Education

Nomenclature of UVC Germicidal Lamp Technology

UV lamp power is characterized in terms of nominal total input wattage as well as nominal total UV output wattage. The nominal UV output power presents a sum of the SPD (spectral power distribution). It tends to differ between LP (low pressure) and HID (high intensity discharge) lamps. The ratio of input power to output power defines the actual efficiency of the lamp. Most LP lamps have efficiencies of 30 – 35%. Efficiencies of HID lamps are much lower (7-11%).

Most of the available UV lamps are identified by model numbers. These included coded information about the lamp. Usually, you can find lamp abbreviations on our lamp data sheets and they are comprised of six parts:

Lamp nominal length
Lamp nominal wattage
Bulb diameter
Shape of lamp
Lamp base (base code)
Circuit or special description

GPH287T5L/MNBP & GPHHA1554T6VH/4P

G	AA(AA)	BB(BB)	C	D(D)	E(E)	/	FF(FF)	(GG)
Denotes "Germicidal" Lamp	Two to Four Character "Operation" Indicator	Two Digits: Lamp Length in inches Four Digits: Lamp length in mm	Denotes Tubular Design "T"	Denotes Tube Diameter (Outside Diameter)	Denotes Glass Type: L = Low Ozone Producing VH = Very High Ozone Producing	Spacer	Denotes Base Type	Denotes Connection Type
	PH = Preheat		T5 = 5/8" (15mm)				4P = 4 Pin	SE = Single Ended
	HO = High Output		T6 = 6/8" (19mm)				SL = Slimline	DE = Double Ended
	CL = Cell Lamp		T8 = 8/8" (25mm)				MNBP = Mini Bi-Pin
	U = U Lamp		T10 = 10/8" (32mm)				MDBP = Med Bi-Pin
	PHA = Preheat Amalgam		T12 = 12/8" (38mm)
	PHHA = Preheat Amalgam Horizontal High Output
	PHVA = Preheat Amalgam Horizontal or Vertical

Two to Four Character “Operation” Indicator:

G = Germicidal
PH = Pre- Heating
HO = High Output
CL = Cell Lamp
U = U Lamp
PHA = Preheat Amalgam
PHHA = Preheat Amalgam Horizontal High Output
PHVA = Preheat Amalgam Horizontal or Vertical

Length:

2 digits: in inches (total length in installation, for sleeve length)
3 digits: in mm (base-to-base length)

Tubular Design and Diameter:

T = Tubular (1/8 inch)
5 = 5/8 inch (15mm)
6 = 6/8 inch (19mm)
8 = 8/8 inch (25mm)
10 = 10/8 inch (32mm)
12 = 12/8 inch (38mm)

Glass Type:

L = low ozone
VH = very high ozone
H = spliced lamps combinng "L" and "VH" glass
/ = spacer

Base Type:

4P = 4- pin circline base, single ended
MDBP = Medium Bi- pin (G13; 12.7mm)
MNBP = Mini Bi- pin (G5; 5mm)
SL = Slimline = SP = Single Pin

Connection Type:

SE = Single Ended
DE = Double Ended