High-pressure sodium lights and light-emitting diodes are the two most common streetlights used in cities. When set up correctly, the system is efficient and uses regenerative technology to help produce a clean, quality product.
HPS is a great low-cost technology that has proven its worth over years of use. But, have you ever thought about the cost of a single 1000W HPS light and whether it’s worth the cost? Well, I’m here to help you with it.
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What is an HPS light?
HPS Light
High-pressure sodium lights are a type of gas-discharge light similar to Low-Pressure Sodium (LPS) lights. They function by creating light through an electric arc between two electrodes, one with a high electrification potential.
Low-pressure sodium (LPS) lights operate at pressures of less than 1000 hpa, while high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps are pressurized between 2000 – 3000 hpa. High-pressure sodium vapour lights are called because they operate at a higher internal pressure.
The arc tube, made of aluminium oxide, emits white to light blue lights when the sodium metal is put in. This mixture counter-balances the yellow glow that it emits by itself and makes yellow phosphors unnecessary.
HPS lamps are high-intensity light bulbs that emit large amounts of light needed for street lighting for security lighting.
The light inside the tube is created by combining gasses and metals. The orange-white light of a street light is a good example.
HPS bulbs emit a dark pink colour when the light is first turned on and an intense pinkish-orange colour when warm.
High-pressure sodium lamps are quite efficient—about 100 lumens per watt when measured for photopic lighting conditions.
Indoor gardeners use HPS lamps for cultivation because of the wide colour-temperature spectrum per HPS lamp and the relative efficiency of running them.
At the end of their life (around a decade), high-pressure sodium lamps experience a phenomenon known as cycling, which is caused by a loss of sodium in the arc. If your lamp continuously turns on and off without lighting up, the bulb needs likely replaced.
HPS bulbs are ballast sensitive-meaning you cannot change either the bulb or the fixture wattage without changing the ballast. You must stay with your existing bulb unless the ballast is changed.
LPS Light
LPS lights are a particular type of gas-discharge light (a.k.a. HID or “arc” light). They use an electric arc to produce visible light.
This bulb contains solid sodium metal inside a borosilicate glass tube. Once turned on, the metal vaporizes and glows.
This can be due to the sodium atom losing an electron and turning into a positively charged ion. This causes it to emit photons that are closer in wavelength to red light. When the metal is vaporized and broken down, it becomes a bright yellow light known as sodium vapour lamps.
LED light sources are becoming an increasingly popular way to illuminate products. A key characteristic of these light sources is the phenomenon in which emissions from LEDs are “very close together” (at 589 and 589.6 nm), resulting in creams/colours accurately reflecting off objects being indistinguishable when illuminated by LEDs.
LED Light
LED stands for light-emitting diode. Low power consumption, high brightness, and extra-long life span benefit typical commercial applications.
A diode is an electrical component that comes with two electrodes, one positive and a negative. The electricity flows through the device in one direction only- from the anode to the cathode. Components in a diode only allow electrical current to flow in one direction.
Diodes are made explicitly of solid-state (i.e. no moving parts) materials such as silicon or selenium. They control the flow of electricity under certain conditions but not others, for example, at a specific voltage or light intensity.
LEDs turn current into light. When the current passes through the semiconductor material, the electrons discharge energy in the form of photons that make up visible light. It is the opposite of a photovoltaic cell (a device that converts the visible light into electrical current).
LPS vs HPS
Low-pressure Sodium Vapor Lights and High-Pressure Sodium Vapor Lights have major differences in their lighting. LPS and HPS lamps belong to the same category as HID lamps. They do this by pulling off voltage which excites gasses and vaporized metals to create light.
HPS lamps contain more metals than LPS lamps and are usually constructed differently. LPS & HPS bulbs both have their qualities, but one major one is light quality and size.
LPS lamps provide a very yellow or orange light and are often used in some commercial, residential, and outdoor applications. They can also be used for street lighting. HPS lamps are commonly used outdoors and in horticultural environments. They’re best suited for locations where colour accuracy is not a priority.
LPS bulbs are popular because they’re very efficient and provide a high luminous efficacy per lumen of around 200w/lm. Though HPS lamps are less efficient than LPS lamps, they have excellent light spans and their life hour ratings are 16,000-24,000 hours. They’re also typically smaller in size.
LPS bulbs use less energy by producing most of the light that a human eye can see. This only means they produce no UV and infrared lights whatsoever. HPS lamps are a viable alternative to HID lamps and provide reasonably comparable results, although they might not be as efficient.
Long-stemmed lamps can be very tall, as they can be over 3.5ft in length. Streetlights and High-beam fixtures are often very large because they need to project light out over a long distance. The high-pressure sodium lamps are smaller because of the increased atmospheric pressure. This makes it easier to install in small spaces and thinner for an easier installation.
LED vs HPS/LPS
There are two different technologies for creating light, with sodium vapour bulbs containing metals evaporated into inert gas while LEDs are a solid-state technology. In both cases, they work well and are also very efficient.
Some of the most energy-efficient lights are sodium vapour lights from the 1970s, but LEDs, which came about in 1990, are a more recent invention and thus have more benefits.
Sodium vapour lights may be more energy-efficient, but LEDs are even better. That’s why many cities have switched over to LEDs.
LEDs and sodium vapour lights emit light wavelengths across a small portion of the colour spectrum, but LEDs also produce less heat. They can create richer colour renderings and are also more energy-efficient.
HPS grow lights have cheaper start-ups costs, but the cost difference with LED growth has become much smaller as LED systems become more and more affordable.
HPS lights use more energy than LED grow lights, making them less efficient.
HPS lights also generate more heat than LEDs, and this often requires additional venting equipment to maintain the grow room temperature. If not addressed, an increase in heat can make growing difficult.
How many areas does a 1000w HPS light cover?
The wattage of the light will determine how much area you can light up. The higher the wattage, the larger the area will be.
A 1000 watt HPS light covers about 350 square feet of the area – about 7×7 feet.
A 600 watt covers 6×6 feet, a 400 watt will cover 4×4 feet, a 250 watt will cover 3×3 feet, and a 150 watt will cover 2×2 feet.
What is the cost of running a 1000W HPS light?
The Ballast Wattage of a 1000W HPS light is 1000. It covers an area of 7.1 ft x 7.1 ft of light coverage at 2500 lumens per sq. ft. The cost will be around $53 per month.
However, a 1000W system cost per month depends on the area you live in. You have to be aware of your area’s average price per kilowatt.
Some people stated that their bill was $217 to run two 1000watt HPS lights. Without these lights, the bill was only $25 a month.
Another person said that they pay 7 cents for summer and 6 cents for the rest of the year a KWH. So a 1000W lamp would cost 7 cents a kWh.
I’ll mention appliance electricity consumption cost per hour at 10 cents per kilowatt-hour for your reference. A 1200W hairdryer costs 12 cents, and a 1000W refrigerator costs 10 cents.
