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Tanning Bed Lamps

Pinkie_Sal | Aug 31, 2010 |

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When it comes to tanning equipment, tanning bed lamps are the most important component of all tanning booths or beds. It emits ultraviolet light that makes tanning possible. There are two main types of tanning bed bulbs. They are classified as high pressure and low pressure lamps. The high pressure lamps are commonly called bulbs while the low pressure ones are called lamps with some exceptions.

The inside of these lamps requires an environment that is oxygen free. An electrical ballast is needed for the fluorescent tanning lamp as a power source. Tanning bed lamps do not have a filament like incandescent lamps. The filament controls the electrical current inside; therefore the tanning lamp's resistance is negative. These lamps are plasma, which has the capacity of passing the same amount of current provided by the outside circuit no matter how destructive it is.

A suntan, years ago could only be achieved by spending a lot time under the sun. It is understood that it's the UV light of the sun that works with the skin to produce more pigmentation or melanin. The main function of a tanning bed light is to create a bronze skin color without the sun, which could be done with a tanning canopy, tanning booth, tanning bed or even with a single bulb free standing unit. The quality of the resulting tan from these lamps is similar to the tan from the real sunlight, but it depends on the spectrum of the UV light produced from the bulb. Some lamps emit more amounts of UV light compared to the sun which is beneficial to some users as they can get their tan faster. However in this case, the tan also fades away faster. Tanning bed lamps don't really require thorough maintenance as long as the bulb is regularly cleaned from dust. The acrylic shields of the cooling system must be free from dirt because dust is easily drawn from it. As recommended, tanning bed lamps should be wiped at least once a week depending on how frequently it is used.

Tanning beds used at home don't can have their lamps last up to 5 years, while those that are used in salons may have to be replaced once a year. Still, it also depends on the total hours of operation along with the rated lamp life, which depends on the tanning bed light bulbs. High pressure lamps should be kept oil fee. Any trace of oil from the user's skin that is left on the lamp may cause it to overheat easily. Its filter glass is very fragile, thus it must be properly handled as well. A special chemical, which is specifically designed for its purpose must be used for cleaning. It is very dangerous to operate any tanning equipment that has no special filter glass. Because the amount of UV light that is produced from the bulb is very high, it not even allowed to be used in salons.

With low pressure lamps, it is the tanning unit's temperature that determines the amount of UV that is emitted. The highest amount of UV is produced when the unit is set to a temperature of 32 to 43 degrees Celsius or 90 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of generated UV is less when the temperature of the unit is out of the said level. The cooling systems installed in each unit do not only provide airflow, but also work to regulate and maintain the temperature range. A temperature set higher than the range will result in a shorter life of the lamp. To prolong the life of tanning bed lamps, each part has to be maintained regularly especially the cooling fan. It is best to implement a scheduled maintenance and follow the proper cleaning procedures.

If you want to find tanning bed bulbs cheap then you will need to buy them in bulk. This makes sense if you are a tanning salon owner. Buying in bulk can save you anywhere from five to thirty percent off retail price. That is a very good deal if you calculate the cost over a period of one year or two years. When it comes to a personal machine at home, these kind of calculations may not result is any significant amount of savings. The main reason is that it will take longer than one or two years to go through a bulk of tanning bed lamps. One factor that is always taken into account in business but never at the home is the cost to warehouse inventory. A bulk of tanning bed lamps taking up precious space in a garage may not justify a perceived savings that would be realized with a bulk purchase. In such a case, a home consumer would be better off just paying retail prices for tanning bed bulbs. At the least just purchase a spare lamp on sale that way there is a replacement ready to go in the event that one of them burns out.

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