Posted : 04/01/2003

Posted : 04/01/2003

End Darkening

Every season, my customers seem to notice that the ends of my 160-watt reflector lamps get dark very quickly--sometimes within a few hundred hours of use, and some brands even quicker than others. I have been told this is a normal occurrence with tanning lamps, but my customers see the dark ends and believe they won't tan because the lamps are old. What can I do?

Let's start with a little background on tanning lamps. There are two categories: low pressure and high pressure. The majority of tanning lamps in this country are low-pressure lamps. Air within the tube has been exhausted and filled with neon or argon, or a combination of both. The pressure within the tube is low. These lamps typically come in 80 watts, 100 watts, 140 watts, 160 watts, 180 watts and 200 watts.

High-pressure lamps--also known as quartz or metal-halide lamps--operate at a much higher internal pressure within the tube and at a much higher wattage. These tubes may be 400 watts, 500 watts, 1,000 watts or even 2,000 watts.

Both of these types of lamps suffer end darkening. The darkening is a result of the "sputter" of material that comes off of the filament when the lamp is ignited. This material tends to adhere to the interior of the lamp wall, and the result is end darkening.

Because we can see the low-pressure lamps underneath the acrylic surface, the darkening is noticed. High-pressure lamps are concealed typically with two levels of glass filters and are not evident to the eye--though they may be noticed when the tube is replaced.

I agree that the tanner sees end darkening and often perceives lamps that won't tan. As an advantage, the darkening may be used as some sort of barometer to gauge when to replace the lamps.

Lamp manufacturers recently have tried to solve this dilemma, however. They have used metal probes that stick out from the filament to attract the material, as well as metal shields or flags attached to the filament. Both were not bad methods, but simply did not collect all of the material and end darkening still was noticed.

Electronic starters also may play a role in reducing end darkening. Early results have been encouraging. However, there are different levels of these starters, and not all are created equal. The life of some of these starters have been guaranteed at 10,000 hours of usage. That would be approximately 30,000 tanning sessions. If true, this method should be very helpful to salon owners.

The most innovative method to date is being unveiled for this season by Light Sources: Cup Cathode Technology, or CCT. This patented method is being incorporated in to many of the VHO (very high output) and VHOR (very high output reflector) lamps now being used in tanning beds and booths. Of course, new technology must be tried in the field. Light Sources' sister company, Lighttech, has chosen select salons in Europe to test these lamps under the harsh conditions of actual salon use. The early results are promising. Even as the lamps are at the end of their useful life, they are still perceived as new.

If you have a question that you would like answered in this forum please contact joe_lsi@bellsouth.net. I look forward to your comments. For more information on Light Sources products, visit www.light-sources.com.