i really need some info. how do i tell if my bulb is bad?

tanchicka · 03-04-2005, 01:05 AM

hi i got a personal tanner off ebay that has ten TLK-40W/10R Philips bulbs in it. i tried tanning first starting at 7 minutes, all the way to an hour, and over 10 sessions and i havn't gained any color at all! i usually tan very easily so something must be wrong.

it looks pretty old, and the bulbs are a bit dark at each end, but they light up so they must be working.

is it possible all the bulbs are bad even when they still light up??

do you think i have to replace them??

thank you!

dcjjp2 · 03-04-2005, 11:52 AM

AN HOUR???? Not good....Is it just a face tanner? Not familiar with it.

SooSamm · 03-04-2005, 09:16 PM

What kind of bed is it?? how many bulbs?? I never heard of a 40 watt bulb in a bed...How old is the bed?? I dont expect one should ever tan for an hour??/ Is there any recommebded time on it??...and i change mine every 400 hours and 600 on my facials...see what you have and i would be happy to get you where you need to be...Have a Great Day...

tanchicka · 03-05-2005, 12:52 PM

It's 10 bulbs and they are 2 feet long. It looks really old. There is a timer on it that goes all the way up to 1 hour. I thought it might have been just weak bulbs, but I started very low and kept working up. Eventually I tried 1 hour and still nothing, no burn, no tan!

tanchicka · 03-05-2005, 12:55 PM

more pics if it helps you guys

and one more

Tan Talker · 03-05-2005, 03:32 PM

If you lamps are not in by 10 pm they are bad lamps. Very bad lamps and they should be punished!

pam · 03-05-2005, 04:03 PM

How do you punish a lamp...beat it with a sledge hammer??

COCONUT · 03-05-2005, 06:01 PM

i would of loved to take a sledge hammer to my lamps today.had 3 random lamps out!! 2 different beds! not a happy camper.

Neon Beach · 03-05-2005, 06:11 PM

No offence, but that's not much of a tanning device.

sunsally · 03-05-2005, 08:16 PM

I guess the BEST way to tell if they are "bad" will be to buy new ones and see if they are any better. Yes, it is certainly true that they can still "light up" but yet be "bad" in terms of their tanning power pretty much "used up" already.

I think it is a good guess that the reason someone sold it was because it wasn't working well. The only question will be if new bulbs help it to work better. In general, 10 40W lamps just is NOT going to give off much at all, so not sure how great of color you'll get even with brand new bulbs!

Where are you located? If you don't have a tanning distributor nearby, could try ordering bulbs from someone like Ultraviolet Resources (URI) out of the Cleveland OH area. Or CTS in MI. Try sending a PM to "EdS@URI" or "Sarge" (they both post in this forum fairly regularly) for more details on pricing.

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03-04-2005, 01:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
tanchicka Join Date: Mar 4 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	hi i got a personal tanner off ebay that has ten TLK-40W/10R Philips bulbs in it. i tried tanning first starting at 7 minutes, all the way to an hour, and over 10 sessions and i havn't gained any color at all! i usually tan very easily so something must be wrong. it looks pretty old, and the bulbs are a bit dark at each end, but they light up so they must be working. is it possible all the bulbs are bad even when they still light up?? do you think i have to replace them?? thank you!

03-04-2005, 11:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
dcjjp2 I love Derf!! Join Date: Jul 12 2004 Location: Va Posts: 5,299 Rep Power: 13	AN HOUR???? Not good....Is it just a face tanner? Not familiar with it.

03-04-2005, 09:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
SooSamm Join Date: Jun 2 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 624 Rep Power: 8	What kind of bed is it?? how many bulbs?? I never heard of a 40 watt bulb in a bed...How old is the bed?? I dont expect one should ever tan for an hour??/ Is there any recommebded time on it??...and i change mine every 400 hours and 600 on my facials...see what you have and i would be happy to get you where you need to be...Have a Great Day...

03-05-2005, 12:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
tanchicka Join Date: Mar 4 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	It's 10 bulbs and they are 2 feet long. It looks really old. There is a timer on it that goes all the way up to 1 hour. I thought it might have been just weak bulbs, but I started very low and kept working up. Eventually I tried 1 hour and still nothing, no burn, no tan!

03-05-2005, 12:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
tanchicka Join Date: Mar 4 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	more pics if it helps you guys and one more

03-05-2005, 03:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tan Talker Join Date: Jan 18 2002 Location: Lake Mary, Florida Posts: 1,020 Rep Power: 7	If you lamps are not in by 10 pm they are bad lamps. Very bad lamps and they should be punished!

03-05-2005, 04:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
pam Police Department Join Date: Oct 29 2001 Location: USA Posts: 5,036 Rep Power: 9	How do you punish a lamp...beat it with a sledge hammer??

03-05-2005, 06:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
COCONUT ~THE ORIGINAL COCO~ Join Date: Sep 2 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 6,224 Rep Power: 18	i would of loved to take a sledge hammer to my lamps today.had 3 random lamps out!! 2 different beds! not a happy camper.

03-05-2005, 06:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
Neon Beach I'm Banned Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 45 Posts: 52,065 Rep Power: 0	No offence, but that's not much of a tanning device.

03-05-2005, 08:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
sunsally www.highlinecapital.com Join Date: Nov 23 2004 Location: ITA Member & Berman Supporter! Posts: 2,496 Rep Power: 8	I guess the BEST way to tell if they are "bad" will be to buy new ones and see if they are any better. Yes, it is certainly true that they can still "light up" but yet be "bad" in terms of their tanning power pretty much "used up" already. I think it is a good guess that the reason someone sold it was because it wasn't working well. The only question will be if new bulbs help it to work better. In general, 10 40W lamps just is NOT going to give off much at all, so not sure how great of color you'll get even with brand new bulbs! Where are you located? If you don't have a tanning distributor nearby, could try ordering bulbs from someone like Ultraviolet Resources (URI) out of the Cleveland OH area. Or CTS in MI. Try sending a PM to "EdS@URI" or "Sarge" (they both post in this forum fairly regularly) for more details on pricing.

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