HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
Locked
123
123
|
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Hello,
This is not strictly a confocal question, but
reasonably relevant and it's not been recently
discussed from what I can tell from the archives.
I was hoping to find out at how many hours people
change the HBO/Mercury short arc lamps (specifically Osram 103W). The
microscope manufacturers (Zeiss & Leica) always recommend 300
hours, due to the potential dangers of explosion when using them for
longer... but what do users/facilities tend to do?
Someone recently told me that the lamps are now made in such a way that
explosions are less common that ~10 years ago (when discussion on this list
regarding explosions were more common)
Thanks in advance,
Graham
-----
Dr Graham Wright Microscopy & Imaging Facility Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
1 Research Link National University of Singapore Singapore 117604 P: +65 6872
8406
M: +65 8256 7916 E: [hidden email] W: www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm |
 
|
Michael Weber-4 |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Graham, I tend to change the normal HBO bulbs after 300-400 hours. The recommendation on our setups says 200 hours. Luckily the number of HBO-installations is constantly decreasing! Michael Graham Wright wrote: > Search the CONFOCAL archive at > http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal > Hello, > This is not strictly a confocal question, but reasonably relevant and > it's not been recently discussed from what I can tell from the archives. > I was hoping to find out at how many hours people change the HBO/Mercury > short arc lamps (specifically Osram 103W). The microscope manufacturers > (Zeiss & Leica) always recommend 300 hours, due to the potential dangers > of explosion when using them for longer... but what do users/facilities > tend to do? > Someone recently told me that the lamps are now made in such a way that > explosions are less common that ~10 years ago (when discussion on this > list regarding explosions were more common) > Thanks in advance, > Graham > > ----- > Dr Graham Wright > Microscopy & Imaging Facility > > Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory > 1 Research Link > National University of Singapore > Singapore 117604 > > P: +65 6872 8406 > M: +65 8256 7916 > E: [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > W: www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm > <http://www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm> |
|
|
Nowell, Cameron |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
In reply to this post by Graham Wright-5
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Hi Graham, We get our lamps (HBO 103/W2) out to around 600 hours. Our practice is to use new ones in our scopes that take images for analysis (widefield uprights and live imaging scopes) we then change them when they hit 300 hours with new ones. The ones that have done 300 hours we use in our confocals as they only need the light to find a sample prior to confocal imaging. These lamps then usually stop firing up after 600 hours (our record is 850 hours) For us the problem is not exploding lamps but greatly reduced light intensity. If you compare a lamp that has done 600 hours to one that is brand new, there is a great deal of difference. We have been doing this for a year and a half now and have not had any problems. When we first started to do it, we asked a lot of people about the exploding lamps. No one we spoke to had had it happen to them but everyone new someone (or new someone who new someone) who had had it happen in the past. Cheers Cam Cameron Nowell Microscopy Research and Imaging Facility Cell Cycle and Development Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre 7 St Andrews Place East Melbourne, 3002 Victoria AUSTRALIA Phone: +61396563759 Fax: +61396561411 Mobile: +61422882700 ________________________________ From: Confocal Microscopy List on behalf of Graham Wright Sent: Fri 25/04/2008 11:30 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Hello, This is not strictly a confocal question, but reasonably relevant and it's not been recently discussed from what I can tell from the archives. I was hoping to find out at how many hours people change the HBO/Mercury short arc lamps (specifically Osram 103W). The microscope manufacturers (Zeiss & Leica) always recommend 300 hours, due to the potential dangers of explosion when using them for longer... but what do users/facilities tend to do? Someone recently told me that the lamps are now made in such a way that explosions are less common that ~10 years ago (when discussion on this list regarding explosions were more common) Thanks in advance, Graham ----- Dr Graham Wright Microscopy & Imaging Facility Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory 1 Research Link National University of Singapore Singapore 117604 P: +65 6872 8406 M: +65 8256 7916 E: [hidden email] W: www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm This email (including any attachments) may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information and is intended only to be read or used by the addressee. If you are not the intended addressee, any use, distribution, disclosure or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. Confidentiality and legal privilege attached to this email (including any attachments) are not waived or lost by reason of its mistaken delivery to you. If you have received this email in error, please delete it and notify us immediately by telephone or email. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre provides no guarantee that this transmission is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or altered and will not be liable for any delay in its receipt. |
|
|
Hege Avsnes Dale |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
In reply to this post by Graham Wright-5
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Hi.
We also normally change after approx. 600 h on our confocals, but have had them going for even longer without any explosions... Just decreasing intensity as mentioned here before. Hege Graham Wright wrote: Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal |
|
|
Dries Vercauteren |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Dear all,
regarding this topic, I'd like to bring up an current issue in our lab; we're using the X-Cite® 120 metal halid lamp from XFO. http://www.exfo-lifesciences.com/x-cite/prod-120.asp A couple of weeks ago, I remembered to have this lamp on 760 burning hours, but last week I suddenly noticed that this lamp displayed 3600 burning hours! Which is impossible.. The lamp is garantueed for 2000 hrs, but does anyone of you know how this would be possible, or what the risk is to still use this lamp (intensity is still high), as far as I know, there is net really an explosion danger with these metal halide lamps, right? Thanks in advance! Dries. 2008/4/25 Hege Avsnes Dale <[hidden email]>:
-- Dries Vercauteren, PhD student Master of Bioscience Engineering: Cell and Gene Biotechnology Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines www.ugent.be/fw/en/research/biofys Faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, Ghent University Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Ghent Belgium Phone: +329/264 80 49 Mobile: +32485/30 69 80 E-mail: [hidden email] [hidden email] |
|
|
Michael Herron |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Graham,
I have not seen that glitch before, but last winter I got a new bulb from them that registered 400 hours when I installed it. I am guessing that the little chips they use to track the time are a bit buggy. It is interesting that you bulb continues to run even though it is reading 2000 hours. That might indicate that the counter that normally turns these bulbs off when they reach the end of their life is only looking for that number to flip and after that it does not check. I am am not certain the bulb will explode, but it is my understanding that they will eventually.
Mike On Apr 25, 2008, at 5:15 AM, Dries Vercauteren wrote: Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Dear all, Michael J. Herron, U of MN, Dept. of Entomology 612-624-3688 (office) 612-625-5299 (FAX) |
|
|
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal My first EXFO lamp lasted to 3300 hours. I do long runs with relatively few on/off cycles, so I expected the lamp to live past the rated 1500 hours. However, my second lamp spontaneously turned off during overnight runs once it got past 800 hours. This was obviously unacceptable, so we replaced it. The replacement did something similar after around 700 hours, but it did not happen as often. Still, one does not want even a small chance of a long experiment failing because the lamp turned off. We checked the air filter, but that was clean, so we have no idea what this is about. (I filed a failure report, and that was the last I heard about it.) I would be interested in knowing whether others on this list have had premature EXFO lamp failures. --aryeh -- Aryeh Weiss School of Engineering Bar Ilan University Ramat Gan 52900 Israel Ph: 972-3-5317638 FAX: 972-3-7384050 Michael Herron wrote: > Search the CONFOCAL archive at > http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Graham, > > I have not seen that glitch before, but last winter I got a new bulb > from them that registered 400 hours when I installed it. I am guessing > that the little chips they use to track the time are a bit buggy. It is > interesting that you bulb continues to run even though it is reading > 2000 hours. That might indicate that the counter that normally turns > these bulbs off when they reach the end of their life is only looking > for that number to flip and after that it does not check. I am am not > certain the bulb will explode, but it is my understanding that they will > eventually. > > Mike > > On Apr 25, 2008, at 5:15 AM, Dries Vercauteren wrote: > >> Search the CONFOCAL archive at >> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Dear all, >> >> regarding this topic, I'd like to bring up an current issue in our lab; >> we're using the X-Cite® 120 metal halid lamp from XFO. >> http://www.exfo-lifesciences.com/x-cite/prod-120.asp >> A couple of weeks ago, I remembered to have this lamp on 760 burning >> hours, but last week I suddenly noticed that this lamp displayed 3600 >> burning hours! Which is impossible.. The lamp is garantueed for 2000 >> hrs, but does anyone of you know how this would be possible, or what >> the risk is to still use this lamp (intensity is still high), as far >> as I know, there is net really an explosion danger with these metal >> halide lamps, right? >> >> Thanks in advance! >> >> Dries. >> >> 2008/4/25 Hege Avsnes Dale <[hidden email] >> <mailto:[hidden email]>>: >> >> Search the CONFOCAL archive at >> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal >> Hi. >> We also normally change after approx. 600 h on our confocals, but >> have had them going for even longer without any explosions... Just >> decreasing intensity as mentioned here before. >> Hege >> >> >> Graham Wright wrote: >>> Search the CONFOCAL archive at >>> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal >>> Hello, >>> This is not strictly a confocal question, but reasonably relevant >>> and it's not been recently discussed from what I can tell from >>> the archives. >>> I was hoping to find out at how many hours people change the >>> HBO/Mercury short arc lamps (specifically Osram 103W). The >>> microscope manufacturers (Zeiss & Leica) always recommend 300 >>> hours, due to the potential dangers of explosion when using them >>> for longer... but what do users/facilities tend to do? >>> Someone recently told me that the lamps are now made in such a >>> way that explosions are less common that ~10 years ago (when >>> discussion on this list regarding explosions were more common) >>> Thanks in advance, >>> Graham >>> >>> ----- >>> Dr Graham Wright >>> Microscopy & Imaging Facility >>> >>> Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory >>> 1 Research Link >>> National University of Singapore >>> Singapore 117604 >>> >>> P: +65 6872 8406 >>> M: +65 8256 7916 >>> E: [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >>> W: www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm >>> <http://www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Dries Vercauteren, PhD student >> Master of Bioscience Engineering: Cell and Gene Biotechnology >> >> Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines >> www.ugent.be/fw/en/research/biofys >> <http://www.ugent.be/fw/en/research/biofys> >> Faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, Ghent University >> Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Ghent >> Belgium >> >> Phone: +329/264 80 49 >> Mobile: +32485/30 69 80 >> E-mail: [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >> [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > > > > Michael J. Herron, U of MN, Dept. of Entomology > > [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > 612-624-3688 (office) 612-625-5299 (FAX) > > > > |
|
|
Petrak, Lara J. |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Hi Aryeh, I work in a multi-user facility, and we have several EXFO lamps. Many of the lamps last through their expected lifetimes (either 1200 or 2000 hours, depending on which model lamp housing they're in). However, we have had quite a few that failed very early - as early at 500 hours in some cases. Interestingly, the really early failures tend to occur on systems that are used for multi-day experiments - that is, the lamps are on continuously for days at a time, with few on/off cycles, as you say. The good news is that the company has replaced many of these lamps after we filed failure reports. You do have to be persistent, and the process of getting a replacement takes a little while. I too would be interested in hearing about other EXFO users experiences! And in reference to Graham's original question, we use Ushio USH-102DH arc lamps in our standard mercury lamp housings. They are rated for 200 hours, so we always replace them at that point. Best, Lara -----Original Message----- From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Aryeh Weiss Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 8:46 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal My first EXFO lamp lasted to 3300 hours. I do long runs with relatively few on/off cycles, so I expected the lamp to live past the rated 1500 hours. However, my second lamp spontaneously turned off during overnight runs once it got past 800 hours. This was obviously unacceptable, so we replaced it. The replacement did something similar after around 700 hours, but it did not happen as often. Still, one does not want even a small chance of a long experiment failing because the lamp turned off. We checked the air filter, but that was clean, so we have no idea what this is about. (I filed a failure report, and that was the last I heard about it.) I would be interested in knowing whether others on this list have had premature EXFO lamp failures. --aryeh -- Aryeh Weiss School of Engineering Bar Ilan University Ramat Gan 52900 Israel Ph: 972-3-5317638 FAX: 972-3-7384050 Michael Herron wrote: > Search the CONFOCAL archive at > http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Graham, > > I have not seen that glitch before, but last winter I got a new bulb > from them that registered 400 hours when I installed it. I am guessing > that the little chips they use to track the time are a bit buggy. It is > interesting that you bulb continues to run even though it is reading > 2000 hours. That might indicate that the counter that normally turns > these bulbs off when they reach the end of their life is only looking > for that number to flip and after that it does not check. I am am not > certain the bulb will explode, but it is my understanding that they will > eventually. > > Mike > > On Apr 25, 2008, at 5:15 AM, Dries Vercauteren wrote: > >> Search the CONFOCAL archive at >> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Dear all, >> >> regarding this topic, I'd like to bring up an current issue in our >> we're using the X-Cite(r) 120 metal halid lamp from XFO. >> http://www.exfo-lifesciences.com/x-cite/prod-120.asp >> A couple of weeks ago, I remembered to have this lamp on 760 burning >> hours, but last week I suddenly noticed that this lamp displayed 3600 >> burning hours! Which is impossible.. The lamp is garantueed for 2000 >> hrs, but does anyone of you know how this would be possible, or what >> the risk is to still use this lamp (intensity is still high), as far >> as I know, there is net really an explosion danger with these metal >> halide lamps, right? >> >> Thanks in advance! >> >> Dries. >> >> 2008/4/25 Hege Avsnes Dale <[hidden email] >> <mailto:[hidden email]>>: >> >> Search the CONFOCAL archive at >> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal >> Hi. >> We also normally change after approx. 600 h on our confocals, but >> have had them going for even longer without any explosions... >> decreasing intensity as mentioned here before. >> Hege >> >> >> Graham Wright wrote: >>> Search the CONFOCAL archive at >>> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal >>> Hello, >>> This is not strictly a confocal question, but reasonably relevant >>> and it's not been recently discussed from what I can tell from >>> the archives. >>> I was hoping to find out at how many hours people change the >>> HBO/Mercury short arc lamps (specifically Osram 103W). The >>> microscope manufacturers (Zeiss & Leica) always recommend 300 >>> hours, due to the potential dangers of explosion when using them >>> for longer... but what do users/facilities tend to do? >>> Someone recently told me that the lamps are now made in such a >>> way that explosions are less common that ~10 years ago (when >>> discussion on this list regarding explosions were more common) >>> Thanks in advance, >>> Graham >>> >>> ----- >>> Dr Graham Wright >>> Microscopy & Imaging Facility >>> >>> Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory >>> 1 Research Link >>> National University of Singapore >>> Singapore 117604 >>> >>> P: +65 6872 8406 >>> M: +65 8256 7916 >>> E: [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >>> W: www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm >>> <http://www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Dries Vercauteren, PhD student >> Master of Bioscience Engineering: Cell and Gene Biotechnology >> >> Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines >> www.ugent.be/fw/en/research/biofys >> <http://www.ugent.be/fw/en/research/biofys> >> Faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, Ghent University >> Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Ghent >> Belgium >> >> Phone: +329/264 80 49 >> Mobile: +32485/30 69 80 >> E-mail: [hidden email] >> [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > > > > Michael J. Herron, U of MN, Dept. of Entomology > > [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > 612-624-3688 (office) 612-625-5299 (FAX) > > > > |
|
|
In reply to this post by Graham Wright-5
We change our bulb between 300 and 400 hours. We had a mercury bulb explode once several years ago, and it caused at least a couple thousand dollars damage to the microscope (condenser lens, housing, etc). To me, the savings of $50/yr by letting the bulb go longer isn't worth the potential cost in money and downtime of an explosion.
...just my 2 cents worth.
George
George Ring, Ph.D.
Dept. of Cell and Developmental Biology SUNY Upstate Medical University 750 E. Adams St. Syracuse NY 13210 Tel. (315) 464-8595 FAX (315) 464-8535 email: [hidden email] >>> Graham Wright <[hidden email]> 4/24/08 9:30:11 PM >>> Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Hello,
This is not strictly a confocal question, but reasonably relevant and it's not been recently discussed from what I can tell from the archives.
I was hoping to find out at how many hours people change the HBO/Mercury short arc lamps (specifically Osram 103W). The microscope manufacturers (Zeiss & Leica) always recommend 300 hours, due to the potential dangers of explosion when using them for longer... but what do users/facilities tend to do?
Someone recently told me that the lamps are now made in such a way that explosions are less common that ~10 years ago (when discussion on this list regarding explosions were more common)
Thanks in advance,
Graham
-----
Dr Graham Wright Microscopy & Imaging Facility Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
1 Research Link National University of Singapore Singapore 117604 P: +65 6872 8406 M: +65 8256 7916 E: [hidden email] W: www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm |
|
|
Barbara Foster |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
In reply to this post by Dries Vercauteren
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Dear Dries,
I'm sure that someone from XFO can comment more accurately, but I helped launch that product some years ago. Here are some of the differences: a. The bulb is like the bulb you have in a slide projector rather than an arc source. No risk of explosion b. The rated lifetimes that I knew about were on the ordr of 3000 hrs (compared to 200 for HBO) c. They also do not darken with age (like W filament sources) Hope this is helpful Barbara Foster, President Microscopy/Microscopy Education 7101 Royal Glen Trail, Suite A McKinney TX 75070 P: (972)924-5310 Skype: fostermme W: www.MicroscopyEducation.com MME is now scheduling customized, on-site courses through Sept 2008. Call us today for details. t 10:28 PM 4/24/2008, you wrote: Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Dear all, |
|
|
Boisvert, Karen |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
In reply to this post by Graham Wright-5
I use Osram hbo 50W/AC mercury lamps/bulbs.
In my experience - 2 explosions later - the hours are meaningless - it is the number of ignitions that need to be counted! 1 ignition/day. I change the bulb at about 50 ignitions.
When I inherited the Confocal Lab a log book for the lab did not exist. The mercury bulb meter reading is now recorded prior to ignition and when the bulb is turned off. I had a bulb explode after 71 hours but now that I keep track of the number of ignitions they have lasted up to >550 hours!
Feel free to call me, Karen
Karen Dalecki Boisvert
Division of Comparative Pathology
Confocal Microscopy Unit
Harvard University
TEL: (508) 624-8013
FAX: (508) 624-8181
email: [hidden email]
|
|
|
McDonald, David L |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
In reply to this post by Graham Wright-5
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
We change all our Hg lamps at the recommended time including the HBO 103W in our Nikon E800. It seems several years ago Osram was having some QC issues, we had three 103W lamps in a row fail before reaching 300 hours. One only lasted 9 hours! In the last year we've also had two 100W lamps fail before reaching 50 hours. Dave At 06:30 PM 4/24/2008, you wrote: Hello, Scientific Imaging Lab Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center 1100 Fairview Avenue North, DE-512 Seattle, WA 98109 206-667-4205 http://www.fhcrc.org |
|
|
In reply to this post by Graham Wright-5
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Hi Graham, Old equipment (pre-80?) tended to control the current via an AC ballast (even if the current was subsequently rectified for a DC lamp..). This is also true of the inexpensive HBO 50 AC lamp units. If done this way, using inductive reactance, there was not much of a limit to the voltage that could be supplied and as the electrodes erode to wider openings the voltage increases while the current is "regulated"; the result is much higher power dissipation and that is when explosions would occur if the lamp did not get changed. If left that long, there also tended to be oxidation on the connections that added to the power dissipation. I think most modern gear regulates the current actively, but has some control/limit to the compliance voltage and thus there is a limit to the power dissipation. I haven't heard of an exploding HBO 100 or 103 used with modern equipment. I'm sure that with modern gear failures can happen, but with the old gear it could be expected if the lamp was not changed. Dale Graham Wright wrote: > Search the CONFOCAL archive at > http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal > Hello, > This is not strictly a confocal question, but reasonably relevant and > it's not been recently discussed from what I can tell from the archives. > I was hoping to find out at how many hours people change the HBO/Mercury > short arc lamps (specifically Osram 103W). The microscope manufacturers > (Zeiss & Leica) always recommend 300 hours, due to the potential dangers > of explosion when using them for longer... but what do users/facilities > tend to do? > Someone recently told me that the lamps are now made in such a way that > explosions are less common that ~10 years ago (when discussion on this > list regarding explosions were more common) > Thanks in advance, > Graham > > ----- > Dr Graham Wright > Microscopy & Imaging Facility > > Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory > 1 Research Link > National University of Singapore > Singapore 117604 > > P: +65 6872 8406 > M: +65 8256 7916 > E: [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > W: www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm > <http://www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm> |
|
|
Michael Weber-4 |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Dale, we had two explosions with HBO 103W/2 over the last year, so it's not a matter of the bulb. However, it turned out that the power supplies where faulty, so I agree with you at this point. ----- Regarding the Exfo system, we had two systems with faulty counter as well - apparently a known problem. So far we have better experiences with the Prior Lumen 200 light source. Michael ----- Dale Callaham wrote: > Search the CONFOCAL archive at > http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal > > Hi Graham, > > Old equipment (pre-80?) tended to control the current via an AC ballast > (even if the current was subsequently rectified for a DC lamp..). This > is also true of the inexpensive HBO 50 AC lamp units. If done this way, > using inductive reactance, there was not much of a limit to the voltage > that could be supplied and as the electrodes erode to wider openings the > voltage increases while the current is "regulated"; the result is much > higher power dissipation and that is when explosions would occur if the > lamp did not get changed. If left that long, there also tended to be > oxidation on the connections that added to the power dissipation. > > I think most modern gear regulates the current actively, but has some > control/limit to the compliance voltage and thus there is a limit to the > power dissipation. I haven't heard of an exploding HBO 100 or 103 used > with modern equipment. I'm sure that with modern gear failures can > happen, but with the old gear it could be expected if the lamp was not > changed. > > Dale > > > > > Graham Wright wrote: >> Search the CONFOCAL archive at >> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal >> Hello, >> This is not strictly a confocal question, but reasonably relevant and >> it's not been recently discussed from what I can tell from the archives. >> I was hoping to find out at how many hours people change the >> HBO/Mercury short arc lamps (specifically Osram 103W). The microscope >> manufacturers (Zeiss & Leica) always recommend 300 hours, due to the >> potential dangers of explosion when using them for longer... but what >> do users/facilities tend to do? >> Someone recently told me that the lamps are now made in such a way >> that explosions are less common that ~10 years ago (when discussion on >> this list regarding explosions were more common) >> Thanks in advance, >> Graham >> >> ----- >> Dr Graham Wright >> Microscopy & Imaging Facility >> >> Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory >> 1 Research Link >> National University of Singapore >> Singapore 117604 >> >> P: +65 6872 8406 >> M: +65 8256 7916 >> E: [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >> W: www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm >> <http://www.bioinformatics.tll.org.sg/labs/microscopy/index.htm> |
|
|
In reply to this post by Boisvert, Karen
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal I've been using HBO 100 W s, for about 30 years, and have had 2 explosions in that time, one long ago and one approx. 3 yrs past. Both could be attributed to a high number of on off cycles (something I discourage). I nomally cycle a bulb no more than twice a day, and need to relamp about every 40-45 days in a busy lab with 3 fluorescent scopes. We always replace at 200 hrs. the cost of the bulb is small compared to the damage to the equipment and time and cost of decontaminating the microscope rooms. Russ Russell N. Spear Sr. Research Specialist Dept. of Plant Pathology Univ. of Wisconsin 1630 Linden Dr. Madison WI 53706 voice 608.263.2093 fax 608.263.2626 |
|
|
In reply to this post by Graham Wright-5
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
One of our SP2 confocals has
a HBO 103/W2, the last time I changed it, the timer read 633hrs. We also have a
50W/AC/L1 bulb on our older SP2, the power supply timer says nearly 13,000hrs.
On both confocals, we change the bulbs when people complain that they are too
dim, this ends up being about 3 times a year, and anywhere from 200hrs-600hrs. As for X-cite lamps, we have
models XI120 & XI120-XL, the lamps in these last about 1400hrs. We did have
to replace the ballast on one (the XI120) after a series of low lamp hr
failures, first at 500hrs, then at 300hrs, then no strike on a fresh lamp. The
EXFO people fixed our ballast with a 1 week turnaround, and the lamps that had
300hrs and 500hrs were either still good (at 300hours) or were replaced by EXFO
for free. We also had the liquid light guide fail at about 2600hrs. A user
noticed the power drop and I did some quick tests and found the power at the
objective dropped by 90% when compared against the liquid light guide on our
second X-cite system. Again, the replacement part arrived from EXFO within a
couple days. Our widefield fluorescent
scopes have the X-cite lamps and they both get used quite heavily. There are
days (sometimes whole weeks) when the lamp is off for only 6hours. I do have an AttoArc Hg 100W
system that has had its ballast and various chips on it main board replaced
over the past few years. I watch this system carefully and change the bulb on
it like clockwork at about 200hrs, mainly because it has been serviced so much. Cheers, Jon Jonathan M. Ekman Imaging Technology Group Beckman Institute for
Advanced Science and Tel: 217-244-6292 Fax: 217-244-6219 From: Hello, This is not strictly a confocal question, but reasonably
relevant and it's not been recently discussed from what I can tell from the
archives. I was hoping to find out at how many hours people change the
HBO/Mercury short arc lamps (specifically Osram 103W). The
microscope manufacturers (Zeiss & Leica) always recommend
300 hours, due to the potential dangers of explosion when using them for
longer... but what do users/facilities tend to do? Someone recently told me that the lamps are now made in such
a way that explosions are less common that ~10 years ago (when discussion on
this list regarding explosions were more common) Thanks in advance, Graham ----- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory P: +65 6872 8406 |
|
|
Ignatius, Mike |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
In reply to this post by Russell Spear
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal An important side bar in this discussion, is what warning signs are there that the bulb is too old and possibly going to fail/explode. For me, the earliest signs that the arc gap has grown to impossible widths were difficulty in starting the bulb to begin with, flickering when on, long time to stabilize etc. The more dreadful indication is an electrical burning smell when it is on and about to blow. In my one experience it smelled like insulation burning off of wiring. Apparently the bulb super heats before failure? I would be curious to hear if others have had this warning sign before the bulb blew. I stupidly got up, and sniffed around the scope to see what the source was and wham the bulb blew in my face. I thanked Nikon for their sturdy housing, no glass came through, though the diffuser lens inside did shatter, and the mercury vapor surely escaped. After it has blown, always good to leave the area for a while to let the gas escape. My recommendation: if you smell electrical burning, turn off the lamp and check your bulb! If the smell persists, something else is amiss. And no one has mentioned benefits to running cooling fans across housing this time around. It seems to help extend lamp life. Mike Ignatius -----Original Message----- From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Russell Spear Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 7:58 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal I've been using HBO 100 W s, for about 30 years, and have had 2 explosions in that time, one long ago and one approx. 3 yrs past. Both could be attributed to a high number of on off cycles (something I discourage). I nomally cycle a bulb no more than twice a day, and need to relamp about every 40-45 days in a busy lab with 3 fluorescent scopes. We always replace at 200 hrs. the cost of the bulb is small compared to the damage to the equipment and time and cost of decontaminating the microscope rooms. Russ Russell N. Spear Sr. Research Specialist Dept. of Plant Pathology Univ. of Wisconsin 1630 Linden Dr. Madison WI 53706 voice 608.263.2093 fax 608.263.2626 |
|
|
In reply to this post by Russell Spear
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Dear Confocalists, In time-lapse mode using a Leica TCS SP2 the scanhead does not stop moving during the overall experiment. But the programed stacks are adquired correctly so the laser(s) only reach the sample when it is the time for the real adquisition. My question is if it is a normal feature of the scanhead in Leica or if I have some problem with the unit. If it is so, will a 48 hours time-lapse experiment be dangerous for the scanhead? Thank you very much in advance -- Juan Luis Ribas Servicio de Microscopía Centro de Investigación, Tecnología e Innovación Universidad de Sevilla Av. Reina Mercedes 4b 41012 Sevilla Spain |
|
|
Glen MacDonald-2 |
Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes
|
|
In reply to this post by Ignatius, Mike
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal We recently encountered a failure of a Nikon Xenon housing on a vintage 1992 Diaphot. The hard plastic insulation on part of the cable interface broke down and arced to the lamp housing at ignition. The users reported that it kept clicking (sparking), wouldn't ignite and the burning odor wouldn't go away. Gee, at least they finally got the idea and turned it off. Our only other non-bulb issue was a Prior power supply on a Leica MZ-12 FLIII that Prior never could get to keep igniting. I change our Hg bulbs about 300-320 hrs on widefield systems, but let a confocal go to 350-380 since it has fewer ignitions. The other confocal has a 75W xenon with about 4,000 hours. Ushio 102D bulbs have been much more reliable than the Osram 103W, especially with older power supplies. I've replaced all of the Osram bulbs with Ushio. Glen Glen MacDonald Core for Communication Research Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center Box 357923 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923 USA (206) 616-4156 [hidden email] ************************************************************************ ****** The box said "Requires WindowsXP or better", so I bought a Macintosh. ************************************************************************ ****** On Apr 25, 2008, at 10:41 AM, Ignatius, Mike wrote: > Search the CONFOCAL archive at > http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal > > An important side bar in this discussion, is what warning signs are > there that the bulb is too old and possibly going to fail/explode. > > For me, the earliest signs that the arc gap has grown to impossible > widths were difficulty in starting the bulb to begin with, flickering > when on, long time to stabilize etc. > > The more dreadful indication is an electrical burning smell when it is > on and about to blow. > > In my one experience it smelled like insulation burning off of wiring. > Apparently the bulb super heats before failure? I would be curious to > hear if others have had this warning sign before the bulb blew. I > stupidly got up, and sniffed around the scope to see what the > source was > and wham the bulb blew in my face. I thanked Nikon for their sturdy > housing, no glass came through, though the diffuser lens inside did > shatter, and the mercury vapor surely escaped. After it has blown, > always good to leave the area for a while to let the gas escape. > > My recommendation: if you smell electrical burning, turn off the lamp > and check your bulb! If the smell persists, something else is amiss. > > And no one has mentioned benefits to running cooling fans across > housing > this time around. It seems to help extend lamp life. > > Mike Ignatius > > -----Original Message----- > From: Confocal Microscopy List > [mailto:[hidden email]] On > Behalf Of Russell Spear > Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 7:58 AM > To: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes > > Search the CONFOCAL archive at > http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal > > I've been using HBO 100 W s, for about 30 years, and have had 2 > explosions in that time, one long ago and one approx. 3 yrs past. > Both > could be attributed to a high number of on off cycles (something I > discourage). I nomally cycle a bulb no more than twice a day, and > need > to relamp about every 40-45 days in a busy lab with 3 fluorescent > scopes. We always replace at 200 hrs. the cost of the bulb is small > compared to the damage to the equipment and time and cost of > decontaminating the microscope rooms. > > Russ > > > > Russell N. Spear > Sr. Research Specialist > Dept. of Plant Pathology > Univ. of Wisconsin > 1630 Linden Dr. > Madison WI 53706 > > voice 608.263.2093 > fax 608.263.2626 |
|
|
In reply to this post by Ignatius, Mike
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Hi, I have seen strong recommendations against forced air cooling where arc stability is a prime concern. Osram literature states that forced air is not needed if sufficient convection through the lamp housing will keep the bases below 230C and most commercial designs probably do this. They state that any cooling should "not be directed at the discharge vessel". Most recent lamp housings and lamp mountings assist the upper base cooling with a heatsink. I bolted a thermocouple to the upper base (- terminal) of a unit (leave TC disconnected until after ignition!) and measured only 180C for a new lamp; the lamp has to get hot to function properly. Staying with well-designed equipment in good operating condition (check for oxidation of leads and connectors and replace if necessary) it shouldn't be necessary to use forced air. I am curious - someone mentioned the Zeiss AttoArc - doesn't that allow you to run at lower than max/nominal settings? Seems that many arclamps are too bright and need attenuation anyway; I was wondering if anyone runs them at lower levels as a standby condition between users or for lower excitation and does it seem to extend the life? I built a unit that could run a HBO 100W/2 nicely below 1A (they have a 5A nominal current) but I didn't get to monitor the performance over a long period. Dale Ignatius, Mike wrote: > Search the CONFOCAL archive at > http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal > > An important side bar in this discussion, is what warning signs are > there that the bulb is too old and possibly going to fail/explode. > > For me, the earliest signs that the arc gap has grown to impossible > widths were difficulty in starting the bulb to begin with, flickering > when on, long time to stabilize etc. > > The more dreadful indication is an electrical burning smell when it is > on and about to blow. > > In my one experience it smelled like insulation burning off of wiring. > Apparently the bulb super heats before failure? I would be curious to > hear if others have had this warning sign before the bulb blew. I > stupidly got up, and sniffed around the scope to see what the source was > and wham the bulb blew in my face. I thanked Nikon for their sturdy > housing, no glass came through, though the diffuser lens inside did > shatter, and the mercury vapor surely escaped. After it has blown, > always good to leave the area for a while to let the gas escape. > > My recommendation: if you smell electrical burning, turn off the lamp > and check your bulb! If the smell persists, something else is amiss. > > And no one has mentioned benefits to running cooling fans across housing > this time around. It seems to help extend lamp life. > > Mike Ignatius > > -----Original Message----- > From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On > Behalf Of Russell Spear > Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 7:58 AM > To: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: HBO/Mercury lamp lifetimes > > Search the CONFOCAL archive at > http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal > > I've been using HBO 100 W s, for about 30 years, and have had 2 > explosions in that time, one long ago and one approx. 3 yrs past. Both > could be attributed to a high number of on off cycles (something I > discourage). I nomally cycle a bulb no more than twice a day, and need > to relamp about every 40-45 days in a busy lab with 3 fluorescent > scopes. We always replace at 200 hrs. the cost of the bulb is small > compared to the damage to the equipment and time and cost of > decontaminating the microscope rooms. > > Russ > > > > Russell N. Spear > Sr. Research Specialist > Dept. of Plant Pathology > Univ. of Wisconsin > 1630 Linden Dr. > Madison WI 53706 > > voice 608.263.2093 > fax 608.263.2626 |
«
Return to Confocal Microscopy List
|
1 view|%1 views
| Free forum by Nabble | Edit this page |