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MA/V odd behaviour?
On one of the two MA/V lamps, as it reached full power, I noticed the main arc stream was bowing to one side towards the bottom of the tube, and a secondary arc was making its way upwards. I have no familiarity with MA/V lamps so don't know if that's normal behaviour.  
Keywords: Lamps

MA/V odd behaviour?

On one of the two MA/V lamps, as it reached full power, I noticed the main arc stream was bowing to one side towards the bottom of the tube, and a secondary arc was making its way upwards. I have no familiarity with MA/V lamps so don't know if that's normal behaviour.

1000042034.jpeg 1000042022A.jpeg 1000042012.jpeg 1000041932.jpeg 1000037832A.jpg
Lamp
Lamp Type:MA/V 250
Filament/Radiator Type:Mercury vapour
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Filename:1000042034.jpeg
Album name:AgentHalogen_87 / Street light stuff
Keywords:Lamps
Filesize:40 KiB
Date added:02 Sep 2026
Dimensions:720 x 1600 pixels
Displayed:8 times
URL:https://trad-lighting.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=1402
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Comment 1 to 2 of 2
Page: 1

Tuopeek   [Thu 03 Sep 2026 at 11:32]
That does seem quite unusual. I have seen arcs move around on the electrode surface, particularly in new lamps sometimes from the edge and creating a slight kink. My observations seem to relate to the most emissive points on the electrode surface and generally stabilises around the shortest path for the arc. Two arc path sounds even more rare. I have only observed anything like that in tubes I have made with some added iodine. This appears to create two different paths depending on current direction so there is actually a rectifying behaviour separated into two arc paths in the one tube. I have never seen this behaviour in a commercial tube. Also, the kick in the arc shown is large enough to suggest influence from a magnetic field. Taking a second look I wonder if the lower support is common to the top electrode and we are seeing an attraction to the electric field there. Could the second arc be an internal reflection as it's hard to be sure in the picture?
Ria   [Thu 03 Sep 2026 at 11:47]
Can't say I've seen it before, not on any of my lamps anyway. Very strange Wonder

Comment 1 to 2 of 2
Page: 1