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OK. I know that this may seem trivial but  ... have you
checked that noth the voltage AND frequency are set correctly
on the power supply?  Over the years I have bought 3 different
fluorescence microscopes from a well-known and highly respected
manufacturer (near the end of the alphabet) and ONLY ONE was
set correctly on delivery!  In particular having the frequency
set to 60Hz instead of 50Hz, but with the correct voltage, was
quite disastrous, causing bulbs to explode after about 20 hours.

Another point - Nikon seem to do things differently in that their
power supplies have a start button, and I've found that they
are more likely to be 'touchy' with old bulbs than other makes.
But often trying 3 or 4 times will get it going - cheaper than
thowing out the bulb!

                                                      Guy Cox

>
> Hello All;
>          I have another question about mercury short arc lamps. I've been
> having problems with my Osram 100W/2 lamps. They don't seem to last to
> their 200 hour lifetime (averaging around 100 hours). When they fail to
> ignite, I have tried them in other power supplies, and they still will not
> ignite. A new bulb in the old power supply is fine. The microscope
> manufacturer is confident the power supply is not at fault. This has been
> going on for about 1 year (I use around 50 bulbs/year). I'm having
> discussions with my bulb vendor now.
>          Is there a difference between Osram and Ushio 100W bulbs? I
> thought I would try the other manufacturer, to see if the bulbs will last
> longer. I'm tempted to try the OM103 bulbs, just because they last longer,
> and the price was about the same. I only saw one reply to Claire's
> question... are other users happy with these?
>          Thanks!
>          Kathy
>
>
>
>
> At 02:24 PM 5/18/2006, you wrote:
>>Search the CONFOCAL archive at
>>http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Not all scopes
>> can
>>use the 300 hour bulb.  One that we have kept blacking out during use of
>> a
>>300 hour bulb (I assume that it overheated), but is fine with a 200 hour
>>bulb.  Check with the scope manufacturer.
>>
>>We have a very good source for bulbs--Bulbtronics.com.  They have good
>>prices and fast service.  Does anyone else use this company?
>>Elaine
>>
>>
>>At 01:56 PM 5/18/2006, you wrote:
>>>Search the CONFOCAL archive at
>>>http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>>>
>>>We have two groups using 100 W mercury lamps. One uses HBO OM100 bulbs
>>>and the other OM103.
>>>
>>>Is there much of a difference here? Is there reason to choose one over
>>>the other? I don't want to have many different types of bulbs in stock
>>> if
>>>I don't have to so I would appreciate any suggestions.
>>>
>>>  Claire
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Kathy Spencer, Ph.D.
> Scientific Associate
> The Scripps Research Institute
> 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road
> ICND 210
> La Jolla, CA 92037
> 858-784-8437


-- 
Associate Professor Guy Cox
Electron Microscope Unit,
University of Sydney,
NSW 2006, Australia

Phone:+61 2 9351 3176    Fax:+61 2 9351 7682
http://www.guycox.net