To make it convenient and comfortable at night, various lighting devices are used, designed for outdoor street lighting. Details about all types -. They differ in shapes, type of light elements used, power, mounting methods and other characteristics. Although a large number of alternative models have appeared today, lamps for DRL lamps remain one of the most common.

DRL - arc mercury phosphor lamp high pressure(gas-discharge mercury lamp), designed for night street lighting and large-scale technical and general purpose. Differs in the increased light output as it has additional electrodes. Gas-discharge mercury light elements have a number of advantages, which allows them to remain popular with housing and communal services and in the private sector.

• Powerful– with standard power consumption (network 220 W), range from 125 to 1000 W.
• Bright- light output (Lm / W) up to 60 Lumens (fluorescent is "capable" of only 10 - 20 Lm / W).
• durable- Designed to last up to 20,000 hours.
• economical- consume less energy than incandescent lamps.
• frost-resistant– withstand severe frosts without degrading performance.

The fact that DRL "step on the heels" of more modern, LED elements is due to their significant shortcomings:

• Delay- the peak brightness of the lamp reaches within 7 minutes, which is not always convenient.
• The presence of a throttle- it increases the cost of the lamp and complicates the connection of the lamp.
• Noise accompaniment- A functioning throttle emits a hum.
• Weak color reproduction– the spectrum of the lamp is limited.
• flow fluctuations- the lamp "blinks" during operation.
• Difficulties in operation- since the working height of the lamps is on average 4 meters, installation, replacement of lamps and cleaning of ceiling lamps from midges require special equipment.

More information about street LED spotlights is written in.

Lamps with DRL are somewhat inferior to LED ones in terms of characteristics, but outperform incandescent lamps. But in terms of the combination of price and quality, gas-discharge ones are superior to LED ones, they are more affordable.

Varieties of lamps with DRL, their parameters and cost

Under DRL lamps, lamps of two main types are produced, which best meet the scope of application.

Console

All the usual, drop-shaped lamps for poles, fixed at an angle of 15 ° relative to the horizontal. Designed for one or more (up to three) lamps, they have both built-in and external choke. The body and reflector are made of special sheet steel. The plafond can be completed with a protective glass cap or a metal lattice. Used lamps: 125, 250, 400 watts. The price depends on the power. The cost of a 400 V DRL lamp is from 2000 rubles. DRL console luminaires are designed for high poles and lighting large areas. Mounting height from 3 to 5 meters. As for the technical characteristics, they are described above.

Crowning (floor lamp)

Usually made in the form of a frosted or transparent ball of glass or polycarbonate, a pillar, support or decorative cabinet acts as a base. They also produce floor lamps in the form of an inverted cone, in which the glass diffuser is supplemented with a protective metal cap. The throttle is located at the base of the ceiling, the lamp used: 125, 150 watts. It's over decorative look lamps, designed both for lighting and for decorating the site. Installation height from 3 to 5 meters.

Pillar lamps DRL are designed for high-rise lighting. Consoles give side, asymmetrical light, from floor lamps the lighting is distributed evenly. Console equipped with reflectors and cover a solid area.

The specific cost of luminaires for DRL depends on the manufacturer and body materials, console models with protective glass and glass crowning ones are more expensive. On average, the price of a console lamp starts at 900 rubles, for a crowning polycarbonate variety you will have to pay at least 1,400 rubles. If you settled on a glass floor lamp, prepare at least 2,500 rubles.

We organize street lighting wisely

If municipal services are engaged in the lighting of streets, roads and parks, then their country or household plot each owner arranges independently, based on the possibilities and preferences. Console lamps DRL, this is the best option for the upper tier of lighting, you can install one or more poles to completely cover the area. In addition, consoles are used to illuminate the facade, as they provide a bright, directional light output.

Floor lamps will look good along the alleys, above the benches, above the gates. Being located below, relative to the console, they form the second tier. One of the advantages of DRL lamps is their availability, on the scale of a large area, with a large number of lighting points, the savings from their use are tangible. It will turn out both effectively and decoratively.

Although the energy consumption of DRL lamps is lower than that of incandescent lamps, if they are lit all night long, the bills for payment will contain a significant amount. To reduce costs, it is worth using motion sensors. They can be equipped with lamps lower tier since their light is required periodically. Another way to save money is to install a photo relay for street lighting. you will find the diagram.

Connection

Unlike other lamps, gas-discharge mercury lamps are connected to the network through a ballast (ballast) - a choke. This is a stabilizer that converts the rated mains voltage into starting voltage, which is more than 2 times higher. Without a choke, the light bulb will simply burn out when turned on. The scheme is serial connection lamps with a choke connected to the network.

The majority of luminaires have built-in control gear, but they are somewhat more expensive; if necessary, you can actually buy a cheap model and supply it with a choke yourself. This circuit will also come in handy for owners of expensive fixtures, since chokes are weakness DRL, they burn out faster than the lamp runs out of its resource. The video shows in detail how to connect the throttle:

DRL pole lamps are durable, efficient and economical equipment that successfully combines power with decorative effect. Owners of summer cottages and personal plots will simultaneously receive good lighting and beautiful decoration with minimal cost. However, if you do not like DRL lamps, you can choose any other.

More recently, the DRL lighting lamp (arc mercury fluorescent) was the most common in street lamps. However, HPS lamps are superior in many lighting characteristics to DRL lighting lamps, but nevertheless, today they have a large selection on the market and they are still used in many places. This is primarily due to color rendering, DRL has a white daylight color, and HPS has orange.

The principle of operation of the DRL lighting lamp

Lighting lamp arc mercury fluorescent

1. - a glass flask filled with mercury vapor
2. - an ordinary base, maybe E14, 27, 40
3. – burner
4. – main working electrodes
5. - ignition electrode
6. - a resistor that limits the starting current

Principle of operation

Voltage is applied to the main and ignition electrode. Since they are close to each other, a glow discharge is formed and a large number of free electrons and positive ions appear in it. This thereby causes a discharge between the working electrodes, and it is converted into an arc and a discharge emitting strong ultraviolet radiation. It does not create visible light to the human eye. For this reason, on inside The flask is coated with a layer of phosphor, which, using the luminescence effect, creates the illumination that we know and see.

Features of work

The illumination of a mercury fluorescent lamp is directly proportional to the supply voltage. electrical network. When it is lowered by 10 %, illumination is reduced by 20 – 25 %. If the voltage drops to 80% of the nominal ( 220 V), then it may not ignite, and a working one may go out. It gets very hot during operation. For this reason, it is recommended to use heat-resistant wires when connecting the socket in fixtures. During switching on, it passes high current, and mercury vapor gradually turns into a gaseous state. Stabilization of processes to the working one lasts 10-15 minutes. It is also worth noting that the lower the temperature, the longer it will flare up. If the voltage is lost and the lamp goes out, it will not turn on again until it cools down.

Fig.2. light specifications

As can be seen from the table, the energy efficiency of DRL lamps ( 50 – 60 Lumen/Watt) is significantly smaller than HPS ( 80 – 120 Lumens/Watt). But, nevertheless, they are widely used to illuminate courtyards, streets, gardens, parks, as well as to illuminate houses and buildings. The main type of fixtures where they are used is housing and communal services.

Wiring diagram

Rice. 3. Choke connection

If you turn it on without connecting the DRL throttle, it will burn out. The choice of the throttle is carried out in accordance with its power. The most common power 125, 250, 400W. The inductor reduces the starting current, and the capacitor compensates for the reactive power component, which saves electricity up to 50 %. The inductor and capacitor are ballasts that come with the luminaire.

Recently, DRL lighting lamps for direct switching have appeared on sale, that is, it is connected to the network without a choke.

Since there are mercury vapor inside the DRL, special requirements are imposed on its storage.

An arc mercury lamp (DRL) is a light source that has become often used for the electrification of premises with a large area (production workshops, sites, squares). The DRL lamp does not differ in high-quality color reproduction, but is characterized by high light output. Its power ranges from 50 to 2000 watts. It is used in alternating current conditions, at which the voltage is 220 V. To ensure synchronization of a DRL-type lamp with a power source, it is necessary to have a ballast, which acts as a choke in the lamp.

arc mercury lamp

Varieties

• Arc mercury fluorescent lamps. They differ in relatively mediocre color transfer properties, a lot of heat is released during their operation. The time to enter the working stream is about 5 minutes. They are not resistant to power surges, for this reason it is recommended to use them in the presence of a regular source of electricity.

The structures associated with them must have heat-resistant actuators for safety reasons.

• Arc mercury erythema tungsten (DRVED). The principle of operation of such a DRL lamp provides for its use without a choke. They are connected through an active ballast, similar to traditional incandescent bulbs. Thanks to metal iodides in their construction, high level light transmission and reduce power consumption. Also, the presence of uviol glass allows you to pass ultraviolet rays well. Such technical characteristics of the DRL lamp make it an excellent product for illuminating rooms with a deficiency of ultraviolet radiation.

• Arc mercury fluorescent lamps (DRLF) that promote plant photosynthesis. They are also called reflex, since the inner surface of their bulb is covered with a reflective material. The device is the most efficient in the network with alternating current. This mercury lamp is commonly used in the field of photobiology to provide additional light to greenhouses and greenhouses.

Using DRLF lamps to illuminate a greenhouse

• Arc mercury tungsten lamps. The DRL arc lamp has the following characteristics: effective light output and a long period of operation even without the presence of control gear, compared with other varieties. It is applied to illumination of open wide objects: streets, parks, platforms.

Design

DRL lamp design

The DRL lamp consists of the following elements:

1. main electrodes.
2. ignition electrodes.
3. Inputs of electrodes.
4. Reserve gas.
5. Pozistor.
6. Mercury.
   

When DRL lamps were just being manufactured, their circuit included only a pair of electrodes. To connect it, a source of high-voltage pulses was needed, which had a very short duration of operation. The level of knowledge in the field of electrics at that time did not allow the creation of high-quality ignition devices, therefore, in the 70s of the last century, their production stopped. Now there are lamps with two pairs of electrodes, which do not require PA to turn on.

The arc mercury lamp contains the following functional elements:

1. Plinth with carving. Carries out the reception of electricity from the source by means of threaded and point contacts. After that, electrical impulses are transmitted to the burner electrodes.
2. The quartz mercury burner is the main component, filled with a pair of key and a pair of auxiliary electrodes. It is filled with argon and mercury, due to which heat exchange occurs inside the DRL lamp.
3. Glass bottle - external part with a quartz burner with conductors inside. The balloon device is filled with nitrogen. It also contains a pair of limiting resistors and is covered with a phosphor from the inside.

Principle of operation

The design of a glass or ceramic burner with heat-resistant properties is filled with a carefully measured amount of inert gas. It is also filled with mercury, which, when the lamp is off, takes the form of a small ball or settles on the walls of the container. The light generator here is an electric discharge pylon. These technical characteristics directly affect the connection scheme of the DRL lamp using a choke.

It is important to use DRL very carefully, because it contains mercury vapor. A broken flask entails the spread of toxic fumes over an area of ​​20 square meters. m.

Lamp switching algorithm

1. The fluorescent lamp receives voltage from the network, it enters the gap between the main and secondary electrodes on the one hand, and to the same gap on the other. The next area affected by the current is the space between the pairs of main electrodes in the burner.
2. Since the distance between the main and secondary electrodes is very small, efficient ionization of the gas occurs. Tension in a given space is necessarily accompanied by resistances. After completion of ionization from both ends of the burner, it goes to the interval between the main electrodes. This is the fundamental principle of the circuit for switching on and burning the DRL lamp.
3. A burning lamp reaches its peak performance after 5 minutes. This amount of time is due to the state of aggregation of chilled mercury. After turning on, it, heating up, gradually evaporates, thereby improving the strength of the discharges. As soon as the mercury has completely turned into a gas, the DRL lamp will begin to demonstrate best performance light output.

As soon as the lamp goes out, its next inclusion becomes possible only after it has completely cooled down. This is one of the disadvantages of this lighting method, as it is dependent on the quality of the electricity.

Connection

The procedure for turning on a 4-electrode lamp is a circuit of a choke and DRL connected in series and connected to the network. The connection scheme through the choke does not depend on the polarity of the connection. Since its main task is to stabilize the operation of the lamp, it is important to select a choke that matches the power of the light bulb. In order to regulate reactive power and significantly save electricity, the circuit may include a capacitor.

This lamp is connected to the power supply system through a choke, the choice of which is related to the power of the DRL. The main function of the inductor is to limit the current that feeds the lamp. If you connect the lamp without it, it will immediately burn out, because the voltage will be too high. It is also necessary to include a capacitor in the circuit, which, as a result of its effect on reactive power, helps to save electricity several times.

DRL lamp connection diagram

The chokeless connection of the DRL lamp is not permissible due to the high starting voltage, when the light bulb can simply burn out.

Advantages of DRL lamps

• Long-term service (on average - 10 thousand hours);
• Effective light output - up to 50 lm / W;
• Stable uninterrupted operation throughout the entire period of operation;
• The light transmission index allows the use of such lamps both for lighting on the street and in industrial premises.
• DRL emit light close in its color temperature to daylight (4200 K);
• Unpretentious to features external environment(except for severe frosts);
• Compact dimensions combined with high unit power.

Four-electrode lamps

Cons of DRL lamps

• Operate only with ballasts, chokes in the presence of alternating current;
• Their color spectrum includes only shades of blue and green flowers, which does not give realistic lighting;
• They require a relatively long turn-on time, which increases depending on the decrease in ambient temperature;
• Low light transmission;
• Strong sensitivity to mains voltage drops;
• Re-ignition takes 5 minutes or more, since the lamp must be completely cool before this;
• Powerful pulsations of streams of light;
• At the end of the service period, the luminous flux is reduced.

Why do they fade. Video

The answer to the question, honorably the DRV lamps go out, can be found in this video.

Since the high pressure lamps DRL 250 have quite long term services and high efficiency compared to incandescent lamps, they are successfully used to illuminate summer cottages, the courtyard of a private house, and sometimes even garages inside.

They have proven their reliability, quality of lighting for years, and all this for a small amount. Buying a DRL 250 lamp is not difficult. It is on sale both in specialized stores and in the markets.

The problem may be the inductor, which is included in the lamp power circuit. Since it consists of copper wire, its cost, even used one, is quite high. Therefore, this article will describe how to make a choke for this lamp from other commonly encountered materials. For example, from the three chokes of the once common fixtures daylight. Such chokes were used in lamps for LD 40 lamps, respectively, they had a choke of 40 watts. Also lamps for LD 80 lamps in which the chokes are rated at 80 watts. To replace the choke for a 250 watt DRL lamp, you will need two 80 watt chokes and one 40 watt choke. Their connection diagrams can be seen in the figure.

It can be seen here that all chokes are connected in parallel, that is, chokes connected in parallel form one common ballast.

One wire coming from the 220 socket connects to one end of the chokes, and the other wire in the 220 socket goes straight to the lamp. The wire from the output of the chokes goes to the second contact of the lamp. The option of mounting the chokes on the luminaire body can be seen in the photographs.

You can also see how the wires are connected here. It is very important to take care that the contacts on the terminals of the chokes have a good connection, otherwise they will spark and heat up. In the photo you can see how such a throttle works and starts the DRL 250 lamp.

This design has been made and tested with good results. In addition to mounting chokes on fixtures, you can make a separate box in which they will be located, and bring the wires from it to the lamp. This assembly option will cost much less than buying a special throttle. I would like to remind you that according to the rules for installing DRL lamps, they must be at a height of at least three meters. Since it is believed that they emit a lot of ultraviolet light, and this is undesirable for human skin.
That's all. Try and you will succeed.

Since DRL 250 high-pressure lamps are distinguished by their durability, reliability and high efficiency compared to standard incandescent lamps, they are often used to create lighting on summer cottages, in the yards of private houses, garages, etc. By themselves, such lamps are quite simple to purchase at any specialized store, they have a very reasonable price and are very common. The problem is that the inductor that is included in the lamp power circuit is made of copper and can cost much more. Therefore, the author decided to try to make a similar throttle on his own.

Materials and tools that the author used to create home-made chokes for the DRL 250 lamp:
1) 40 watt chokes from the lamp LD 40
2) 80 watt chokes from LD 80 lamps
3) wires
4) blowtorch
5) soldering accessories

Let us consider in more detail using the example of photographs how to assemble a home-made choke for DRL 250 lamps.
As mentioned above, conventional chokes for the DRL 250 lamp are quite expensive, as they consist of copper wire. So he decided to make it himself from cheaper similar materials. As such materials, the author chose other chokes from less powerful lamps daylight.

Before using DRL 250 lamps, the author used LD 40 and LD 80 lamps, which have 40 and 80 watt chokes, respectively. Therefore, it was decided to create a throttle for the DRL 250 from them. After making some calculations, the author found that for one DRL 250 inductor, at least two 80-watt inductors and one 40-watt inductor are needed.

Below is a diagram of their connection:

As can be seen from the diagrams, all chokes are connected in parallel, thus forming a common ballast. This is important, since when the chokes are connected in series, the inductance will add up and inductive reactance increases accordingly. Therefore, when connected in series, the current will be limited at the level of a 20-watt lamp.

The author connected one of the wires coming from the outlet of a standard 220 V outlet to one of the ends of the inductor, and put the other wire from the outlet directly onto the lamp. The wire that comes from the output of the chokes, the author connected to the second contact of the lamp. Practical use such a scheme is shown in the photographs below:

In these photos it is also noticeable how the wires are connected. The author notes that it is necessary to make sure that the contacts on the terminals of the inductors have a good enough connection, otherwise they will spark and heat up, which can lead to breakage.

The following photo shows how such a throttle works and that it is able to start the DRL 250 lamp:

According to the author, such a scheme is reliable enough for use. So he suggests in the future to use a separate box in which the chokes will be located, and simply bring the wires from it to the lamps. This assembly option cost the author less than buying a special choke for the DRL 250 lamp. The author also recalls that special attention should be paid to safety during testing, and he also advises placing the lamps at a height of at least three meters, since he believes that they are studying quite a lot of ultraviolet.