HID Metal Halide Luminaire for Life Safety Emergency Lighting 1

[Senselessticker]

I'm wanting to use an HID metal halide or high pressure sodium luminaire for life safety standard emergency illumination. These luminaires will be backed by an emergency diesel. Are there options assocaited with these HID luminaires such there is no "warming up" time for the luminaire to be at or near full illumination? (i.e. once the generator assumes the load...the lights are on).

Thanks,

Sense

 

[ElecDar]

First, HID lamps require time to warm up. It varies from lamp to lamp, but the average warm-up time is 2 to 6 minutes. Second, HID lamps have a "restrike" time, meaning a momentary interruption of current or a voltage drop too low to maintain the arc will extinguish the lamp. At that point, the gases inside the lamp are too hot to ionize, and time is needed for the gases to cool and pressure to drop before the arc will restrike. This process of restriking takes between 5 and 15 minutes, depending on which HID source is being used

To overcome this problem a hot restrike ignitor could be used. E.g. see this link

http://www.advancetransformer.com/uploads/resources/Form1707.pdf

 

[Senselessticker]

Thanks ElecDar,

That's exactly what I'm looking for!

 

[sdmays]

Bodine makes an Arc maintenance ballast that is UL924 rated for damp locations. It can maintain the arc for up to two minutes, giving the generator plenty of time to get started up.