Whenever I was looking for superimposed ignitors to add to my lighting collection, I noticed that some of the ignitors had “HS *70-400w” where the asterisk next to the 70 meant to use only double ended European 70w high pressure sodium lamps for the lowest high pressure sodium wattage rating? I wonder why these ignitors are not rated for European 70w single ended E27 high pressure sodium lamps and European 35w and 50w high pressure sodium lamps while they are rated to run quartz and ceramic pulse start metal halide lamps from 35w-400w?

Could be too high peak voltage, exceeding what the E27 are rated for? Remind in Europe are no special "pulse rated" sockets, all relies on the generic 230V installation overvoltage robustness requirement.
And these ignitors may have exceeded that voltage.

Could be too high peak voltage, exceeding what the E27 are rated for? Remind in Europe are no special "pulse rated" sockets, all relies on the generic 230V installation overvoltage robustness requirement.
And these ignitors may have exceeded that voltage.

In addition, I frequently see that these ignitors are rated to run pulse start metal halide lamps down to 35w with E27 bases too.

Ceramic E27 socket is can withstand the HV pulse of the ignitor.

Ceramic E27 socket is can withstand the HV pulse of the ignitor.

But the wiring may not. You need to use cable that can withstand it also.

But the wiring may not. You need to use cable that can withstand it also.

What wiring would be suitable?

What wiring would be suitable?

Something like this would work 

Not all E27 sockets are made to withstand the pulse and some that are are not rated to the full >4kV pulse of higher power ignitors. In reality they withstand it well as long as the socket and lamp base are dry, but this is not allways the case in a lantern working outdoors

Why <70W halides dont have the comment ? Most E27 halides we have here (<150W) are in fact E26 American Pulse Start lamps. Which makes me think that it is just a less common lamp format in Europe. The R7s and pin base halides are designed for the full ignitor voltage

Also, the "proper" ignitors for low power lamps like VS Z70 have lower pulse voltage. This probably helps prevent trouble with E27 sockets in damp environments


The wiring that's to be used on the ignitor output (L) is a Silicone insulated wire with somewhat thicker insulation. (Near the lamp socket the N gotta be silicone too to withstand the heat). In many luminaires ordinary PVC wire is used and it appears to work ok most of the time, but occasionally it does breakdown - Most likely when combined with some other factors like moisture