Production of low pressure sodium lamps has ceased

[adam2]

So far as is known, no one anywhere in the world, now makes these lamps. The long run up time and almost monochromatic deep orange/yellow light makes such lamps a most improbable choice for production lighting.

 

If however your venue has any low pressure sodium lamps in car parks, loading bays or similar places, or if you are involved in any other business that uses these lamps, time to either buy some spares or consider LED alternatives. Some stockists may still hold limited stocks, but production has ceased AFAIK.

 

Historically low pressure sodium lamps were used for special effects in film studios. Similar to todays "green screen" techniques but with orange sodium light instead of green. The pure almost monochromatic light and the high intensity from modest power consumption and limited heat production was useful.

 

 

 

[Mad Al]

I remember these lamps from when I was young, they lit all the streets around our estates and even the main roads.

As they were being rapidly removed during the push for white light street lighting I managed to salvage some of them.

I have even managed to save a 180 watt low pressure sodium lamp, the largest of them all.

There is a whole specialist collectable world for street lighting, full of interesting antique lighting equipment...

[musht]

Philips Hamilton closed November last year, last factory making SOX anywhere.

Used to have a Philips neon sign on side, neon starter gas in SOX.

 

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/homes-plans-revealed-former-philips-21277620

[pmiller056]

There are a number of retrofit LED replacement lamps available that will fit into an existing SOX lamp head (I think Big Clive has done a review and tear-down of one on his Y**T***e channel). Most of these LED replacements will need the SOX specific ballast and control gear removed and wiring altered to suit. A local council has relamped an entire street from SOX to LED this way - it looked weird at first. The columns and lamp heads were relatively new (<10 yrs) and in good condition which made this change worth it. If you can get replacement SOX lamps, they're now very expensive for what they are so the conversion to LED becomes more compelling.

[dbuckley]

In Hawaii, specifically, the Big Island, because of the observatories on Mauna Kea, they have had bylaws that mandate low pressure sodium streetlighting for many years, so I was intrigued by this announcement of the end of SOX lamps, so I went on a google mission, and they are converting over to LED, with improved outcomes. This is one of the few places that still has yellow streetlighhting, everywhere else has something approaching white these days.

[adam2]

LED lighting has many advantages over low pressure sodium lamps, including lower energy use, better quality lighting, better optical control and longer lamp life. I am however surprised that it meets with approval from astronomers. The almost monochromatic sodium light is readily removed with filters fitted to telescopes.

 

The broader spectrum from LEDs even if of lower intensity, and even without any blue, ant be effectively removed. Lighting near observatories really needs to be low pressure sodium, which is sadly no longer an option.

 

 

 

[kerry davies]

I live in the Dark Skies Reserve of the Brecon Beacons and we are nigh on total LED these days. However the lamp posts are shorter than normal, fitted with downlighters and below guttering level on our residential roads thus cutting reflections. It does make a big difference and we are getting some outstanding star photos and even quite impressive showings of the Aurora on rare occasions.

[qianshunlighting]

https://www.qianshunlighting.com/
produces LPS/SOX nowadays 

[paulears]

It is indeed advertising but it’s allowed if people ask a question. As most answers are older but say you can’t get them, this could be a useful source if you really need them?

[sunray]

On 8/16/2020 at 4:42 PM, adam2 said:

LED lighting has many advantages over low pressure sodium lamps, including lower energy use, better quality lighting, better optical control

 

 

 

All I can say to that is thank heavens for Christmas lights for one month of the dark winter. Since our street lighting was changed from SOX to LED we are living in a dismal poorly lit safety hazard.

[pscandrett]

On 12/24/2021 at 11:27 AM, sunray said:

All I can say to that is thank heavens for Christmas lights for one month of the dark winter. Since our street lighting was changed from SOX to LED we are living in a dismal poorly lit safety hazard.

If it's that bad, have you taken it up with your council?

[adamburgess]

On 12/24/2021 at 3:27 PM, sunray said:

All I can say to that is thank heavens for Christmas lights for one month of the dark winter. Since our street lighting was changed from SOX to LED we are living in a dismal poorly lit safety hazard.

I'm living currently in a village community, in Ras al Khaimah, about an hour north of Dubai. They've replaced everything with the worst LEDs. Very dull cold white.

There's a street lamp every 6 meters (great, you would think!), and similarly lit bollards on traffic islands etc…
Cannot see a thing. There's points of light and no illumination at all 10 feet down.

Families around and loads of kids on electric scooters just appear from nowhere. I would say shadows, but there aren't any.

The few exceptions are some crazily bright >>> RED LED CHEVRON SIGNS >>> showing you which way around the roundabout to go, and a lovely disco style mini-roundabout warning. They are SO bright, you still can't see anything near ground level, like the road, or in front of you!

Like these quality items! Just gimme a big floodlight above the roundabout!

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Aluminum-solar-powered-Informative-warning-roundabout_60479852870.html

Edited December 25, 2021 by adamburgess
Added link

[sunray]

9 hours ago, pscandrett said:

If it's that bad, have you taken it up with your council?

Oh yes and they referred me to a £80K survey/report saying how good the new LED lights are