#UV Lamp failed on trip
5 messages in this thread
Hi Doug..
Well, I finally got out to try to get some of that fluorescent stuff over in
San Benito Co. A couple of guys with me, and we got totally frustrated. The
UV lamp (lw,sw portable) UV-54, quit on us.. totally. Brand new, worked fine
at home, and continues to work on AC, but fully charged battery and nothing
happened on the DC setting. So we decided to spend the night consoling
ourselves in a local bar and cursing the day we ever thought something made in
America just might work. The latest zilch investment I've made.
So I got a few things, nothing special, and think I will probably wait until
and if I get a portable UV lamp that works before trying to send you samples.
There is definitely something out there..
Patience! Bill
Hi, Bill–
I can well imagine the frustration of having a UV lamp balk in the field. I
thought I was in that situation once when loading new batteries did not bring
my lamp back, but a little delicate fiddling, banging and shaking got it going
again. I always have extra batteries on glowhounding field trips so the
purpose of the trip is not lost that way.
That it still works with AC says the problem lies in connections, inverter, or
battery, as the ballast and lamp must be OK. I imagine by now you have tried a
new battery (the one you used might have been older than you thought). How
does the wiring look? Wiggling connections and cleaning contacts with a pencil
eraser may be all it takes.
–Doug
—> Patience!
FWIW, we have a portable lw/sw UV on order from Griegers. I placed the order in
early December to make a Christmas present. I called again last Tuesday to
check on the back order status and found out it may be quite a while longer.
Don't have the issue of Rock & Gem in front of me that names the factory but
it's in Sylmar and may have been damaged by the EQ.
-Russ
Hello Russ.. I bought my UV portable from UV Products in San Gabriel. See my
message to Doug about it. It did take forever to get shipment on it when I
first bought it. I have the distinct impression they are made one at a time by
elves.
Bill
Hi, Bill–
I don't know about elves, but one at a time may be a good guess. I know some
of the UV lamps do not have interchangeable parts, at least where the tube is
concerned. UVP seems to be deemphasizing collectors as customers; I heard a
rumor that Fluor. Minerals Co., which used to be a part of UVP, is now selling
Raytech lamps.
–Doug