Thursday, September 4, 2014

Why Tanning Bed Bulb Replacement Improves Performance

By Mattie MacDonald


In colder climates, maintaining an even, healthy-looking tan year round requires determination. When the harsh winter months make outdoor exposure impossible, many people use tanning beds to get results similar to real sun bathing. While salons are also convenient, many people choose to install their own personal equipment. For these users, tanning bed bulb replacement ensures long-lasting, high-quality performance.

Although many platform styles exist, they are all similar in function. Users recline on a pod-like, padded bed with a hinged cover containing radiant light fixtures. When the unit is closed and running, the low- or high-pressure light sources produce ultraviolet radiation in amounts higher than occur naturally. The light can be well-controlled, limiting overexposure. Low-pressure units resemble long fluorescent lights.

They work with a current regulator called a ballast. Like the neon signs that still brighten some city nights, light is created by exciting the phosphors that coat the interior of these structures, producing photons similar to solar emanations. The glass used for the exterior acts as a UVC (ultra-violet C) filter, allowing only the radiation effective for tanning to reach and interact with human melanin.

High-pressure units are referred to as bulbs, and vary considerably in output, shape and size. Sometimes used to highlight specific body areas like the face, most are shorter than five inches, and power limits range from a relatively low 250-watt output, to a dazzling 2000 watts. Most bulbs emit only UVA, and in the past have been used in medical sterilization. They must be filtered to avoid skin damage.

Light sources of both pressures have a general life span between one and two-thousand hours. They are optimal only for the first fifty hours, after which they gradually begin to lose efficiency, becoming largely ineffective as ultraviolet sources. They may still produce visible light, but not tanning. Most home users learn to replace old bulbs at half their estimated life, between 500 and 800 hours.

Because strength gradually wanes, when one light falters it is often most effective to replace all the high-pressure bulbs together, or at minimum rotate the units. This not only guarantees better performance, but allows all skin areas to be exposed to similar levels of ultra-violet radiation. Because different types of epidermis react with varying sensitivity, light that seems too strong to one person might feel weak to another.

The bulbs are not always interchangeable among brands, although they may look the same. Even if one fits, it may generate too much or not enough heat, and can result in electrical problems. Keeping all the operating information that is included with a new unit is recommended, and when necessary and possible, seek replacements from the seller. Buying off-brands may save money, but may also prove to be unsatisfactory.

Make sure that any new bulbs meet specific UVA and UVB exposure requirements, and keep some extra units handy. Some people find that bulk buying not only saves money, but also time and frustration when an inconvenient failure occurs. For questions regarding the safest and most efficient products for a particular unit, the seller will be able to recommend compatible, safe units that match all system requirements.




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