How to Operate North American Low Wattage High Pressure Sodium Lamps In Japan Using a 100V Supply

Описание: I have found out a way to run North American low wattage high pressure sodium lamps in Japan. This is doable if you connect a number of 2 wire preheat fluorescent choke coil ballasts in parallel and use an American 2 wire high pressure sodium lamp ignitor specifically designed for lamps with an operating voltage between 52V and 55V. Examples include the Sequoia Lighting SS-1 ignitor with terminals 2 and 3 connected and the GE 35-967410-51 ignitor with the red jumper wire in place.

So far, In this video, I have used two 100V 60Hz FCL30 preheat fluorescent choke coil ballasts that were removed from a Japanese Showa era 2 lamp FCL30 preheat circline fluorescent pendant light fixture. I connected both ballasts in parallel and used a GE 35-967410-51 ignitor to run an E39 base Sylvania Lumalux LU50 50 watt ANSI code S68 high pressure sodium lamp. The two ballasts in parallel provide the lamp with enough impedance to operate within its intended electrical specifications on a 100V 60Hz power supply.

Since I live in the United States, I have used a Nissho Kogyo DN-103 120V to 100V step down transformer to power this circuit to emulate a 100V 60Hz power supply from Western Japan.

In the future, I will attempt to find ways to light other American low wattage high pressure sodium lamps using a Japanese 100V power supply.