1. How does the manufacturer conduct life tests on the lamps (bulbs) he uses?
2. How is the filter changed if it breaks or becomes solarized? Is the filter glued in, held by some removable clips, fits in a trough, or some other way?
3. How easy is it to replace a lamp (bulb)? Do you have to remove several screws or bolts to get to the lamp and lamp socket (if a socket is used) or can you just remove two bolts to get to the lamp?
4. How does the SW UV light manufacturer measure the reflection of his reflector at 254 nm wavelength?
5. How does the manufacturer knows how long the battery will operate the UV light on one charge? And how does he know how long it takes to recharge the battery?
6. Are replacement lamps, filters, switches, connectors, or ballasts available from other sources or only from the UV light manufacturer?
7. How does the manufacturer test the SW filters to know how many hours they will last in his SW UV light?
8. How does the UV light manufacturer tests his ballasts to know how long they will last?

Answers

1. How does the manufacturer conduct life tests on the lamps (bulbs) he uses?

Many do not conduct life tests on their lamps. UV SYSTEMS, Inc. tests its lamps in a special jig that simulates the environmental factors (such as heat) that could affect the life of a lamp (in an enclosed fixture what the approximately same cubic space as in the UV light assembly). The UV SYSTEMS lamps are cycled for about 10 min. "on" and about 36 sec. "off". That duty cycle for a UV hand light is much more realistic than the lamp manufacturers testing of the lamps in free air for 3 hours "on" and 30 min. "off".



2. How is the filter changed if it breaks or becomes solarized? Is the filter glued in, held by some removable clips, fits in a trough, or some other way?

The SuperBright II has an easy to remove cover that holds the filter. The filter is held in place by two specially designed filter holder brackets with "fingers". These "fingers" prevent excess tension from being applied to the filter. Each filter holder bracket is held in place by three sheet metal screws. No glue or adhesive must be removed to replace the filter.



3. How easy is it to replace a lamp (bulb)? Do you have to remove several screws or bolts to get to the lamp and lamp socket (if a socket is used) or can you just remove two bolts to get to the lamp?

Some manufacturers have screws that go around the outside of the cover and all must be removed before you can access the lamp. In the SuperBright II only two bolts hold the cover on (and those bolts are captive so you will not lose them). The lamp is held in by a lamp clip and the lamp socket (a copper wire is used to hold the ends of the lamp clip together, the wire is not required but is there to prevent the lamp from coming loose during shipment). Once the lamp clip wire is removed the lamp can slip out of its clip and then be rotated out of it lamp socket.



4. How does the SW UV light manufacturer measure the reflection of his reflector at 254 nm wavelength?

Most UV light manufacturers do not measure their reflector material directly but reply on the reflector manufacturer (which often does not have the equipment to measure reflection at 254 nm). Some manufacturers do not even know that some reflective material that is highly reflecting (in visible light) has a very poor reflection at 254 nm (maybe only 45%). UV SYSTEMS has a special reflective measurement attachment that is uses with its spectroradiometer to measure samples of different reflective sheet rolls. Only a roll with a high reflection (greater than 83%) at 254 nm is chosen to supply the reflectors for the SuperBright II.



5. How does the manufacturer knows how long the battery will operate the UV light on one charge? And how does he know how long it takes to recharge the battery?

Some UV manufacturer may not even conduct any tests. UV SYSTEMS has conducted several tests and with the old 7 Amp-Hour (AH) battery that was being used with the original SuperBright. With the new SuperBright II that battery will operate for over 6 hours on a change (with interment use). With the new 8.5 AH batteries the SuperBright II will last longer, about 7 hours on a change (with interment use). UVS verifies change time by testing.



6. Are replacement lamps, filters, switches, connectors, or ballasts available from other sources or only from the UV light manufacturer?

Some UV light manufactures use off the shelf lamps and ballasts, so those replacement items are available from other companies. UV SYSTEMS uses custom made lamps in its UV lights and those parts are only available from UV SYSTEMS.

While you cannot purchase the parts at your local hardware of electronics store, the UV SYSTEMS custom-made parts provide a superior product in several ways, (1) the ballast is designed to drive the lamp harder for maximum UV output, (2) the SuperBright II lamps is specially made in a "U" shape to provide more UV output in a smaller space, and more importantly (3) the tubing used in all of the SW lamps (SuperBright II and TripleBright II) are made of quartz with about 92% SW transmission while the tubing used in other SW lamps is not quartz and only transmits about 79% of the SW. Custom made parts equal superior quality.



7. How does the manufacturer test the SW filters to know how many hours they will last in his SW UV light?

Some UV manufactures do not even have the equipment to measure the transmission of SW filters and therefore cannot do any quantified testing. UV SYSTEMS uses its spectroradiometer to measure the SW filters that it puts in the lamp life test jig. The lamp life tests can simultaneously test the life of the lamps, SW filters, inverter-ballasts, and AC to DC power supplies.



8. How does the UV light manufacturer tests his ballasts to know how long they will last?

Many of the UV light manufacturers do not bother. The UV SYSTEMS lamp life tests can simultaneously test the life of the lamps, SW filters, inverter-ballasts, and AC to DC power supplies.