Question on 1000watt HPS Fixture

[KWH]

What is the longest time you have seen for a bulb to cycle on and off. I changed a 1000w hps bulb and ballast in a parking lot light and customer says it is cycling but there is a chance they have poles mixed up. The light in question is working fine for at least an hour.

 

[sbrn33]

Normally a HPS will cycle within about ten minutes of initial start up to indicate end of life. Much longer and it is probably something else.

 

[hurk27]

If it is right at the start of the "end of life" I seen a few take 30 minutes to cycle (on for 25 min. out for 5 min.), but that is rare to find one right at that time, other things can be if a photo cell sees the light from the load it controls will also cause the light to cycle and can be long up to 15 minutes depending upon the photo cell delay and the restrike time of the lamp, sever voltage drop can be another factor, but usually creates a multiple restrike problem which most times will be noticeable because the lamp will try to strike but go out before ever reaching full or partial brightness.