Tanning Bulbs 101

Tanning beds are only as good as the bulbs that are included within them. After all, without it, they would generally be nothing more than an ordinary bed, so it is therefore important to pay close attention to the condition of the tanning bulbs when looking into tanning beds for sale and even more so if you already own one.

Tanning beds come many different shapes, sizes and even power. The strength of a bed is determined by the number of the bulbs included and the wattage that is associated with them. This is why, even before you consider purchasing a tanning bed you will need to know more about the type of bulbs that will be included, how they are installed, how long they last, etc. to make things easier when you do run into problems in the future.

The type of lamp included is always important. Most of the time the lamp included in your tanning bed will be a 100 watt F71 type, which has bi-pin connectors on both ends. Measuring from end to end the bulb will mostly be around 70 inches long. This is probably the most common lamp type you will find on the market and will have many manufacturers and models available. Regardless of the feature, price or model, as long as the wattage of the tanning bulbs you choose is the same as to what is specified in your tanning bed, it should work.

If you’re not really sure as to the wattage or model of your tanning bulbs however the best way to get a replacement would be to bring the bulb down to the store and show it to the clerk in order to get an accurate replacement. Aside from the lamp itself, it would also be a good idea to change the starters after every one or two years in order to make sure that everything is in great working order. Replacing your starters will indeed contribute to added costs, but considering that faulty starters can ruin perfectly good bulbs, the cost will still be very much rationalized.

It’s also a wise idea to consider replacing the bulb when the output they give off drops down to about 60% of their original value. This will be somewhere between 700-800 hours of usage. While it’s also possible to keep using them up to about 30% it’s not really advisable as it will affect the quality of the tan you will achieve.

Buying a replacement bulb will also involve a few considerations. Aside from the wattage for example, you might want to opt for tanning bulbs that have built in reflectors to increase the effectiveness of your beds, provided your equipment supports it. In Buying you can choose between online and offline options and will generally depend on your need or preference. If you are new however, you might want to a little online window shopping first in order to get a better idea of the types and features available as well as how much you will need to set aside in order to get them.

Regardless of the bed you choose, be it Sun, Mercola or Wolff tanning beds it’s important that you pay close attention to the tanning bulbs included. More information regarding this can be found either on each of the tanning beds’ respective sites or through the user’s manual included in the package. So remember, if you’re planning to buy a tanning bed, tan accelerator or are trying to replace the bulb, it’s important to pay attention to detail. Choosing the wrong type of bulb, picking low quality ones, and the making errors in configuration can mean trouble for both you and your machine, so make sure to pay extra attention to the condition and quality of the tanning bulbs.