Lamp Performance Issues

From time to time, salons owners and operators experience complaints regarding the output of their lamps. The late summer/early fall, when many tanners are still receiving outside sun exposure, is probably the timeframe that you’ll get these comments. If a lamp does not light, it does not necessarily mean that the lamp is “bad”. The following are tips that may help you before or when you contact your lamp supplier.

Alleged Lamp Defect

No Light 

• Switch lamp to an alternate area of the tanning unit (e.g. bench or canopy) and check ignition.
• Make sure lamps are making solid contact in the lamp holders.
• Make sure starters (if used) are functional.

Check the incoming voltage between the unit and the wall outlet and verify that it meets the manufacturer’s bed/booth voltage requirements.

Complaints may vary in quality based on a number of factors. Are complaints coming from those who have a base tan? From those who are Skin Type III or IV or new tanners just starting out or those with fair skin (Skin Type I or II).

Those who’ve achieved a darker skin tone may have reached a “plateau” and may not perceive additional color.

Those who tan outdoors (especially the beach or pool throughout the summer months) and are accustomed to additional UV exposure may not always perceive immediate color from indoor tanning.

Your clients may be visiting other salons that use stronger lamps or could be alternating between different types of tanning units in your salon. This may cause a lack of perceived results.

If your clients are not tanning with sufficient frequency they will not obtain a good tan.For instance, if a customer without a base tan decides to use your indoor tanning units for a week, then skips tanning the next week, and then tans only occasionally during the next few weeks, it’s probably not enough UV exposure to perceive a tan.

Are your lamp performance expectations realistic? What information was given to you regarding the lamps prior to purchase? Were they described using language like “this is the best lamp ever!”?

The problem may lie with your lamp or tanning unit. Check the following:

• Acrylics: How old are they? How many hours of use do they have? When were they last cleaned and maintained? Do they need to be replaced? Acrylics usually need changing at 2,000-3,000 hours.
• Reflectors: Are they clean or dirty?
• Lamp Compatibility: Are the lamps FDA compatible for the particular tanning unit as well as the correct wattage lamp for the system?
• Meter Reading: Was a low-cost UV meter used to obtain an opinion? Was the meter read correctly?

Name (salon, contact) ___________________________________ 

Phone ( )________________ 

Name (distributor, contact)____________________________________ 

Phone ( )_________________ 

Product Involved_________________________ 

Date code______________________________ 

Brief description of alleged problem_________________________________________________________   

Quantity of lamps involved__________________ 

Tanning Unit Make and Model ____________________________________ 

Estimated hours on lamps________________________________________ 

Date purchased_________________________________________________ 

Verified line voltage to the tanning unit____________________________ 

Age of acrylics/ hours ______________ 

Other comments_______________________________________________________