Since proper SOX gear here in the US is very difficult to find I have been experimenting with the instant start Fulham Workhorse ballasts for a while now. I have been using a Beta 5 that I have equipped with such a ballast for D2D use. it has been over a year now and here is what it looks like. I am concerned about the dimples not containing any sodium, and sodium condensing behind the lower electrode. I have no experience on the wear patterns of these lamps, soI thought it wise to ask the community.

Here may be a better pic.

I've got a few old lamps where the sodium seems to have deserted the dimples, but they still run ok. If there's any sodium behind the electrodes, run the lamp vertically cap up for a while, and it should drop down to safety.

Good to know . In the meantime I swapped which end was up. I also polished and coated the bowl with meguiar’s headlight coating for the bowl to withstand the hot sun here.

Here may be a better pic.

I'm curious how you found a SOX-PSG lamp lol. I have been wanting a SOX-PSG lamp for some time now.

I have managed to run a 35w SOX lamp at about 0.55a on a 35/39w MH magnetic ballast using a Venture SOX ignitor.

I'm curious how you found a SOX-PSG lamp lol. I have been wanting a SOX-PSG lamp for some time now.

They're around, just not all that common. The dedicated gear for them is even harder to find 

I'm curious how you found a SOX-PSG lamp lol. I have been wanting a SOX-PSG lamp for some time now.

Truth be told, I happened upon a case of them a while back. Which is why I’m ok running them full time D2D. It’s also an experiment for everyone to see if these WH ballasts still allow the lamps full life expectancy.

It’s also an experiment for everyone to see if these WH ballasts still allow the lamps full life expectancy. 

I'm deff interested in seeing how they do on a WH ballast.

I'm coming late to this thread, and my first thought was that Ria tries to avoid running at all, never mind hard... 

It's a good job I daren't slap you   

Mercy!

 

Mercy!

 

Nah, just a recent embargo on slaps......

Just an update. The lamp has started to flash on and off at a 1hz rate roughly during startup. This has started to get longer and longer over the last two weeks before it catches and stays lit. Right now its taking almost two minutes. I think the lamp is worn down enough the WH3 is having trouble starting it. I’m going to try and get the lamp out tomorrow and see what it looks like and post some pics. I will admit I was hoping to get more than 3 years D2D…

In the pictures you showed earlier, the lamp did look a bit the worse for wear, but if there's emitter on the electrodes they'll usually start, unless all the argon has been adsorbed, which is unlikely with newer lamps. Could well be the ballast, but I'll be interested to see how the lamp looks, and if a new lamp starts ok.