Lamp Burn Out Help! - tanTALK

Malibu_Stacey · 04-02-2002, 06:14 PM

My bulbs are dying very early. I have VHR units with 160w Cosmo bulbs. Right now for example, I have bulbs that should have 100 hours left and new starters in the panel that are flicking and dying. Can anyone help me? If there is any area I lack in, this is it. HELP!

Stacey

Sam James · 04-02-2002, 06:24 PM

Give us some more information so we can try to help you solve this problem. Exactly what lamp are you using? In what type of bed/what ballast? At what voltage? How many hours on lamps? Is this the first set of lamps? We may have to evaluate the air flow/cooling of the bed and room.

This should do for now. Lets se what we can figure out.

Malibu_Stacey · 04-02-2002, 06:41 PM

Ok bear with me here now as I am not very lamp savy .

Bulbs are: 160w bi-pin Cosmolux
Stand-up VHR's Sun Capsules, 40 bulb
Set lamp usage for 600 hours max, so about 100 hours left right now.
Units are 4 years old, many bulb and starter changes.
Lots of air circulation, open tops with dressing rooms attched, not in rooms.

Is this info better? Any more questions, don't hesitate. THANKS!

Stacey

Sam James · 04-02-2002, 09:50 PM

I am not as familiar with the Sun Capsule as many others on here. Most people would automatically think that the problem is the lamps. That is not always the case. I think the first place to look is at your voltage. There is no need to speculate, but the voltage is important. Lets get a digital reading on it to be sure it is right.

And to be honest, 500 hours on a 160 watt reflector lamp isn't too bad. But there should not be any flickering. The flckering could be indicatng that there is a problem for sure.

MJ · 04-02-2002, 09:53 PM

500 is the max time I run My 160 VHR from cosmedico..Stacey..I order at 450 and change usually by 500 hrs.

Mj

Tamar · 04-02-2002, 11:14 PM

Have you changed filters lately to less porous?

Is there new construction around you that might affect power coming to you from the supplier?

Is voltage to the bed what it should be?

Do you have buck boosters?

Anything change recently IN THIS ROOM?

Have you accessed wiring and perhaps pinched something while closing back up?

Chippp · 04-03-2002, 08:33 AM

that is a normal life for those lamps...remember you got many many sessions out of those lamps divide the 500 hours by how many sessions went through the booth.
Then do the same for a 20 or 30 min tanning bed.....you came out ahead with the booth I bet.

Most VHO lamps used in booths only last 350 to 450 hours. But with 10 min or less sessions lengths, that is a lot of sessions per lamp change.
We use all VHO 160 watt rapid start lamps no starters needed, never have any problems.

Sam James · 04-03-2002, 07:29 PM

Stacy,

It sounds like you are getting some pretty good info from people that know their stuff. You still haven't said what the voltage is. Lamps really should not flicker or burn out during the rated lifetime. The standard I expect of our lamps would be.... you should be able to run your lamps up to at least 75% of their rated life and throw them away while they are still tanning very well. If you really want to run them to 100% of the rated lifetime, then the should still work, and not flicker or burnout. The should still tan. Nothing like a new lamp, but still giving favorable color.

Brian Oshman · 04-10-2002, 11:29 AM

Are the lamps that you are having problems with only on the door? If so this is caused by the fan sucking the door closed and causing it to slam. Sun Capsule has installed a switch to the new models that shuts off the fan when the door is opened to eliminate this problem. It can be retrofitted to older units. Order one from Sun Capsule.

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04-02-2002, 06:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Malibu_Stacey Join Date: Jun 18 2001 Posts: 721 Rep Power: 23	My bulbs are dying very early. I have VHR units with 160w Cosmo bulbs. Right now for example, I have bulbs that should have 100 hours left and new starters in the panel that are flicking and dying. Can anyone help me? If there is any area I lack in, this is it. HELP! Stacey

04-02-2002, 06:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sam James Join Date: Nov 2 2000 Location: GA & TN Posts: 196 Rep Power: 0	Give us some more information so we can try to help you solve this problem. Exactly what lamp are you using? In what type of bed/what ballast? At what voltage? How many hours on lamps? Is this the first set of lamps? We may have to evaluate the air flow/cooling of the bed and room. This should do for now. Lets se what we can figure out.

04-02-2002, 06:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Malibu_Stacey Join Date: Jun 18 2001 Posts: 721 Rep Power: 23	Ok bear with me here now as I am not very lamp savy . Bulbs are: 160w bi-pin Cosmolux Stand-up VHR's Sun Capsules, 40 bulb Set lamp usage for 600 hours max, so about 100 hours left right now. Units are 4 years old, many bulb and starter changes. Lots of air circulation, open tops with dressing rooms attched, not in rooms. Is this info better? Any more questions, don't hesitate. THANKS! Stacey

04-02-2002, 09:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sam James Join Date: Nov 2 2000 Location: GA & TN Posts: 196 Rep Power: 0	I am not as familiar with the Sun Capsule as many others on here. Most people would automatically think that the problem is the lamps. That is not always the case. I think the first place to look is at your voltage. There is no need to speculate, but the voltage is important. Lets get a digital reading on it to be sure it is right. And to be honest, 500 hours on a 160 watt reflector lamp isn't too bad. But there should not be any flickering. The flckering could be indicatng that there is a problem for sure.

04-02-2002, 09:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
MJ Join Date: Jan 21 2002 Posts: 2,709 Rep Power: 23	500 is the max time I run My 160 VHR from cosmedico..Stacey..I order at 450 and change usually by 500 hrs. Mj

04-02-2002, 11:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tamar Join Date: Aug 15 2001 Posts: 1,906 Rep Power: 23	Have you changed filters lately to less porous? Is there new construction around you that might affect power coming to you from the supplier? Is voltage to the bed what it should be? Do you have buck boosters? Anything change recently IN THIS ROOM? Have you accessed wiring and perhaps pinched something while closing back up?

04-03-2002, 08:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
Chippp Join Date: Apr 19 2001 Posts: 2,262 Rep Power: 24	that is a normal life for those lamps...remember you got many many sessions out of those lamps divide the 500 hours by how many sessions went through the booth. Then do the same for a 20 or 30 min tanning bed.....you came out ahead with the booth I bet. Most VHO lamps used in booths only last 350 to 450 hours. But with 10 min or less sessions lengths, that is a lot of sessions per lamp change. We use all VHO 160 watt rapid start lamps no starters needed, never have any problems.

04-03-2002, 07:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sam James Join Date: Nov 2 2000 Location: GA & TN Posts: 196 Rep Power: 0	Stacy, It sounds like you are getting some pretty good info from people that know their stuff. You still haven't said what the voltage is. Lamps really should not flicker or burn out during the rated lifetime. The standard I expect of our lamps would be.... you should be able to run your lamps up to at least 75% of their rated life and throw them away while they are still tanning very well. If you really want to run them to 100% of the rated lifetime, then the should still work, and not flicker or burnout. The should still tan. Nothing like a new lamp, but still giving favorable color.

04-10-2002, 11:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
Brian Oshman Guest Join Date: Apr 29 2001 Location: Stewartsville, NJ Age: 55 Posts: 3,121 Rep Power: 0	Are the lamps that you are having problems with only on the door? If so this is caused by the fan sucking the door closed and causing it to slam. Sun Capsule has installed a switch to the new models that shuts off the fan when the door is opened to eliminate this problem. It can be retrofitted to older units. Order one from Sun Capsule.

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