the same power output as the lamp, connected in series with a lamp and an ignitor that must be connected as is required in the circuit. Connecting the lamp directly to mains damages it instantly as there is no current limitation. Improper connection of the ignitor is also dangerous and proper care must be exerted during installation and | The lamp requires a conventional or electro-magnetic gear of the same power output as the lamp, connected in series with a lamp and an ignitor that must be connected as is required in the circuit. Connecting the lamp directly to mains damages it instantly as there is no current limitation. Improper connection of the ignitor is also dangerous and proper care must be exerted during installation and servicing. A power factor capacitor that has a specific value might be used to correct the power factor and current requirements on the circuit. The lamp itself is not influenced by the presence or absence of this capacitor. When used sparingly in homes or some premises where not a lot of these lamps are located, power factor correction is not important but large industrial or commercial clients were required to maintain a specific power factor due to electricity distribution contracting. | ||
== Suitability == | == Suitability == | ||
The best lamps in terms of useful lifetime, colour reproduction, light output, are major branded lamps. Chinese branded lamps are much worse in all performance and quality metrics with shorter useful life and efficiency as they do not use modern ignitors and gears. Coated lamps have less glare and more beam uniformity than clear ones but they are less efficient in fixtures that use reflectors. | The best lamps in terms of useful lifetime, colour reproduction, light output, are major branded lamps. Chinese branded lamps are much worse in all performance and quality metrics with shorter useful life and efficiency as they do not use modern ignitors and gears. Coated lamps have less glare and more beam uniformity than clear ones but they are less efficient in fixtures that use reflectors. | ||
The best choice of wattage are the 70 and 100 and 150 watt lamps as lower wattages have quite a low light output and larger powered lamps are too powerful for most purposes. The above lamp wattages are also cheaper as they were highly popular. Electro-magnetic ballasts or conventional gears are plentiful and can be used interchangeably with all manufactured lamps for a specific wattage | The best choice of wattage are the 70 and 100 and 150 watt lamps as lower wattages have quite a low light output and larger powered lamps are too powerful for most purposes. The above lamp wattages are also cheaper as they were highly popular. Electro-magnetic ballasts or conventional gears are plentiful and can be used interchangeably with all manufactured lamps for a specific wattage although some ignitors may not be optimal in some scenarios. Lower rated power output gears can be used, making the lamp operate dimly but higher powered ones damage the lamp due to over-stressing and is highly dangerous. | ||
Used lamp gears might work but old lamps are not as desirable. Rusted ballast may still operate but are a potential hazard while old, used lamps, may not have much useful life left and they may already exhibit some colour light emission issues. New old-stock lamps are the best choice, if available. | Used lamp gears might work but old lamps are not as desirable. Rusted ballast may still operate but are a potential hazard while old, used lamps, may not have much useful life left and they may already exhibit some colour light emission issues. New old-stock lamps are the best choice, if available. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
The lamp technology was an improvement of previous lamps that were used in larger | The lamp technology was an improvement of previous lamps that were used in larger luminaries, the low pressure sodium types. Looking similar to fluorescent lamps, sodium lamps had a totally different operation. They output monochromatic lamps compared with a pleasant fluorescent white light but they were very well suited for traffic as this light was very little affected by fog and contrast was perfect on roads. Very poor colour reproduction was a very important limitation in market adoption, and it was noticed that increasing sodium pressure broadened light spectra contributing reds and greens to the light output. Many years there was no stable arc tube material that was able to withstand high temperature and aggressive sodium. | ||
When a suitable ceramic arc tube was developed and manufactured the lamp's high performance was confirmed in applications. Early lamps were attempted to be released with no external additional gear but durability was very poor so ignitors were developed for this specific application. The wattage and voltage of sodium lamps was not compatible with mercury lamps so an operational compromise had to be used to allow operation with mercury vapour lamp gear. This was especially important many years ago as mercury lamp installations were dominant. There was also research that culminated in specialty, even higher pressure sodium lamps, that have improved colour reproduction and a pleasant whiter appearance but they were very costly, had a shorter life and efficiency. They were never popular due to fluorescent lamps being much cheaper and easier to use. These lamps can be easily noticed by seeing their rather thicker internal arc tubes or the higher colour temperatures in datasheets. | When a suitable ceramic arc tube was developed and manufactured the lamp's high performance was confirmed in applications. Early lamps were attempted to be released with no external additional gear but durability was very poor so ignitors were developed for this specific application. The wattage and voltage of sodium lamps was not compatible with mercury lamps so an operational compromise had to be used to allow operation with mercury vapour lamp gear. This was especially important many years ago as mercury lamp installations were dominant. There was also research that culminated in specialty, even higher pressure sodium lamps, that have improved colour reproduction and a pleasant whiter appearance but they were very costly, had a shorter life and efficiency. They were never popular due to fluorescent lamps being much cheaper and easier to use. These lamps can be easily noticed by seeing their rather thicker internal arc tubes or the higher colour temperatures in datasheets. | ||
Later developments focused on releasing optimized ballasts and ignitors that followed slender and more efficient internal arc tubes. Efficiency was improved significantly, making 20 to 30 thousands our lifetimes a certainty, increasing servicing intervals, lowering early failures and making high pressure lamps a very reliable lighting system. Electronic gears were not popular due to high costs although they were entirely possible from a technological perspective and they offered simpler wiring along with higher system energy efficiency. Only ignitors made the switch to advanced electronics as they were products with frequent replacements. The last technological advancement was made by using Xenon and removing Mercury from the arc tube, improving lamp life and efficiency but requiring higher starting voltages and new ignitors. These lamps have a few | Later developments focused on releasing optimized ballasts and ignitors that followed slender and more efficient internal arc tubes. Efficiency was improved significantly, making 20 to 30 thousands our lifetimes a certainty, increasing servicing intervals, lowering early failures and making high pressure lamps a very reliable lighting system. Electronic gears were not popular due to high costs although they were entirely possible from a technological perspective and they offered simpler wiring along with higher system energy efficiency. Only ignitors made the switch to advanced electronics as they were products with frequent replacements. The last technological advancement was made by using Xenon and removing Mercury from the arc tube, improving lamp life and efficiency but requiring higher starting voltages and new ignitors. These lamps have a few degrees lower colour temperatures expressed in Kelvin. | ||
Overall, sodium high pressure lamps, as is the case of metal hallide lamps, differ very much in terms of performance, even for similar types. Using a datasheet is mandatory if the circuit diagram and lamp being used is not the one that was supplied with the fixture, making operation and servicing a higher skilled job than with previous mercury vapour lamps. Modularity was ensured by making whole fixtures easy to replace and restricting servicing, including cleaning, to offsite premises, avoiding electrocution and prolonged labour at height risks. | Overall, sodium high pressure lamps, as is the case of metal hallide lamps, differ very much in terms of performance, even for similar types. Using a datasheet is mandatory if the circuit diagram and lamp being used is not the one that was supplied with the fixture, making operation and servicing a higher skilled job than with previous mercury vapour lamps. Modularity was ensured by making whole fixtures easy to replace and restricting servicing, including cleaning, to offsite premises, avoiding electrocution and prolonged labour at height risks. | ||