The American semi-parallel ignitors are of different topology than the European semi-parallel ignitors.
Also @RRK: Only parallel and semi-parallel ignitors can use for remote ignition. Superimposed ignitors must be close to the lamp.

Yeah, ignitor circuits are confusing to me. I get it, thanks.

As it was said before already, superimposed ignitor works completely independent to ballast circuitry and even can be housed remotely. AFAIK, superimposed ignitors are not popular in US for some reason and probably not practical with low voltage HPS lamps. To clarify, there is three classes of HID ignitors, parallel, so called semi-parallel, and superimposed. Parallel ignitor just runs just parallel to the lamp. It uses its own HV generator circuit but still subjects ballast output to HV pulses. Semi-parallel uses ballast winding as high-voltage autotransformer. Superimposed is completely independent and isolates ballast from lamp ignition.

Why though? Even with a proper ignitor in place they still need to cheat with the ballast windings?

If you have a wire going from an ignitor to a special tap on ballast choke or transformer, then yes, you have semiparallel ignitor circuit that uses ballast windings to get high ignition voltage.

Hey everyone, I have a bunch of ballasts I’m looking to get rid of in the near future. If anyone is interested let me know. They are still sealed with a few open box. Complete with mounting gear, cap and ignitor if necessary. These are 4 tap, and made within the last 6 years if you need ballasts to test lamps or want something you don’t care about. Probably looking to do 20-30 a ballast, maybe lower depending on wattage and if shipping gets high. I have uploaded the pictures on my gallery in the gear section. Selection ranges 39-1000 watt metal halide.

What kind of lamps?

It seems to have the same ignition correct as any other American ballast would.

How bad is a cycling lamp for a fixture? I have a Hps Wallpak, and the lamp cycles. I think it’s cool looking, but I know it is hard on the components. How bad is it to have it running for maybe 2 or 3 hours?

Inexpensive American luminaire is probably using a tap on the ballast choke to generate HPS HV ignition pulses. So yes, cycling HPS is stressing choke insulation repeatedly. How bad is this in practice, hard to tell, as HPS ignition voltage is typically low, less than 2kV.

 

Though, looking more carefully, it seems that ignitors should be ES/CT version to have timed cutoff.