Converting Bi-Pin to RDC

[Artgirlfriend]

I have two beds that are currently Bi-pin and I would like to convert them so that they can accept RDC lamps. Are there adapters that I can install to do this? For those that are curious, I want to do this for two reasons, one it makes taking out the lamps for cleaning an re-lamping go faster and I have some Beach Suns that are RDC which I put in my 15-min stand-ups and they have less than 100 hrs on them but none of my guy clients like them because they don't give off that red color to their skin. And the guys are the core of my stand-up clients. So... I'd like to save some $$ and use the RDC lamps from my stand-ups in these two beds since they have Beach Suns right now and just hit 500 hrs so I'd like to real lamp them soon anyway.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[W8INLINE]

I dont think you can go that way. RDC to Bi Pin can b done but not the other way around.

RDC lamps are longer than Bi Pin....and adaptors will make the size smaller not bigger.

....and adaptors are expensive.....might not be worth it

[Drew]

yes you can. they are snap on adapters for bi pin lamps...I have used them for putting in reflector lamps in old Cal 36 purtan beds back in 95 to make a kick ass session.

back then..you didn't have LSI making all the lamps in both rdc and bi pin like now.

but if you have a bunch of bi pins that you want to use in an RDC bed...those adaptors are a buck or so each. I still have about a hundred adaptors for just that dillema though I have only used them a couple times in about 5 years now.

[SurfCity]

You can put the cap on the bi-pin and put it in and RDC bed, but if the bed is bi-pin there is no simple adapter to change the bulb from RDC to Bi-pin and put it in an Bi-pin bed.

[Brian Oshman]

You can pop off the RDC cap on the end of a lamp to reveal a Bi-pin but it is slightly too long. The gas fill in the two lamps are different too. RDC lamps have a silicone coating on them, not that, that matters here but don't wipe that off when using them in a bed with mag ballasts.

There is not an adapter available that will convert an RDC lamp to fit in a bi-pin bed. You could change out all of the lampholders but that is just dumb too.

It is just dumb. Just buy the lamp that fits the bed.

The bi-pin version has the widest selection of tanning lamps available.

[Natureboy]

I tried putting on the caps for my Sundash stand up and all they did is flicker and die out in about 100 hours. Waste of time and money. One hell of a tan for 100 hours though. RDC lamps are made for magnetic ballast beds to work properly. Bi-pin lamps never last because I believe the magnetic ballast beats up the lamp like it is always trying to start it or something.

[BIG AL]

Puretan was the only bed company that used choke ballasts and rdc lamps. We just snap the rdc discs on the bi-pin lamps. Uri sends us the discs whenever we order lamps.

[Artgirlfriend]

Brian - once again you are the voice of reason. I am just going to just buy the bi-pin lamps and the ones out of the stand-ups will be stored for use in other beds when they need changing 600 hours from now. The RDC ones are too long and there is no point in changing the holders for beds I don't plan on having for more than two more busy seasons. I just hate storing lamps, it really eats up my space in my basement. Thanks all!