Comparison of electronic and conventional ballasts used in roadway lighting

Abstract

Although manufacturers recommend light-emitting diode technology for all types of urban lighting, it is likely that high-pressure sodium lamps will be used for roadway lighting for many years. The purpose of this paper is to establish whether electronic ballasts represent a better solution for such lamps than electromagnetic ballasts. Special attention was devoted to the fact that electronic ballasts allow considerably higher voltage drops. However, taking into account the earth-fault protection demands, it is shown that electronic ballasts provide only a modest possibility to increase the length of the street lighting section. The techo-economic analysis showed that, owing to the high prices and shorter life of electronic ballasts, conventional electromagnetic control gear still represents a better choice from the financial point of view.

Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences

“…Luminaires for high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps have been used in outdoor lighting since the 1960s [21,22]. Despite the technological progress observed in LED lighting and smart control systems, the luminaires for high-pressure sodium lamps are still in use.…”

“…It also results from the advantages of these luminaires and their still very attractive price. The most important advantage of high-pressure sodium lamps is their high luminous efficacy within the range of 68-150 lm/W [21]. Highpressure sodium lamps require a suitable operating circuit to ensure proper operation.…”

“…In modern design solutions of luminaires for HPS lamps, electromagnetic control gear (ECG) is replaced by electronic ballasts (EB) [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. Compared to ECG, electronic ballasts have many advantages.…”

“…Luminaires for high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps have been used in outdoor lighting since the 1960s [21,22]. Despite the technological progress observed in LED lighting and smart control systems, the luminaires for high-pressure sodium lamps are * e-mail: roman.sikora@p.lodz.pl Manuscript submitted 20XX-XX-XX, initially accepted for publication 20XX-XX-XX, published in ZZZZZZZZ 2020. still in use.…”

“…In addition to many unquestionable advantages, they also have disadvantages. At present, their most important disadvantages seem to be a high purchase cost and sensitivity to overvoltage [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31].…”