Abstract
The filling gas of the conventional high pressure sodium lamp is xenon. To obtain the initial ionization of these lamps an electronic circuit which generates high-voltage pulses is necessary. It is impossible to replace a mercury lamp with a normal high pressure sodium lamp. If the xenon is replaced by a Penning mixture of neon-argon gas in combination with an auxiliary electrode, it is possible to ignite a high pressure sodium lamp on a supply voltage of ≤190 V. With this solution it was possible to develop the SON-H lamp which can be used in existing mercury installations equipped with inductive ballasts. No further changes need be made on these installations and users obtain more light for less power.
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