if I remember right it takes a 5000 volt spike to strike the lamp.    then
after its starts it reduces the voltage to around a only a 1000 volts.  but
that was long ago    good luck
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Lions" <yizgarnoff@OPTUSHOME.COM.AU>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 4:44 PM
Subject: [OT]: High Pressure Sodium lamp ignitor/starter


> Hi,
>
> I am trying to use a 250W HPS lamp I have here.  I have the ballast but I
am
> missing the ignitor.  I tried to buy one but they are about $45 US for
some
> reason, not to mention hard to get.
>
> I have searched the web but there are only circuits using strange
components
> that I don't have (SIDACs).  I would like something using diodes and
triacs
> because we have heaps lying around, so I can build it myself and repair it
> too.
>
> At the moment I am trying a relay across the balast.  When the relay
closes
> it puts a 10K 5W resistor across the balast output, and when released
should
> give a nice high striking voltage to get it started, but it's not working.
>
> Can anyone suggest a home-built circuit?  Can anyone suggest why my relay
> solution is not working?
>
>
> Thanks,
> David.
>
> --
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