Lighting:
High Pressure Sodium Lighting (HPS)

By Lance Kaczorowski, Guest Writer

Similar to Mercury Vapour Lighting

High pressure sodium lights are similar in operation to mercury vapor lights, except there is sodium together with the mercury.  

Sodium at high temperatures attacks glass, so the bulb envelope is made instead from a whitish translucent ceramic.

More Even Color

Sodium at high pressures behaves differently than mercury, and produces a more even color.  It is still strongly yellow, but renders other colors well.  It has an efficiency of about 100 LPW.

HPS has seen applications similar to mercury vapor lights.

Thanks to our guest lighting expert - Lance Kaczorowski, who brings a wealth of expertise to the site:   

Kaczorowski, a native of New York City, now resides in Fort Wayne, IN.  Kaczorowski has a 4-year degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and also a 2-year degree in Electronics Engineering Technology from the Community College of the Air Force.  Kaczorowski's broad work history includes (chronologically): Three years as a Mercedes-Benz mechanic; six years as an electronics technician with the Air Force; three years as a new product development engineer with General Electric Lighting in Cleveland; seven years as a new product development engineer and an engineering analyst with Grote Industries in Madison, IN; and currently as an engineering analyst with International Truck and Engine Corporation in Fort Wayne.