My low pressure sodium converted Lights of America wall pack

This was a 42 watt FluoreX™ (model 9042) fixture by Lights of America until I gutted it and installed an 18 watt low pressure sodium lamp and Fullham Workhorse 2 instant-start electronic CFL ballast in place. Inspired by the Norelco (Philips) Mini-Sox wall pack from the early 80's which I first saw while camping at Silverwood Lake.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• lighting
• low
• pressure
• sodium
• lamp
• LPS
• wall
• pack
• mini
• SOX
• Philips
• Norelco
• Lights
• of
• America
• FluoreX
• fixture
• electronic
• ballast
• Fulham
• Workhorse
• CFL
• By22d
• socket

[Skiller444]

You have to consider though that although very efficient the 18W SOX is the least efficient of them, because the higher the wattage the even more efficient they become.

The 131W SOX-E lamp is the most efficient light source, it delivers a stunning 206 Lumens per Watt while LEDs just barely beat the 18W SOX with it's 100 Lm/W. I don't know why everyone's raving about LEDs anyway, everytime I see some at use outdoors they are simply glary (eye-stinging).

Nice video!

[yuandrew]

@Skiller444

Yes, I'm aware that the higher wattage versions have better efficiency which is true for most light sources. The 18 watt is just the easiest for me to operate and install in an existing fixture.

I also have an Osram 180 watt SOX that I got for a very low price but its about 4 feet long and I don't have a ballast that would operate it .

[coolbluelights]

what's the best kind of ballast to run a LPS bulb? I'd like to make one of these

[yuandrew]

@coolbluelights

Ideally, you would used a ballast meant for LPS lamps but such ballast are expensive and not very common in the US. The 18 watt LPS has similar electrical characteristics to an 18 watt compact fluorescent so I went with that setup

You could also try an instant-start F32T8 (Advance Centium) and a 35 watt LPS but it will be slightly underpowered by 20%

[Skiller444]

@GFVagent007 Yeah, you're right, LEDs don't touch 80lm/W and have too many drawbacks for practical use outside with great light output demands. They are great for lighting refrigerators at least. Ah, by the way, I'm currently sitting under the light of my 18W SOX-E while typing this. :D Nothing beats that nice soothing deep color, I love it.

[GFVagent007]

@DoctorGarkle So far, I have been able to run a 90W on a fulham WH5 using 3 red wires, and it actually runs the best out of the bunch (18W, 55W, 90W). I want to get a 135W lamp sometime soon to further experiment. The WH5 may just barely run a 135W ok on 4 outputs, but I may have to go to a WH6. There might be a ballast that would run a 180W as well, but I haven't looked into it in depth yet. One issue is its starting voltage of ~600V, which at the limit of OCV for alot of smaller IS ballasts.

[GFVagent007]

@jpark61567 Yes, the WH2 underdrives the 18W. Mine just didn't look as bright as it should have, and the electrodes were slowly darkening the glass. A WH5 using one red wire runs it superbly, and the difference is literally night and day. That setup draws about 18W, so considering 10% less power consumption of low pressure lamps on HF, ballast losses, THD, power factor, ect...it's pretty well dead on. I want to experiment with a WH3, as the 5 is a bit large for smaller lanterns.

[GFVagent007]

@Skiller444 Show me an LED system that is rated for 80 lm/W or more. I haven't yet seen one. Plus alot of LED ratings are inflated by rating them at 25 deg C die temp, which is totally unrealistic for at least 9 months out of the year for outdoor lighting. But yeah, LEDs are very glary, too sensitive of an electronic device to be made for bottom dollar in china and still be reliable, are still insanely expensive despite previous drawback, and just don't have the lm/W rating of LPS and HPS.

[jpark61567]

@GFVagent007 It's interesting that you mention underdriving, because I found the same thing with the WH2. Like yuandrew, I've also gutted and converted a LOA 9042 CFL wall pack using a Leviton 8806 BY22D socket, the WH2 ballast, and an Osram 18W SOX lamp. I had to cut and fabricate a small, L-shaped aluminum chassis for the socket and ballast. The fixture draws 17.9W at startup and it stabilizes to 16.4W after about 20 minutes (using a Belkin F7C005q meter). I love LPS lamps.

[faulerwilli11]

i hate this orange light that comes from any sodium lamp.

[DoctorGarkle]

I am delighted to find this video. For some odd reason I love the monochromatic orange of SOX bulbs and I want to use them to light my otherwise VERY dark and remote yard. You mentioned that low-watt SOX ballasts are similar to low-watt fluorescent ballasts. Is this also true for the 180 watt SOX bulbs or would I need to buy the $200 sox ballast? Thanks in advance.

[GFVagent007]

@yuandrew I measured the current from the wall running a SOX-E 18W on the WH2 and it was only about 15.5W. I found the WH5 i use for my 55W and 90W seems to drive it better than the WH2 using one red output wire, 20W from the wall. Underdriving risks much shorter electrode life. I did notice mine was brighter on the WH5 and I had always suspected it looked a little dim for 1800 lm on the WH2. The 55W works great on 2 reds and the 90W seems to do well on all 4, but not much different on 3.

[GFVagent007]

@Skiller444 Where do you find LEDs with efficacy ratings that high? The best I've seen has been around 80 lm/W. As far as I'm concerned, LEDs should stay in phone screens, indicators, and accent lighting.