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GE 44043 LU150/55 High Pressure Sodium Light Bulb

A 150-watt high-pressure sodium workhorse delivering 24,000 hours of high-efficiency amber illumination for industrial and commercial fixtures.

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Overview

The GE 44043 LU150/55 is a 150-watt high-pressure sodium lamp built for industrial and commercial area lighting where raw lumen output and long service life matter more than color fidelity. Operating in the 1900–2200K color temperature range with a CRI well below 30, this is an amber-spectrum source designed for warehouses, parking structures, street lighting, and security applications. The ED-23 1/2 envelope and Mogul base are standard HID form factors, ensuring compatibility across a broad range of commercial fixture housings.

With a rated average life of 24,000 hours, the LU150/55 is engineered to minimize relamping cycles in difficult-to-access installations. Universal burning position gives installers flexibility across vertically and horizontally oriented fixtures. Like all HPS sources, this lamp requires a compatible HID ballast and a warm-up period before reaching full output — and will not hot-restrike immediately after a power loss. For any application requiring accurate color rendering, a different lamp technology is required. For high-efficiency, long-life area illumination, this is a proven industrial workhorse.

Specifications

Brand
GE (General Electric)
Model
44043 / LU150/55
Wattage
150 Watts
Base Type
Mogul (E39)
Bulb Shape
ED-23 1/2
Lamp Type
High Pressure Sodium (HPS)
Burning Position
Universal
Average Rated Life
24,000 Hours

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Rated 24,000-hour average life makes it a low-maintenance choice for hard-to-reach fixtures
  • 150-watt input delivers high lumen output relative to wattage compared to older incandescent alternatives
  • Universal burning position allows flexible installation across a variety of commercial fixture types
  • Mogul base is a robust, industry-standard connection for high-wattage HID applications
  • ED-23 1/2 envelope is a common form factor with wide fixture compatibility

👎 Cons

  • CRI typically below 25 — completely unsuitable for color-critical photography, video, or retail display lighting
  • Requires a warm-up period of several minutes before reaching full lumen output
  • Hot restrike is not possible — lamp must cool before restarting after a power interruption
  • Requires a compatible HID ballast; this lamp will not operate directly on line voltage
  • Amber-dominant spectrum produces significant color shift compared to daylight or white-light sources

Frequently Asked Questions

High-pressure sodium lamps operate in the 1900–2200K range, producing a characteristic warm amber output. This is not a daylight or white-light source — it's optimized for efficiency and longevity in street, warehouse, and security lighting, not color-critical environments.
The LU150/55 uses a Mogul (E39) base. Verify your fixture accepts a Mogul base before ordering — this is a larger socket typically found in commercial HID fixtures, not standard residential lamp holders.
Yes. The universal burning position rating means this lamp can be operated vertically base-up, base-down, or horizontally without affecting performance or rated life — useful for varied fixture orientations in industrial settings.
High-pressure sodium lamps require a warm-up period of approximately 3–5 minutes to reach full lumen output. They also require a re-strike cool-down of several minutes if power is interrupted — plan accordingly for applications where instant restrike is required.
No. The HPS spectrum is heavily skewed toward yellow-amber wavelengths with poor CRI (typically below 25). It is not suitable for any application requiring accurate color rendering. It is an efficiency-focused source for industrial, outdoor, or area lighting only.

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