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low-pressure sodium lamp


low-pressure sodium lamp
A type of lamp that produces light from sodium gas contained in a bulb operating at a partial pressure of 0.13 to 1.3 pascal. Low-pressure sodium lamps provide energy-efficient outdoor lighting compared to high-intensity discharge lighting, but they have a very low color rendition index. Typical applications include highway and security lighting, where color isn't important.

Low-pressure sodium lamps work somewhat like fluorescent lamps. Like high-intensity discharge lighting, low-pressure sodium lamps require up to ten minutes to start and have to cool before they can restart. Therefore, they are most suitable for applications where they stay on for hours at a time. They are not suitable for use with motion detectors.

You can use the chart below to compare low-pressure sodium lamps with high-intensity discharge lamps. If you don't already, it helps to understand basic lighting principles and terms before making comparisons.


Lighting type Efficacy
(lumens/watt)		 Lifetime
(hours)		 Color rendition index (CRI) Color temperature
(K)		 Indoors/Outdoors
High-Intensity Discharge
Mercury vapor 25–60 16,000–24,000 50 (poor to fair) 3200–7000 (warm to cold) Outdoors
Metal halide 70–115 5000–20,000 70 (fair) 3700 (cold) Indoors/outdoors
High-pressure sodium 50–140 16,000–24,000 25 (poor) 2100 (warm) Outdoors
Low-Pressure Sodium 60–150 12,000–18,000 -44 (very poor)   Outdoors



Related category

   • LIGHTING TOPICS




Source: US Department of Energy


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