PC Tan News

We specialize in top-of-the-line equipment at PC Tan, but the best sunbeds in the world won’t get your business anywhere without lamps that are both effective and efficient. By knowing how to select the right lamps for the right equipment and how to properly maintain them, you’ll ensure optimal performance and longevity and that you’re getting the most out of your sunbed investments. With that in mind, let’s review some information and advice that should come in handy:

Fluorescent lamp configuration

• Bi-Pin = Two pins twist 90 degrees
• RDC = Black cap on end of lamp that pushes into one spring loaded socket and seats into stationary on opposite end

High-pressure lamp configuration

• Snap-in = Seats into spring loaded socket
• Plug-in = Seats into stationary socket
• Wire leads = Wire from each lamp end connects to terminal block

Maintenance tips

• Recommended to remove the fluorescent lamps and wipe down approximately every 2-3 hundred hours of operation to keep free from dust build-up which blocks tanning performance.
• In order to maximize the life and output of your tanning lamps, you’ll want to make sure you clean reflective surfaces behind the lamps each time you re-lamp.
• Periodically clean your acrylics and replace according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Maintaining proper room temperatures with adequate air conditioning and ventilation is important because higher room temperatures can shorten the life of a lamp and reduce its output.
• Incoming voltage is also important in maintaining lamp life. Low voltage will reduce the effectiveness of the tanning while high voltage will reduce the life of the lamp.

Changing your lamps

• Always refer to equipment manual to obtain manufacturer’s useful tanning hours on lamps and replacement procedures.

Types of lamps

• Low pressure = fluorescent tube — wattage range from 25 to 250
• High pressure = quartz — wattage range from 250 to 2000
• High output (HO) lamps operate on an 80-100w ballast that generates between 800 and 1000 milliamps.
• Very High output (VHO) lamps operate on a 160w or higher ballast that generates 1,500 or more milliamps. VHO lamps usually produce 30% more output than HO lamps, and consume 60% more energy.  Because of this, VHO lamp life is generally shorter than that of HO lamps.

Tips from the Source

As a leading producer of high-quality lamps, nobody knows more about care and functionality of your lamps than Cosmedico. Here are a few extra tips from their experts:

• Tanning lamps are glass and can break easily. Please be careful when unpacking and installing your new lamps.
• The lamps get hot while in operation. Be sure to allow the lamps ample time to cool down before you touch them.
• As the weather gets warmer, it is important to clean all vents and fans so that proper cool is applied to your tanning units and lamps.
• Don’t forget to change your starters! With HO equipment, you should replace glo-bottle starters every 2-3 lamp changes and VHO units should be done every other lamp change.

We strive every day to always exceed your expectations by going above and beyond. If you have any questions about lamps, or anything else, just give us a call at 1-800-FAST-TAN.