Active Ingredients of Tanning Bed Lamps
European and South American tanning beds generally
use a different type of tanning
bed lamp as USA. European UVB ratings are in the 1%
to 3% range, very low by US
measuring methods, whereas most tanning
beds sold in the US use 4.2% to 6.5% UVB ratings, and
aftermarket lamps with up to 9.5%. Of
course, these tanning bed bulbs have less UVA and will produce a sunburn
quicker, but many Americans seem to like them because a short
session produces a "reddening", or instant gratification. These
tanning lamps actually produce a slower deep tan (but a faster base tan)
that fades faster, but are simply marketed as "hotter", although
technically they have about the same amount of UV but with
different ratios of UVA and UVB.
UVA vs UVB
A
tanning bed bulb is basically
divided between the % of UVA and % of UVB light in which the bulb
emits and the sum equals 100%. A typical
home tanning bed with a 20 minute maximum
exposure time would have a 5% UVB and 95% UVB blend. Keep
in mind when selecting a tanning bed bulb, as the UVB goes up,
the bulb becomes more burning or reddening. As the UVB goes down
the bulb becomes more bronzing or browning.
When to change the bulbs in your tanning bed or sunbed
Most manufacturers recommend changing
their bulbs when they reach around 70% of their original value
as read on a UV light meter. Conventional thought is that
if the manufacturer says the bulb is good for 1000 hours, most
owners will change the bulbs at the 700 hour mark if they do not
have a UV light meter.
UV Light Meters
A UV Light meter is used to measure
the UV output of a tanning bed bulb and can be purchased at most
tanning supply providers. The concept of working with a UV
light meter
is to first measure “baseline” data when the bed and
bulbs are brand new and everything is dust free, etc.
Measure the same point 1 inch from both the top and bottom
acrylic and record in a notebook. Then, on a monthly
basis, record the value and continue to monitor the UV light
level until it reaches 70% of original value and then replace
the bulbs! A UV light meter is also a great way
to see the improvement of tanning bed bulb strength after the
bulbs and acrylics have been clean and serviced.
Tanning Bed Bulb Manufacturers
About Wolff tanning lamps
Several companies continue to license the Wolff name
and use their lamps because of the name recognition, although
this has steadily diminished over the years as other lamp
builders have created lamps that are arguably as good as or
better. Licensing is not required to use Wolff lamps, but it is
required to call a tanning bed a "Wolff System" and use the
Wolff System logo, a yellow circle with horizontal bars and the
name "Wolff Systems" in black. Tanning beds that use Wolff
products but do not pay royalties can use only the term "Powered
by Wolff," which is unique in the industry.
How to choose the right tanning bed bulbs for you
When choosing tanning bed replacement bulbs you must stay consistent with the wattage of your bulb because the ballast's wattage must match the lamp's wattage for proper operation. Therefore, you can put any 100 watt tanning lamp in your tanning bed if you have 100 watt ballasts, regardless of name printed on the bulb or the timer limits on the bed. There is a "common denominator" you should pay attention to when ordering tanning bed replacement lamps and that is: the percentage of UVB versus UVA.
You could try reading
the name on the label,
like Wolff, Dual Sun,
Cosmedico, HiSun,
Dessert Sun, Turbo,
Velocity, Real Sun,
etc, but, it means nothing
because all tanning bed
bulbs are produced in
the same factories in
North America or Canada and the
only factors which
change are the bulb
wattage and % of UVB
versus UVA. These
UVB percentages start at
5.5% for 20 minute max
exposure lamps to 9.5%
10 minute max exposure
lamps like our
Panther tanning bed lamp.