160 watt lamps in 140 watt bed

[theislandtan]

I have a chance to pick up 160 watt lamps for a decent price. I need to relamp a bed with 140 watt lamps. Would a 160 watt lamp running at 140 watt give the same results as a 140 wall lamp?

From reading previous topics it appears the lamps would run fine, but I am worried about performance. How would lamp like be affected?

[Brian Oshman]

140 watt are 5 foot and 160 watt are 6 foot. If they are both 6 foot then they are both 160-200 watt compatible.

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by Brian Oshman

140 watt are 5 foot and 160 watt are 6 foot. If they are both 6 foot then they are both 160-200 watt compatible.

Well maybe I need 160 in the base then... I was thinking they were 140 all the way around... Guess I should look next time before asking a question!

[RobertK]

What bed? There are a couple of beds that come with 71" 140w which are really 100w.

[Brian Oshman]

They are not KBL Robert.

[PlanetSun]

I don't know if they exist outside of europe but I have a few early series Prosun Lumina's (they're called Hapro Lumina C Sli Intensive over here) which have 140W ballasts instead of 160W ballasts for the canopy.

We just put regular 160W lamps in them and I don't have the impression that they put out a lot less UV power than the beds with true 160W ballasts, although I've never measured them.

Just make sure you're talking about the same lenght of lamps.

[John]

Ergo is also marking lamps FR71 140W in a few of the newer Ergo & Soltron beds.

[Drew]

there is no TRUE 140 watt 6' lamp..they are all 160's.

And when you underpower a 160watt lamp..you DO get lower output by a good measure. Close to 20% less output.

In applications where you have 140 watt ballasts and 6' lamps..it is important to put in a lamp with aggressive output.

The Supra 160w Reflector will output just as good in a 140w application or a bit better than a Cosmolux VHRTT will in a true 160watt application.

Using a strong lamp in a 140w ballast means you can still have a good 12 min session rather than the 15 mins required to get 4 M.E.D.'s of most standard vhr 160w lamps.

And using a Supra 160watt Reflector in a 160watt application will really kick ass giving you 4 M.E.D.'s in about 8 mins when new; with UVA output apx 30% higher than a lamp like a Cosmolux or Heraeus or Sig Series. Only the Sig HP comes close, followed in third by the 9k90's.

[RobertK]

Actually all the 71" 140w lamps I know are really 100w lamps. (KBL and Ergo)

There are applications that are using 140w ballast to drive 160w lamps as well but the lamps are still labeled 160w I believe.

[Drew]

Well, that isn't good. Even the 120 watt ballasts will kill off many lower priced 100w lamps pretty quickly. The better lamps with good cathodes will handle the 120watts but I don't think any 100w lamps will handle the 140watts well.
I know that 160watts on a 100 watt lamp will kill it....burn it out.

The problem with the overdriving....is that along with cathodes burning out..the lamp temperature increases. ...100w lamps want about 105 degrees for optimum output..and 160's need 115 degrees for optimum. Out put actually goes down when you are plus or minus just a few degrees from both of these numbers.

[RobertK]

I think they are only using 100w and 120w. Just labeling the lamps 140w.