Many people love having a golden tan all year long. When seasonal changes make outdoor sun bathing impractical, it is possible to get similar results indoors using a tanning bed. Although commercial salons are always popular, increasing numbers of users are choosing to buy their own equipment. Regular tanning bed bulb replacement helps ensure optimal performance.
While there are hundreds of platform styles, all use similar principles. A pod-like structure for full-length reclining has an attached, hinged cover fitted with radiant bulbs. Considered either high- or low-pressure, these light sources are able to generate more ultraviolet radiation than natural sunlight, an advantage that saves time and limits overexposure. Low pressure lamps look very similar to common fluorescent fixtures.
They generally require a ballast, a device that helps regulate electrical flow. Similar to the neon signs that once dominated advertising, electricity excites the phosphors that coat the interior, causing them to emit light that has the same effect on skin as solar radiation. UVC (ultra-violet C) is filtered by the exterior glass, which allows the tanning elements of light to escape, darkening outer skin layers.
High pressure lamps are usually called bulbs, and differ considerably in size, shape, and output. Often used to target specific areas such as the face, they are usually less than five inches long, and range from low-power 250-watt models to high-performance 2000-watt varieties. They generally produce only UVA, making them an integral component of medical sterilization procedures.
Most home booth lighting fixtures have a life expectancy of one to two-thousand hours. Some owners may be surprised to learn that they work optimally only for the first 50 hours, after which efficiency and output both start to fade. Although they continue to emit light, there may be a decrease in actual skin color changes produced. For continuously efficient results, replacement is best at 500 to 800 hours.
Even when most individual lights still seem to be working acceptably, some producers advocate replacing all high-pressure bulbs at the same time, or at minimum rotating them inside the unit. This improves overall efficiency, and allows the device to produce safer and more effective ultra-violet radiation over all areas of the body. Individual skin sensitivity varies, and what burns one person may have little effect on others.
Unlike the bulbs used in standard home lighting, different brands are not always interchangeable. Using the wrong strength unit may cause electrical malfunction, or produce too much heat. To be safe, keep all installation information originally included with the unit, and when necessary only buy replacements from the original dealer. Never economize by purchasing an off-brand, because the results can be costly.
Buy only bulbs that match unit requirements for UVA and UVB exposure, and keep extras on hand for emergencies. Some people prefer buying them in bulk, not only saving money but eliminating the possibility of an unexpected, annoying failure. If there are questions regarding the right product, be sure to contact your dealer, who can recommend safe, compatible units of varying output and longevity.
While there are hundreds of platform styles, all use similar principles. A pod-like structure for full-length reclining has an attached, hinged cover fitted with radiant bulbs. Considered either high- or low-pressure, these light sources are able to generate more ultraviolet radiation than natural sunlight, an advantage that saves time and limits overexposure. Low pressure lamps look very similar to common fluorescent fixtures.
They generally require a ballast, a device that helps regulate electrical flow. Similar to the neon signs that once dominated advertising, electricity excites the phosphors that coat the interior, causing them to emit light that has the same effect on skin as solar radiation. UVC (ultra-violet C) is filtered by the exterior glass, which allows the tanning elements of light to escape, darkening outer skin layers.
High pressure lamps are usually called bulbs, and differ considerably in size, shape, and output. Often used to target specific areas such as the face, they are usually less than five inches long, and range from low-power 250-watt models to high-performance 2000-watt varieties. They generally produce only UVA, making them an integral component of medical sterilization procedures.
Most home booth lighting fixtures have a life expectancy of one to two-thousand hours. Some owners may be surprised to learn that they work optimally only for the first 50 hours, after which efficiency and output both start to fade. Although they continue to emit light, there may be a decrease in actual skin color changes produced. For continuously efficient results, replacement is best at 500 to 800 hours.
Even when most individual lights still seem to be working acceptably, some producers advocate replacing all high-pressure bulbs at the same time, or at minimum rotating them inside the unit. This improves overall efficiency, and allows the device to produce safer and more effective ultra-violet radiation over all areas of the body. Individual skin sensitivity varies, and what burns one person may have little effect on others.
Unlike the bulbs used in standard home lighting, different brands are not always interchangeable. Using the wrong strength unit may cause electrical malfunction, or produce too much heat. To be safe, keep all installation information originally included with the unit, and when necessary only buy replacements from the original dealer. Never economize by purchasing an off-brand, because the results can be costly.
Buy only bulbs that match unit requirements for UVA and UVB exposure, and keep extras on hand for emergencies. Some people prefer buying them in bulk, not only saving money but eliminating the possibility of an unexpected, annoying failure. If there are questions regarding the right product, be sure to contact your dealer, who can recommend safe, compatible units of varying output and longevity.
