First relamp coming up...

[solman]

Sometime in the not too distant future I will be needing to do my first ever relamp on several of my beds. Beds are SunSector 35/3's, Elixir 40/3's, SunCap with 54/160's, and SunGate V2. I'm planning on using OEM lamps. Is it better to replace all the lamps at once or is there some sort of "musical lamps" procedure that works best?

[RobertK]

Relamp them based on the hours used.

Your OEM lamps are made by Light Sources so shop around you may get a better deal on the same lamps just under a different name.

[solman]

I appreciate the advise. I'm still wondering if it's standard procedure to replace all the lamps in a bed at once or do some sort of staggered replacement. Any insight or suggestions?

[EliteMike]

replace them all at once.

[solman]

Thanks Mike...that's my initial thought. I had read a lot of posts that discussed doing "every other" lamp or doing a "top drop" and was wondering how either would affect the performance of the beds. I don't want to be "penny wise and pound foolish".

[solarmeter®]

Then meter them when they're new. Hours are a crap shoot.

[Renaissance]

With The Sungate, change all of your lamps the first time, then relamp the canopy every 100-200 hrs. for the absolute most consistent tanning results.

You're going to end up having to relamp the top 30 twice or maybe even three times before you relamp the bench...

[dcjjp1]

Agree with Renissance on the Sungate. That is going to be my procedure. canopy lamps at 200, facials and bench at 400.

[solman]

Yeah...I'd been given a heads-up by Twan when I bought the Gate that I'd need to replace the canopy lamps every couple hundred hours. Wasn't sure about the bench and facial though. Thanks for the advise.

[Drew]

Ok, maybe if you use krappy AUVL lamps made by NARVA you will need to do that. But in truth, there are two lamps that you DON'T need to do that with in the Sungate.
First is the Supra VHR lamp. You can get a solid 400 hours with this lamp on this bed even jacked up to 250 volts.
Second is the Signature SeriesHP lamp. A good 400 hours too.

The Supras have the same uv-a output as the 9k's or the sighp's but with more of a B kick for a consistant short session time of 10 or less minutes. 9k's are over ten quickly and die fast like other cosmolux lamps in this bed. And Sigs will be over the 10 min session in about 200 hours. Supras will still be a 10 for the longest and even at 400 hours still be no worse than apx. a 12 min session which is still pretty good.

And when I say 400...you can get 500 too but I like to change them before they drop into the 40's.

sungate eats starters....especially on the canopy. Old or bad starters will eat lamps...so make sure you change out your starters every other lamp change for best lamp life results.

The bench lamps last the same as the top lamps on the gate unless you use lousy lamps or have bad starters. Lousy lamps cant take the voltage and bad starters eat lamps.

[RobertK]

FYI AUVL lamps are made by Light Source. Have not been made by Narva in over 4 years.