QUESTION:
What’s the difference between a “long-mount” and “short-mount” fluorescent tanning lamp?
ANSWER:
Today, the majority of tanning system manufacturers are employing short-mount lamps in their large (upgrade) beds. When systems are using e-ballasts or e-control systems, it is okay to use a short-mount lamp as the energy supplied to the lamp is highly controlled and there is proper cooling applied to create a cool operational environment.
Some stand-up tanning systems (such as Sun Capsule booths) still use the long-mount lamp design, as the units do not always offer efficient cooling to the lamps and they need the built-in “cooling-zone” to help temper the lamp’s internal temperature. Also, units with other choke ballasts will typically still be fitted with a long-mount product as they are often supplied with extra voltage in order to increase UV output, creating a situation in which the lamps are a bit “overpowered.”
HO vs. VHO CONSTRUCTION
- 80-120W lamps are classified as High Output (or HO). They are always produced using short-mount coil construction in which the coil is positioned +/- 1” from the lamp base.
- 140-225W lamps are classified as Very High Output (or VHO). They are most often produced using long-mount coil construction in which the coil is positioned +/- 3” from the base and isolated via an integral heat shield (see below).
This construction method is required for highly-loaded lamps (+140W) to provide:
- Maximum UV output
- Maximum physical life
- Maximum usable life
It is possible to modify a short-mount (HO) lamp so that it will work when powered by VHO ballasts.
- Certain manufacturers do this because they can’t produce long-mount products.
- Certain manufacturers do this because short-mount designs are inexpensive.
Short-mount (HO) lamps may give adequate performance in VHO applications, but only if the tanning system is designed to provide rigorous and precise cooling needed by the HO design. Nevertheless, short-mount lamps will never compete with the UV production, maintenance and durability of true VHO products.
