HPS street light acting wierd « on: July 11, 2009, 08:15:50 PM » Author: lite_lover
There is Landmark HPS 150W cobra head (Canadian version of the AE 113) that is in a row of lights that once it's warmed up,dims about 25% brightness for 20 seconds then goes back to full bright for 20 seconds and then dims again,not sure if it's the ignitor causing this,it's been doing this for several months now,none of the other lights connected in the same row do this.Any ideas?
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #1 on: July 12, 2009, 03:48:06 AM » Author: bluelights
I have seen this too, and have no idea what causes it. I'm sure it's the bulb, the one I saw "dimmed" like this a few times then went out completely (cycled).
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #2 on: July 12, 2009, 06:18:42 AM » Author: TudorWhiz
Well a video would sure be helpful...... But I have seen cycling when it warms up, it flickers but able to keep the arc going and goes off and on quickly before a cycle starts, then it cycles and requires hot restrike.....I saw a 250 watt HPS in a GE M-400A3 sag lens act like that.
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #3 on: July 12, 2009, 12:12:04 PM » Author: Medved
It look's like some thermally dependent fault causing reduced wattage. If the fault appear, the lamp lower it's wattage, the system cool down, the fault disappear, the wattage increases again and so on. It might be failing capacitor(s) in CWA circuit (if two in parallel: one connection might get loose; or there is capacitor short - shorted cap lead sometimes lower lamp current as well) Or loose connection of the ground terminal on HX autotransformer (converting it effectively to series reactor). Or if the fixture is equipped with dimmer, some it's connection might get loose.
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #4 on: July 12, 2009, 02:22:54 PM » Author: lite_lover
Hi Medved,it could be the capacitor,I'm sure the fixture contains a CWA ballast.I will make a video of it Jace,the transition between the bright and dim is smooth with no flickering,I have not seen the lamp cycle off completely,just dimming and back to bright and so on.
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #5 on: July 12, 2009, 02:27:55 PM » Author: bluelights
The one I saw did the same thing but it ran on a series choke ballast from 230V...
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #6 on: July 12, 2009, 03:36:25 PM » Author: lite_lover
Hi bluelight,this one is a CWA ballast on 120V.
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #7 on: August 08, 2009, 03:13:40 AM » Author: lite_lover
Here's the vid of the dimming HPS light here . The bright/dim action doesn't show up as well on video as is does in person.
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #10 on: March 26, 2010, 10:58:12 PM » Author: gailgrove
That was weird, here though some lights have just stayed dim after warm up.
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #11 on: March 27, 2010, 12:58:04 AM » Author: lite_lover
If they stay dim after warm-up (I know of two fixtures that have been dim for a few months now)it could be a leaked lamp or bad capacitor.
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	Re: HPS street light acting wierd « Reply #12 on: March 27, 2010, 06:10:03 AM » Author: dor123
I also saw this in the past in Haifa (Mainly in one of the street lights in my mother home street and in overdriven HPS street lights). These HPS street lights dimmed by 25% with flickering for ~5 secs and then returned to full brightness or sometimes went out (Cycled). I think it has to do with the ignitors as this is accured only with HF pulses ignitors.
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