What type of ballast can you use for a ND20 low pressure sodium lamp? « on: December 17, 2024, 10:57:31 PM » Author: Milwaukeeman2003
Hello everyone, I’m just wondering what type of ballast can be used for a 20W, 15V ND20 lamp. Any information will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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	Re: What type of ballast can you use for a ND20 low pressure sodium lamp? « Reply #3 on: December 19, 2024, 12:47:06 PM » Author: WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
Quote from: RRK on December 17, 2024, 11:29:13 PM In 230V part of the world, I used 80W fluorescent choke to light DNAS18 lamps. Chinese looks to have about the same requirements (15V, 1-1.3A). For US, probably some HX autotransformer for 75-100W mercury lamp, checked with an ampermeter to have required current at short circuit of the output and 200+ V open circuit voltage. The lamp sure will light up also on some high power HF electronic ballast like Fulham Workhorse, but I don't know the specifics. How were you able to light those low pressure sodium lamps using an 80W preheat fluorescent ballast? Did you use a fluorescent starter to assist with ignition?
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DISCLAIMER: THE EXPERIMENTS THAT I CONDUCT INVOLVING UNUSUAL LAMP/BALLAST COMBINATIONS SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES.

	Re: What type of ballast can you use for a ND20 low pressure sodium lamp? « Reply #5 on: December 19, 2024, 03:21:27 PM » Author: WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
In that case, it would have a probe start topology?
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Desire to collect various light bulbs (especially HID), control gear, and fixtures from around the world.

DISCLAIMER: THE EXPERIMENTS THAT I CONDUCT INVOLVING UNUSUAL LAMP/BALLAST COMBINATIONS SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES.

	Re: What type of ballast can you use for a ND20 low pressure sodium lamp? « Reply #8 on: January 26, 2025, 06:06:03 AM » Author: WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
Please be careful in knowing that a F40T12 ballast, a European 80W mercury vapor ballast, a North American 75W H43 mercury vapor ballast, or a North American 100W H38 mercury vapor ballast WILL QUICKLY OVERHEAT AND CATCH FIRE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES WITH THE ND20 low pressure sodium lamp due to the lamp’s extremely low arc voltage drop. THESE BALLAST SUGGESTIONS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND MUST BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.
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Desire to collect various light bulbs (especially HID), control gear, and fixtures from around the world.

DISCLAIMER: THE EXPERIMENTS THAT I CONDUCT INVOLVING UNUSUAL LAMP/BALLAST COMBINATIONS SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES.

	Re: What type of ballast can you use for a ND20 low pressure sodium lamp? « Reply #9 on: January 26, 2025, 09:04:26 AM » Author: Alex
Hello, My first try would be a leak transformer for an 90W SOX lamps. Regarding the ballast of an 80W fluorescent, I suspect that RRK means the soviet 8ft fluorescent tubes and balasts? I certainly think that these ballast are overloaded at such a low lamp voltage drop, however id need the exact ballast data to tell anything about how quick in would catastrofically fail. However I personally and this is my opinion you shold be fine with runnig that for short times / testing purposes.
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	Re: What type of ballast can you use for a ND20 low pressure sodium lamp? « Reply #10 on: January 26, 2025, 11:12:54 AM » Author: funkybulb
There is one problem with all comments  above  ubcant combime output on a 2 lamp lead lag magnetic outout ballast .    Even our auto transformer ballast would not handle this such low arc voltage  for very long.    This lamp due 15 arc  volt and high current  it goijg need lot of iron and lot more turns to soak up most of that 120 volt here in the US.     Only ballast that I can think of that it would work  Is  3  x 70 watt HPS 3 wire chioke ballast wired  in series to soak up most of that 120 volt OCV  while lamp  is running   Or about 9 x crappy GE 320 mA preheat chokes that on once home depot sold .   Reason why 9 preheat ballast  because  it wired  in series- perallel configuration to lamp it current need and ballast to handle such low arc drop..  in 240 volt country   U would need do same but with 9 x  40  watt fluorescent chokes  to soak uo all that 240 volt  wires in 3 each in series   Then parrallel the 3 sett of series choke .
« Last Edit: January 26, 2025, 11:19:28 AM by funkybulb »		Logged

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	Re: What type of ballast can you use for a ND20 low pressure sodium lamp? « Reply #11 on: January 27, 2025, 02:56:49 AM » Author: Alex
Hello funkybulb, I am not aware how it is with american ballasts, however running spectral lamps like these is commonly done with the law transformer for 90W SOX lamps, so with this ballast I am rather certain that it works. However i did not notice the author is from the US. You could certainly find a ballast variac combination with playing around a bit with ac formulas... best regards, Alex
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	Re: What type of ballast can you use for a ND20 low pressure sodium lamp? « Reply #13 on: January 28, 2025, 07:39:45 AM » Author: dchen4
I wonder what will happen if you put like 5 lamps in series, which would be 75V, that'd be safe with a hps ballast right? In the advertisement they've used a very small ballast as well, akin to 70w HPS ballasts.
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230v Nominal 240v Actual 50Hz