Restrike ignitor

An instant restrike ignitor for use with a high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp, the instant restrike ignitor comprising:

• a bleeder circuit including a resistor in parallel with a capacitor, the bleeder circuit in electrical communication with a voltage source;
• a transformer in electrical communication with the bleeder circuit, the transformer including a first winding that is in communication with and powers a lamp and a second winding;
• and
• a sidac in electrical communication with the second winding of the transformer and the bleeder circuit, the sidac having a minimum holding current 50 mA and configured to discharge the capacitor to generate high voltage pulses that are sent, via the transformer, to the lamp to reignite the lamp after a power interruption that extinguishes the lamp.

A method of reigniting an arc of a lamp when there is a power interruption to the lamp that extinguishes the lamp, the method comprising:

• providing a triggering circuit in electrical communication with the lamp;
• providing voltage to a triggering circuit until a predetermined breakage voltage point is reached;
• and
• when the predetermined breakage voltage point is reached, discharging five or less high voltage pulses to the lamp.