A Guide To Tanning Bulbs: Fit, Replacement and Safety
If you own a tanning bed or have ever used one, you know that having the right tanning bulb is crucial to the quality of your tan.
The bulbs, also known as lamps or tubes, in a tanning bed emit ultraviolet light. This is what penetrates your skin and makes it darker.
Any UV tan comes with risk. The FDA warns that UV from tanning devices can cause skin cancer, burns, premature skin aging and eye damage.
The wrong replacement bulb can make that risk worse. A lamp stronger than your bed was designed for can burn you on the bed's normal session times.
So, how do you find the right bulb?
We'll look at what to check before you buy replacement bulbs.
Criteria
The first thing to know about tanning bed lamps is that it’s the UV rays from the bulbs that tan you.
The color of the glass doesn't change the shade you end up with.
Only use lamps that your tanning bed's manufacturer lists as compatible. The bed's label and manual name the lamps and the exposure schedule it was tested with.
It’s also important to know that when you replace bulbs, it’s recommended that you change all your bulbs. You should at least change the canopy or bench all at once, so you receive an even tan.
Check the lamp maker's rated life, since bulbs lose output over time. When you install new bulbs, cut back to shorter sessions, because fresh lamps are stronger.
When we think of better products, we think of higher prices. However, this isn’t always true.
Some cheap tanning bed bulbs are affordable due to the company they are from or where that company gets their supplies.
You should still, of course, do thorough research on whatever bulb you choose, but you shouldn’t discount cheap products immediately.
Wolff Dark Tan II Tanning Bed Bulbs
The Wolff Dark Tan II Tanning Bed Bulbs by Wolff System are a popular replacement option.
These are 100-watt bulbs. A higher UVB output tans faster but also burns faster, so they're only appropriate if your bed's labeling allows them.
The end fittings on these bulbs are F71 bi-pin fittings and the bulbs are 69.4 inches by 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches.
This is important to know.
The last thing you want is to order a bulb for your tanning bed and then realize that it isn’t the size your bed needs.
These bulbs fit a variety of tanning beds, but to be sure, you should measure the length of one of your current bulbs from end to end and see if it matches.
It’s also important to double check that your tanning bed is equipped to hold a bi-pin bulb fitting.
Pros & Cons
These bulbs are extremely versatile and many customers found that they fit a variety of different tanning beds.
Many found that the higher UVB concentration in these bulbs made them tan faster. UVB is also the main cause of sunburn, so faster tanning means less margin for error.
These sets of Wolff Dark Tan II Tanning Bed Bulbs also come in sets of 16. This helps you to change the bulbs in your tanning bed all at once for an even tan.
On the other hand, some customers did run into problems with these bulbs for their tanning beds.
For one, if you don’t have a bi-pin bulb socket then these bulbs won’t fit unless you buy a bi-pin adapter for your bulbs.
However, some customers did report that customer service helped with some of these cases. They even supplied a free adapter in some cases.
Some customers also complained that these bulbs were weaker and resulted in a slower tan.
For both sides of the argument about how fast these bulbs work, it’s important to remember that everyone tans differently.
Conclusion
There are a lot of things to consider when you’re looking to replace the bulbs in your tanning bed.
We’re often told of the dangers of tanning beds and all the precautions. These need to be taken very seriously. One of these is getting the correct tanning bulb.
No tanning bulb is safe, but a compatible one used on the label's schedule avoids extra burn risk. Wear protective eyewear every session, keep the bed away from anyone under 18, and consider sunless tanning instead.
