Tuesday, June 17, 2025
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertising Information
  • Subscribe
  • ist Live
ist Magazine
  • Home
  • Columns
    • ASA News
    • Ask Wolff
    • Epic Sales
    • Ergoline Focus
    • Eye to Eye
    • Lamp Talk with Leif
    • Lync IT
    • Notes from the Road
    • Trending @DevotedCreations
    • UK View
    • Monthly Motivation
  • Features

    Letter From The Publisher – March 2025

    SunCatchers, Boutique – Sun – Spa | Phenix City, AL

    Shining a Light: My Experience at the Heartland Tanning VIBE Expo

    sunbed

    Compliance Reliance

    sunbed

    Peak Season 2025 Success: Proven Strategies to Boost Profits

  • Health
    • All
    • Health Newsletter
    • Nutrition Corner
    red light therapy

    The Science of Light: Why It’s the Next Big Thing in Wellness

    “Love The Skin You’re In”

    3 Ways to Keep Your Bones Healthy & Strong

    The Truth About Retinol Confirmed by a Dermatologist

  • News
    • All
    • In The News
    • Industry Happenings
    • News Extra
    • Special Interest
    linked in as a sales platform

    The Rise of Short-Form Content on LinkedIn: A Game Changer for Business Growth

    Dmitry Tsvetkov / stock.adobe.com

    Revolutionizing The Industry: Why Tanning Is The New Full-Body Skincare

    heartland tan

    Talking About Heartland Tan’s January 2025 VIBE Event 

    IST Industry Choice Awards Winners 2024

    IST Industry Choice Awards Winners 2024

  • Spotlight
    tanned smiling woman teeth

    PSA: Delivering Bronze Skin Is Not Enough Anymore

    April 6, 2025
    glo tanning arkansas paragould

    Glo Tanning: New Salon Opening Spotlight

    April 4, 2025
    When focus flows, energy goes

    “Where Focus Goes Energy Flows”

    April 1, 2025
    The Secrets of Visionary Thinkers: 10 Rules For Brainstorming Success

    Warren Buffett Hates EBITDA. Here’s Why You Should Too

    March 18, 2025
    salon of distinction

    Salon of Distinction: Bear Naked Tanning

    March 17, 2025
    jchizhe / stock.adobe.com

    Keep It Simple Sales – K.I.S.S.

    March 17, 2025
  • Resources
    • Industry Links
    • Sun is Life
  • Lamp Talk
  • Digital Edition
No Result
View All Result
ist Magazine
  • Home
  • Columns
    • ASA News
    • Ask Wolff
    • Epic Sales
    • Ergoline Focus
    • Eye to Eye
    • Lamp Talk with Leif
    • Lync IT
    • Notes from the Road
    • Trending @DevotedCreations
    • UK View
    • Monthly Motivation
  • Features

    Letter From The Publisher – March 2025

    SunCatchers, Boutique – Sun – Spa | Phenix City, AL

    Shining a Light: My Experience at the Heartland Tanning VIBE Expo

    sunbed

    Compliance Reliance

    sunbed

    Peak Season 2025 Success: Proven Strategies to Boost Profits

  • Health
    • All
    • Health Newsletter
    • Nutrition Corner
    red light therapy

    The Science of Light: Why It’s the Next Big Thing in Wellness

    “Love The Skin You’re In”

    3 Ways to Keep Your Bones Healthy & Strong

    The Truth About Retinol Confirmed by a Dermatologist

  • News
    • All
    • In The News
    • Industry Happenings
    • News Extra
    • Special Interest
    linked in as a sales platform

    The Rise of Short-Form Content on LinkedIn: A Game Changer for Business Growth

    Dmitry Tsvetkov / stock.adobe.com

    Revolutionizing The Industry: Why Tanning Is The New Full-Body Skincare

    heartland tan

    Talking About Heartland Tan’s January 2025 VIBE Event 

    IST Industry Choice Awards Winners 2024

    IST Industry Choice Awards Winners 2024

  • Spotlight
    tanned smiling woman teeth

    PSA: Delivering Bronze Skin Is Not Enough Anymore

    April 6, 2025
    glo tanning arkansas paragould

    Glo Tanning: New Salon Opening Spotlight

    April 4, 2025
    When focus flows, energy goes

    “Where Focus Goes Energy Flows”

    April 1, 2025
    The Secrets of Visionary Thinkers: 10 Rules For Brainstorming Success

    Warren Buffett Hates EBITDA. Here’s Why You Should Too

    March 18, 2025
    salon of distinction

    Salon of Distinction: Bear Naked Tanning

    March 17, 2025
    jchizhe / stock.adobe.com

    Keep It Simple Sales – K.I.S.S.

    March 17, 2025
  • Resources
    • Industry Links
    • Sun is Life
  • Lamp Talk
  • Digital Edition
No Result
View All Result
ist Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Columns Ask Wolff

Common Troubleshooting

Cheri Mullenix by Cheri Mullenix
March 1, 2013
in Ask Wolff
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Tweeter

At a recent regional tanning trade event, I was speaking with others in the lamp maintenance business, comparing lamp “troubleshooting” stories. We agreed that one of the most common problems is that a lot of salon operators do not replace lamp starters as often as they should.

Most tanning systems are equipped with glow-bottle lamp starters. They are fairly inexpensive and need to be replaced at every other lamp change, or at least after every 6,000 starts. The rated life of these starters is 6,000 starts on average (some less; some more). When you turn the tanning system on, the lamps typically flicker a couple of times and then light.

You might also like

The Question of Power

How Do I Maximize Lamp Life?

Wattage & Power

Some basic troubleshooting tips:

  • Lamps are slow to start, or do not light: If any lamp flickers more than two or three times, it may be time to replace a starter … note that your tanner can see this when turning on the sunbed, but may not report it to your staff. If any lamp is not lighting, this is also a sign that it may be time to replace a starter. Move a lamp that is not lighting to a position where the lamp IS lighting. If it now works, it’s time to replace the starter that won’t light the lamp.
  • Replace worn starters before they cause re-strikes or fail entirely. A worn starter can very quickly destroy a good lamp: Glow-bottle starters are rated by the manufacturers for about 6,000 starts. In a 20-minute bed, this is about 2,000 “bed on” hours … maybe replace starters every second or third lamp change, depending upon the number of hours you run a set of lamps. In a 10-minute tanning system, you should consider 1,000 hours as the replacement interval … maybe every other lamp change.
  • End-Darkening: This is more noticeable in lamps that are 140W or more, and is the result of the deposit of certain materials from the lamp’s cathode onto the interior bulb wall when the lamp starts. There are two reasons for this:
    1. There is more power compared to 100W lamps and the start is often “harder”, and
    2. Tanning sessions with higher-wattage lamps are almost always shorter. In 100 hours, the higher-wattage lamp will start twice as many times as the 100W lamp in a bed with a longer max session time.
  • Electronic Starters: As with sunlamps, not all electronic starters are created equal. Purchase electronic starters from a reliable supplier. Properly designed and used, an electronic starter will:
    1. Reduce end-darkening,
    2. Will last ten years or longer; possibly the last starter you’ll ever need to buy.

With an electronic starter, the power builds up and then the lamps light without any flickering. Electronic starters are gentler on the lamp and can reduce some of the end-darkening. You can expect a minimum life of ten years. Electronic starters may cost a little more than glow-bottle starters, but the life and benefits far outweigh the expense. Remember, a bad starter can quickly destroy a good lamp!

Please email sales@wolffsys.com if you have questions about this or other topics. You may also visit wolffsystem.com or facebook.com/wolffsystem.

Previous Post

It Takes an Entire Village To Raise a Successful Tanning Salon

Next Post

Dark, Exotic & Erotic Shades of Darkness by Supre Tan

Cheri Mullenix

Cheri Mullenix

has been with Wolff System since 1998. Her duties include training salon professionals on sunlamp products. She specializes in breaking down technical info into layman terms, so her lamp training is both informative and FUN! Questions or comments? Email sales@wolffsys.com or call 800.959.6533, X112.

Related Posts

Holiday Skin Essentials
Ask Wolff

The Question of Power

by IST Magazine
December 1, 2020
Ask Wolff

How Do I Maximize Lamp Life?

by Michael Stepp
November 2, 2020
lizmyosotis / stock.adobe.com
Ask Wolff

Wattage & Power

by Michael Stepp
October 1, 2020
flashmovie / stock.adobe.com
Ask Wolff

Know Your Salon

by Michael Stepp
September 1, 2020
HANNA / Shutterstock.com
Ask Wolff

Two Great Questions!

by Michael Stepp
August 3, 2020
Next Post

Dark, Exotic & Erotic Shades of Darkness by Supre Tan

Recommended

IST June 2025 Cover

June 2025 – IST Digital Edition

June 2, 2025
Ist-may-2025 cover

May 2025 – IST Digital Edition

May 5, 2025
credit cards stacked on each other

Planning For Trouble With Merchant Advances

April 7, 2025
IST april 2025 cover

April 2025 – IST Magazine Digital Edition

April 7, 2025

Popular Posts

  • The Heat Is On Sun Protection Lotions

    10 Tips To Abolish Raccoon Eyes

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Peak Season 2025 Success: Proven Strategies to Boost Profits

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A TOWEL IS NOT ENOUGH!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Four Seasons National Tanning Expo
    A Sign of a Great 2024!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Let’s Talk About Stripes, White Patches & White Spots.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Don't Miss It

IST June 2025 Cover
Digital Edition

June 2025 – IST Digital Edition

June 2, 2025
Ist-may-2025 cover
Digital Edition

May 2025 – IST Digital Edition

May 5, 2025
credit cards stacked on each other
Epic Sales

Planning For Trouble With Merchant Advances

April 7, 2025
IST april 2025 cover
Digital Edition

April 2025 – IST Magazine Digital Edition

April 7, 2025

IST Magazine is the premiere, multi-award-winning business-to-business publication for the indoor tanning industry, providing valuable business articles and industry information in a fun, professional format.

Information

  • Advertising Information
  • Contact
  • Copyright Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use

Categories

  • Columns
  • Features
  • Health
  • News
  • Spotlight
  • Digital Edition

© 2024 ist Magazine.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Columns
    • ASA News
    • Ask Wolff
    • Epic Sales
    • Ergoline Focus
    • Eye to Eye
    • Lamp Talk with Leif
    • Lync IT
    • Notes from the Road
    • Trending @DevotedCreations
    • UK View
    • Monthly Motivation
  • Features
  • Health
  • News
  • Spotlight
  • Resources
    • Industry Links
    • Sun is Life
  • Lamp Talk
  • Digital Edition

© 2024 ist Magazine.