Lighting-Gallery.net
Lamps => Modern => Topic started by: lightman64 on July 25, 2009, 11:05:00 AM
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Why do MV lamps have trouble starting in cold weather? And when they do start, they don't get as bright as normal.
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I'm not sure. I know from first hand experience that it can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. I have an older GE and GTE Sylvania at home that would start like champs even at -40° but a Philips Lifeguard, Regent and Caster bulbs that refuse to start at -15°F. However, once lit they all seemed to reach full brightness with no problems.
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I thought the light output of high-pressure lamps is not dependent on ambient temperature (within "normal" limits) because the arctube burns so hot that it's not influenced by (in comparison) little fluctuations of ambient temperature...
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@bluelight: The light output does not, but the required starting voltage does depend and a lot. And if the temperature drop so, the starting voltage is higher then the ballast deliver (the mains voltage in 230V areas), it does not ignite.