How do you troubleshoot a high pressure sodium light?

Troubleshooting High Pressure Sodium Lights

The Bulb. The most common problem with a high pressure sodium light is the bulb. The first course of action is to simply change the bulb.
Wiring. Check all wiring for any signs of loose connections or burned wires.
Ballast and Capacitor. Test the input voltage and output voltage of the ballast transformer.

Besides, what causes a high pressure sodium light to go on and off?

High Pressure Sodium Lamps Normal end-of-life is usually indicated by the lamp cycling on and off. As the lamp accumulated burning hours, its operating voltage increases, eventually becoming higher than the voltage supplied by the ballast. The lamp extinguishes and cools. The ballast restrikes the arc.

Subsequently, question is, how long does it take for a high pressure sodium light to come on? They reach maximum brightness near instantaneously. Low and High Pressure Sodium lights require a warm-up time that varies depending on the light. It can take up to 10 minutes to get the LPS or HPS lamp up to its normal operating temperature. Often 5 to 10 years.

Moreover, how does a high pressure sodium light work?

There are two kinds of sodium lights: Low Pressure (LPS) and High Pressure (HPS). The lamp works by creating an electric arc through vaporized sodium metal. Other materials and gases are used to help start the lamp or control its color. See the photos lower on this page for more details.

Can you touch a high pressure sodium bulb?

the hps bulb cannot be damaged by touching the outer glass globe like a halogen as there is no gas inside it, only a vacuum, the hps bulb is inside the large glass globe to protect it. getting the outer globe dirty stops full light getting through.

Can I replace a high pressure sodium bulb with LED?

High pressure sodium bulbs (“lamps”) are an old standby for lighting that’s still used today in spite of so much talk of LED lights. 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.

How many plants 1000w HPS?

Everybody has their own way and in the end it comes to what works best for you, but I have read that most of the people use 6-9 plants per 1000W, while in the other hand other people like to have more smaller plants, hence the sog and scrog method.

How long do grow light bulbs last?

Almost all fluorescent grow lights will last for 20,000+ hours. More importantly, you’ll have good bulb performance throughout those 20,000 hours, without much degradation as your bulbs reach the end of their lives.

Do high pressure sodium lights need ballast?

HPS lamps require ballasts to regulate the arc current flow and deliver the proper voltage to the arc. HPS lamps do not contain starting electrodes. Instead, an electronic starting circuit within the ballast generates a high-voltage pulse to the operating electrodes.

How do you test a high pressure sodium ballast?

Step 1 – Remove the Lamp. Remove the lamp.
Step 2 – Visually Inspect the Lamp. Visually inspect the lamp for proper connections and contacts.
Step 3 – Check Accessories. Review the accessories on your lamp.
Step 4 – Test the Voltage.
Step 5 – Check the Ballast.
Step 6 – Check the Short-circuit Current.
Step 7 – Reassemble.

How far should a 1000 Watt HPS light be from plants?

So, for example, a 1000w HPS distance from plants for bloom would start at 36 inches and gradually move closer.

What is the purpose of the ballast in a high pressure sodium lamp?

The tube of a high pressure sodium light is generally made out of aluminium oxide, due to its resistance to the high pressure, and xenon, that is used as a starter for the light because it won’t react with the other gases. Voltage runs to the light through a ballast, which regulates the current.

How do you troubleshoot HID lights?

Turn on the HID headlights and wait for the bulb to shut off by itself. Then turn off your headlight switch and immediately turn it back on. This resets the ballast. If the bulb lights with a weak pink/purple color, it’s usually a bad bulb.

How do you troubleshoot a metal halide fixture?

How to Troubleshoot a Metal Halide Light Fixture

Check the lamp — it may have become loose in the socket.
Read the ballast specifications on the nameplate, including voltage, wattage and lamp type, and be sure they agree with the characteristics of the bulb.
Turn off the breaker supplying the lamp and tighten the connections on the ballast with a screwdriver.

How often should you change HPS bulbs?

HID (High Intensity Discharge) grow bulbs such as HPS (High-Pressure Sodium and MH (Metal Halide) need to be replaced approximately every year in order to perform at optimum levels. Even more often, if they run 24 hours per day and not on the 12/12 on/off lighting cycle.

How do I know if my mercury vapor bulb is bad?

How to Troubleshoot Mercury Vapor Lights

Make sure the light fixture is plugged in and the circuit breaker switch is on.
Replace the light bulb if it flickers, dims or changes colors drastically.
Check the compatibility of your mercury vapor bulb and its ballast if the light shuts off before it is fully warmed up.
Inspect the condition of the ballast.

What does a capacitor do in a metal halide light?

It provides good wattage control and is cheaper than the magnetic ballast and ballast losses are average. Capacitors are used as a power factor correcting or current regulating device and provide the control necessary to ensure proper lamp and ballast operation.

Are high pressure sodium lights energy efficient?

Like Metal Halides, High Pressure Sodium lights are omnidirectional, which wastes light and makes them less efficient. They lose roughly 15% of their heat emissions which adds to their inefficiency. HPS light costs differ based on the particular fixtures, but are cheap compared to LEDs.

How long do high pressure sodium bulbs last?

High Pressure Sodium lights maintain their luminescence fairly well with 90% still available halfway through their lifespan (around 12,000 hours). HPS bulbs typically emit 80% of their original rated output at the end of life (around 24,000 hours).

Is HPS better than LED?

HPS lights use much more electricity to generate light than comparable LED grow light setups and are thus much less efficient. HPS lights also generate a lot of heat, which often requires additional ventilation equipment to maintain a proper grow room temperature.

Why sodium light is monochromatic?

Sodium light has two wavelengths yet it is monochromatic because the distance between these two wavelengths is only 0.6 nm . In low pressure sodium lamp produce only yellow colour light but you can see a broader spectrum in high pressure.

Can you replace a high pressure sodium bulb with LED?

Are HPS lights dangerous?

High-pressure sodium lights often are used for street and highway lighting. When these lights are turned on, they can produce potentially harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation. Be aware that the lights may still work even when damaged.