Measuring lamp degradation

[Don]

Several people have requested this info and so here it is (again).

Here is how you can use a hand-held radiometer (MED/hour) to determine sunlamp degradation and determine when to change your lamps.

100% (New) = 12.0 MED/hour (0.2 MED/minute)
= New = 20.0 minute Te time
UVR sensitive clients should be cut back to a max of 18 minutes

Minus 20% = 10.0 MED/hour (0.167 MED/minute)
= 20% degradation = 24.0 minute Te time
In the "sweet spot" of lamp life

Minus 25% = 9.6 MED/hour (0.160 MED/minute)
= 25% degradation = 25 minute Te time
Time to order new sunlamps

Minus 30% = 9.2 MED/hour (0.154 MED/minute)
= 30% degradation = 26.0 minute Te time
Time to change sunlamps - a few clients will complain

Minus 40% = 8.6 MED/hour (0.143 MED/minute)
= 40% degradation = 28.0 minute Te time
Several of your clients will complain

Minus 50% = 8.0 MED/hour (0.133 MED/minute)
= 50% degradation = 30.1minute Te
Most of your clients will complain

Minus 60% = 7.4 MED/hour (0.123 MED/minute)
= 60% degradation = 32.5minute Te
Almost all of your clients will complain

Note: Top of sensor should be 25 cm above the bench acrylic when reading the canopy and the reading should be made at the same time in the cycle, i.e., at 3 - 5 minutes.

[Kathe]

Thanks Don!!

[solarmeter®]

Your bra-strap model is gone Kath(silent e).

Or - in EU and JP the pronunciation would be Kath.eh' or Kath.ai'

Tony G would say it like lathe (a machine for turning spindles).

[Kathe]

Yeah, stay tuned..... And actually it's a long E ... Kath-E But you can call me Kath if you want!

[solarmeter®]

Stay tuned for what... a new model? A name change to Kathy or Kathie?

Just teasing you. Ignore me lol.