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Originally posted by el_topo
Well I for one am starting to get a little suspicious about the number of electrical threads we keep having. Rcoregyn, you may find more info in either of these threads: www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...
There are at least 3 or 4 people on the board with this same experience and currently a few different theories being discussed about it.
Originally posted by shauny
maybe its venus travelling in front of the sun ?
Originally posted by zero_snaz
I've noticed the same thing happens to me. I noticed a few years ago. Once or twice or more at night when I am out and about a street light will go out when I am almost under it. I've never noticed lights from buildings. Whats really weird is seeing the light turn back on after I pass...though I don't see that to often
High-pressure-sodium lamp (HPS). Normal end of life indication is on/off cycling, since the aging lamp requires a higher voltage for operation than the ballast can supply. This cycling sequence is normal, but not desirable, since the cycling can damage or destroy the starting circuit and/or ballast. Thus, you should check a cycling HPS fixture without delay. Other conditions that cause cycling include: a loose electrical connection, faulty internal electrical connection to the lamp or at an outdoor installation, and severe fixture vibration, causing lamp voltage to rise above operating limits.
the "end-of-life" cycling that typically occurs with street lamps. The ballast that starts the lamp and the lamp itself are separate items to purchase, and a ballast may outlast several lamps. Unfortunately, when the lamp fails, the ballast continues trying to start it, consuming its highest amperage energy in the process. This not only wastes energy, but also will cause premature failure of the ballast if not stopped soon. Because the lamps go off and on repeatedly, accurate reporting of failed lamps can be difficult. An observer may not realize that failing lamps cycle, and having seen the lamp out and then on the next day, may incorrectly assume it was repaired. Maintenance personnel may make a service call only to find all lamps in the area operating, then be recalled when one cycles back off.
A common roadside feature, High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps exhibit a long life span-about 5 years. They eventually fail when the arc tube darkens and lamp voltages can no longer maintain a continuous arc within the bulb.
At that point, abnormal cycling takes place, and the lamp continually flashes or attempts to start. The condition can prove especially difficult to detect because of the infrequency of the cycling.