NEW LIGHTING SYSTEMS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1935, Page 7

NEW LIGHTING SYSTEMS

BRIGHT SHOPPING BLOCK NEW PLYMOUTH DEMONSTRATION. COUNCIL AND RETAILERS MEEET. RECOMMENDATIONS ASKED FOR. Street lighting on the Neon system, adopted by many large cities in other parts of the world and already tried with success in other Dominion centres, was demonstrated for the first time in New Plymouth streets last night. Borough councillors and members of the New Plymouth Retailers’ Association who carefully inspected the efficiency of temporary installations made by the electricity department were almost unanimous in the opinion that the system was suitable for permanent installation and were unanimous that, although possessing minor disadvantages of colour, the new lamps were an immense improvement on the old system of lighting. A deputation of members of the Retailers’ Association will wait on the electric light committee when it meets tomorrow and will probably recommend that one of the Neon makes of lamp should be installed. A further recommendation will be made that the community lighting system at present in operation should be taken over by the council and maintained at its expense, the lights to be rearranged at constant intervale to give absolute uniformity of illumination on the footpaths. An electricity committeeman last night estimated that the opst of the entire work, if undertaken by the council, would be in the vicinity of £lOOO. FIVE TYPES DEMONSTRATED. Five types of lamp were used in last night’s demonstration, all operated on the gaseous discharge system. All would consume more current than the present street lights. Three types gave a novel, bluish light which contrasted strongly with the yellow rays given from ordinary metal filament street lamps. One type emitted an amber light and one the more usual yellow light. It was noticeable that although the effect was unpleasant at first sight the efficiency of the blue lights in even, non-dazzle illumination was considerably greater than that of the other types. The installation was best viewed from the intersection of Devon and Liardet Streets, where the full effect of the even, high degree of illumination in the main shopping block could be appreciated. Mr. W. H. Hugge.tt, the council’s electrical engineer, and Mr. P. E. Stainton, chairman of the electric light committee, discussed the relative merits of the types with other members of the inspecting body. It was explained that the system under trial was novel in that it broke away from the out-of-date principle that all practical illuminants must depend on radiation emitted from heated bodies. There was a limit to the efficiency obtainable when the melting point of metals such as tungsten was approached. The new system depended, however, upon the illumination obtained by the charging of gaseous vapour with a high degree of electricity. The gas particles became excited and highly incandescent without any great heat resulting. MARKED EFFICIENCY. Certainly the increased efficiency was marked in the quality of illumination given by the three mercury discharge lamps demonstrated. Considering the fact that each globe was of 16,000 lumens power the absence of annoying glare was remarkable. Heavy shadows were practically non-existent and, even at considerable distances from the light, objects were ' clearly defined. Reflectors within the lanterns were calculated to throw most of the light given by the globe outwards and downwards. The quality of the ilumination. given by the two lamps installed in Egmont Street was noticeably better than that given by the others' in Devon Street. It had apparently been corrected to obviate the most noticeable “ghastliness” of the blue emitted by the charged mercury vapour. The amber “sodium discharge” lamps installed near the Opera House were of only one-quarter of the power of the blue lamps and consequently did not show up to advantage ,though definition and the general effect were pleasant.

Speaking to members of the Retailers’ Association at the demonstration Mr. Stainton explained that the council had had under consideration a scheme for improved lighting for the business area of the town for some considerable time, but had deliberately delayed decision until the results of experiments made elsewhere were known and until the latest type l : were available for trial. The electric light committee, he said, would be glad to have the opinion of the association on the relative merits of the types demonstrated.