Buck Boosters - tanTALK

stormyout · 11-24-2001, 11:13 PM

Posted: 11/24/01 11:10p
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We have 4 SunVision beds that have 3 phase 208v coming into them. The ETS tech says they run best at 230v single phase. He says we need buck boosters (at$150 a piece!)Is this really necessary, or can we get by without them? What does this do to the bulbs? (shorter life, ect.?) Thanks

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Tamar · 11-25-2001, 06:51 AM

Stormyout, someone much smarter than me should give a technical explanation as to why you SHOULD have buckboosters, but I will give you one as an amateur. Buckboosters help regulate the electricity flow to the bed. If it is low, it boosts it up; too high, keeps it down. I suppose it is because you can't assume the power coming from outside will always be constant and you need it to be to run the beds, perhaps like a car alternator that might be under- or over- charging, neither situation is ideal. Luckily each of our beds had one when we bought the place. Hope this helps a little.

Ken · 11-25-2001, 05:11 PM

Check Grainger for buckboosts and save some dough. You will need an electrician to wire them properly. They don't regulate power, they simply boost or cut it depending on how they're wired. If the power fluctuates, the buckboost output will fluctuate right along with it. If your beds have ballasts designed to run on 220v (and they probably do) you should supply 220 to 230v, not 208. Running too low a voltage will shorten the life of the components.

NO TAN LINES · 11-26-2001, 07:59 AM

KEN IS EXACTLY RIGHT...... WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY SALON, I HAD OLDER BEDS. THEY WEREN'T GETTING ENOUGH POWER AND KNOWONE WAS REALLY GETTING TAN. I TALKED TO MY DISTRIBUTOR AND HE SOLD ME USED ONES FOR ABOUT $50. AFTER I PUT THEM IN, MOST OF MY TANNERS COULDN'T EVEN STAY IN THE BEDS FOR THE FULL TIME. WOW, WHAT A DIFFERENCE......

I HAVE NEW BEDS NOW, (SUNDASH'S)THAT DON'T NEED THEM. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT MY STAND-UP (SUNDAZZLER) NEEDED ONE. BOY, I CAN'T KEEP THE PEOPLE OUT OF THERE NOW. IT IS REALLY A BIG DIFFERENCE.

CALL YOUR DISTRIBUTOR AND SEE IF THEY HAVE USED ONE'S. DON'T PAY FOR NEW ONE'S.

IT REALLY HELPS, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR KIND OF BEDS.

TB · 11-26-2001, 10:39 AM

also, if you are purchasing new units and you don't put the buck boosters on as instructed by ETS, they will not honor the warranty on the units if a component fails...so...install the buck boosters. a little more money upfront will save you more in the future.

there is also helpful information on fsparts.com in the buck booster faq section ...

tb

Rhino · 11-26-2001, 12:39 PM

Hey guys
If your buying new beds get the manufacturer to throw them in that is how I got my buckboosters and timer Wheel and Deal they have markup in these beds. I got the price I wanted to pay for the beds then when they told me I needed these bb I told them they need to throw them in and I will purchase + a timer got what I wanted and wouldn't put a new bed in without one. By the way Chris how do you like your sundazzler I never see anyone talk about them and I am looking to purchase a stand up Happy Holidays:-)
Denise

Rich C · 11-26-2001, 12:46 PM

Rhino,

Our Sundazzler work's great. It's getting older though and starting to show the signs of wear and tear, but the new one's do look nice.

NO TAN LINES · 11-26-2001, 07:27 PM

Rhino,
I love my Sundazzler. It is really great. Customers don't have a problem paying more to go in it.
In another post, someone was talking about a venting system for it. I need to check that out.The new Sundazzler has fans on the floor.
Haven't had any problems at all......

Hope that helps........

Shannon_tyh · 11-26-2001, 10:37 PM

The buck boosters have helped me with keeping my bills down. When I first opened I didn't have them, and my bill was out of sight, plus if you have too much current running through you will damage the bed. I had to replace the bulbs also and they only had 300 hours on them but from where there had been a current running to the beds that was higher than what was suggested, it made everything screw up. My recommendation is to get the buck boosters, without it you will not have a warranty, and you will be replacing bulbs faster than you can order them.

corvette · 01-19-2002, 09:35 AM

IF YOU ARE COMING FROM A SINGLE PHASE TRANSFORMER ON THE POLE OR UNDERGROUND YOUR VOLYAGE WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO 230-240VAC,I RUN MY ROYAL SUN BEDS AT 240 WHICH IS INCOMING VOLTAGE TO MY BUILDING 3 YEARS NO PROBLEMS VERY HIGH OUTPUT.I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD NEED TO BUCK THE VOLTAGE SINCE THIS VOLTAGE IS WELL WITHIN THE +OR- 10% OF ANY ELECTRICAL DESIGNED COMPONET,I WOULD BOOST THE INPUT IF IT IS AT 208VAC BECAUSE YOU WILL GET MORE OUTPUT FROM YOUR LAMPS AT THE HIGHER VOLTAGE NOT CURRENT.PLEASE TELL ME IF I AM TOTALLY WRONG BUT THE COMPONENTS THEY USE IN THESE BEDS ARE NOT PRECISION COMPONENTS BY ANY MEANS THE 208VAC SINGLE PHASE IS COMING FROM A 3PHASE TRANSFORMER AND IF YOU HAVE 230-240VAC SINGLE PHASE YOU ARE GETTING IT FROM A SINGLE PHASE TRANSFORMER BY THE WAY YOUR POWER COMPANY CAN ADJUST YOUR VOLTAGE BY TRYING DIFFERENT TAPPS ON THE TRANSFORMER IF YOU ARE THE ONLY CUSTOMER ON THE LINE SO YOU WONT NEED BUCKS OR BOOSTERS,I ALWAYS TRY TO FIND 240VAC INCOMING POWER TO MY SALONS AND HAVE NEVER USED A BUCK IN 10 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP.

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11-24-2001, 11:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
stormyout Join Date: Aug 8 2001 Posts: 35 Rep Power: 0	Posted: 11/24/01 11:10p -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We have 4 SunVision beds that have 3 phase 208v coming into them. The ETS tech says they run best at 230v single phase. He says we need buck boosters (at$150 a piece!)Is this really necessary, or can we get by without them? What does this do to the bulbs? (shorter life, ect.?) Thanks --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11-25-2001, 06:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tamar Join Date: Aug 15 2001 Posts: 1,906 Rep Power: 23	Stormyout, someone much smarter than me should give a technical explanation as to why you SHOULD have buckboosters, but I will give you one as an amateur. Buckboosters help regulate the electricity flow to the bed. If it is low, it boosts it up; too high, keeps it down. I suppose it is because you can't assume the power coming from outside will always be constant and you need it to be to run the beds, perhaps like a car alternator that might be under- or over- charging, neither situation is ideal. Luckily each of our beds had one when we bought the place. Hope this helps a little.

11-25-2001, 05:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ken Join Date: Nov 21 2000 Location: Midwest Posts: 198 Rep Power: 24	Check Grainger for buckboosts and save some dough. You will need an electrician to wire them properly. They don't regulate power, they simply boost or cut it depending on how they're wired. If the power fluctuates, the buckboost output will fluctuate right along with it. If your beds have ballasts designed to run on 220v (and they probably do) you should supply 220 to 230v, not 208. Running too low a voltage will shorten the life of the components.

11-26-2001, 07:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
NO TAN LINES Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Dec 7 2005 Posts: 205 Rep Power: 0	KEN IS EXACTLY RIGHT...... WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY SALON, I HAD OLDER BEDS. THEY WEREN'T GETTING ENOUGH POWER AND KNOWONE WAS REALLY GETTING TAN. I TALKED TO MY DISTRIBUTOR AND HE SOLD ME USED ONES FOR ABOUT $50. AFTER I PUT THEM IN, MOST OF MY TANNERS COULDN'T EVEN STAY IN THE BEDS FOR THE FULL TIME. WOW, WHAT A DIFFERENCE...... I HAVE NEW BEDS NOW, (SUNDASH'S)THAT DON'T NEED THEM. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT MY STAND-UP (SUNDAZZLER) NEEDED ONE. BOY, I CAN'T KEEP THE PEOPLE OUT OF THERE NOW. IT IS REALLY A BIG DIFFERENCE. CALL YOUR DISTRIBUTOR AND SEE IF THEY HAVE USED ONE'S. DON'T PAY FOR NEW ONE'S. IT REALLY HELPS, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR KIND OF BEDS.

11-26-2001, 10:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
TB Join Date: Sep 25 2001 Posts: 63 Rep Power: 0	also, if you are purchasing new units and you don't put the buck boosters on as instructed by ETS, they will not honor the warranty on the units if a component fails...so...install the buck boosters. a little more money upfront will save you more in the future. there is also helpful information on fsparts.com in the buck booster faq section ... tb

11-26-2001, 12:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rhino Join Date: Jul 17 2001 Location: Washington/PNW Posts: 181 Rep Power: 23	Hey guys If your buying new beds get the manufacturer to throw them in that is how I got my buckboosters and timer Wheel and Deal they have markup in these beds. I got the price I wanted to pay for the beds then when they told me I needed these bb I told them they need to throw them in and I will purchase + a timer got what I wanted and wouldn't put a new bed in without one. By the way Chris how do you like your sundazzler I never see anyone talk about them and I am looking to purchase a stand up Happy Holidays:-) Denise

11-26-2001, 12:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rich C Join Date: Feb 7 2000 Posts: 154 Rep Power: 25	Rhino, Our Sundazzler work's great. It's getting older though and starting to show the signs of wear and tear, but the new one's do look nice.

11-26-2001, 07:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
NO TAN LINES Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Dec 7 2005 Posts: 205 Rep Power: 0	Rhino, I love my Sundazzler. It is really great. Customers don't have a problem paying more to go in it. In another post, someone was talking about a venting system for it. I need to check that out.The new Sundazzler has fans on the floor. Haven't had any problems at all...... Hope that helps........

11-26-2001, 10:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
Shannon_tyh Join Date: Nov 16 2001 Posts: 261 Rep Power: 23	The buck boosters have helped me with keeping my bills down. When I first opened I didn't have them, and my bill was out of sight, plus if you have too much current running through you will damage the bed. I had to replace the bulbs also and they only had 300 hours on them but from where there had been a current running to the beds that was higher than what was suggested, it made everything screw up. My recommendation is to get the buck boosters, without it you will not have a warranty, and you will be replacing bulbs faster than you can order them.

01-19-2002, 09:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
corvette Join Date: Feb 28 2001 Location: tennessee Age: 62 Posts: 205 Rep Power: 24	IF YOU ARE COMING FROM A SINGLE PHASE TRANSFORMER ON THE POLE OR UNDERGROUND YOUR VOLYAGE WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO 230-240VAC,I RUN MY ROYAL SUN BEDS AT 240 WHICH IS INCOMING VOLTAGE TO MY BUILDING 3 YEARS NO PROBLEMS VERY HIGH OUTPUT.I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD NEED TO BUCK THE VOLTAGE SINCE THIS VOLTAGE IS WELL WITHIN THE +OR- 10% OF ANY ELECTRICAL DESIGNED COMPONET,I WOULD BOOST THE INPUT IF IT IS AT 208VAC BECAUSE YOU WILL GET MORE OUTPUT FROM YOUR LAMPS AT THE HIGHER VOLTAGE NOT CURRENT.PLEASE TELL ME IF I AM TOTALLY WRONG BUT THE COMPONENTS THEY USE IN THESE BEDS ARE NOT PRECISION COMPONENTS BY ANY MEANS THE 208VAC SINGLE PHASE IS COMING FROM A 3PHASE TRANSFORMER AND IF YOU HAVE 230-240VAC SINGLE PHASE YOU ARE GETTING IT FROM A SINGLE PHASE TRANSFORMER BY THE WAY YOUR POWER COMPANY CAN ADJUST YOUR VOLTAGE BY TRYING DIFFERENT TAPPS ON THE TRANSFORMER IF YOU ARE THE ONLY CUSTOMER ON THE LINE SO YOU WONT NEED BUCKS OR BOOSTERS,I ALWAYS TRY TO FIND 240VAC INCOMING POWER TO MY SALONS AND HAVE NEVER USED A BUCK IN 10 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP.

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