The Wrench
Vol.3 Issue 1
February, 2006
Choosing a Lamp Vendor
The detector lamp is a critical component in how well an HPLC detector will operate. Along
with the HPLC column it is also one of the most expensive ‘consumable’ items in
an HPLC system with lamps typically being replaced anywhere from 1 to 5 times per year
depending on usage. Therefore choosing the right lamp vendor is critical to the success of
your analysis but is also important for the overall success of your lab.
At CTS Corp. we continuously monitor an assortment of our lamp products against the OEM
lamps. This ensures that we continue to match or beat their performance in terms of lamp
intensity, noise, and lifetime. Figure 1 shows a comparison of our version of the
Agilent® 1100 shine-thru lamp, Agilent 1100 DAD long life lamp, and the Agilent 1100 VW
lamp for noise, wander and drift. This corresponds to CTS part numbers CTS-10473(T),
CTS-10827, and CTS-10494 respectively.
| Lamp |
Type |
ASTM Noise
[mAU]
(Limit: 0.05) |
Wander
[mAU]
(Limit: 0.2) |
Drift
[mAU/h]
(Limit: 5) |
| CTS-10473(T) |
DAD |
0.016 |
0.039 |
0.281 |
| OEM Lamp |
DAD |
0.016 |
0.014 |
0.155 |
| CTS-10827 |
DAD |
0.021 |
0.026 |
0.270 |
| OEM Lamp |
DAD |
0.013 |
0.029 |
0.243 |
| CTS-10494 |
VWD |
0.013 |
0.016 |
0.051 |
| OEM Lamp |
VWD |
0.012 |
0.012 |
0.062 |
In addition to our comparison testing we work closely with multiple deuterium Lamp
manufacturers to provide you with the best possible lamp for each OEM’s instrument.
Two of the larger lamp producers we deal with are ISO certified manufacturers and each
possesses extensive in-house R&D and QA facilities for testing and creating products.
Some of the tests typically performed include spectrum check, lamp output, and lifetime,
as well as transmission of optical components. Their optics expertise with our knowledge
of the HPLC market allows us to give you the performance you need to succeed.
Unlike many of the OEM’s who are aligned with a single lamp manufacturer, we have
cultivated relationships with many of the best. This allows us to select the appropriate
manufacturer for each lamp we need based on the characteristics of that lamp line. When
sourcing a lamp we consider multiple characteristics, from the glass, to the cathode, to
the overall dimensions and look of the product.
Once we’ve approved a lamp product and received the raw lamp in-house it goes through
further assembly and another series of QA tests. This includes checks on the lamps
alignment, intensity and signal to noise. Essentially, our lamps wind up going through two
rounds of QA testing, complimenting our vendor’s QA program. Our first round occurs
when we receive the lamp from the manufacturer and a then a second round follows final
assembly. Because of the double check only the best of the best are made available for
purchase. This has given us an enviable track record with an overall field failures of
<2% and some models, such as the deuterium lamp for the Waters® 2487 are <1%. All
this attention to detail ensures that a lamp from CTS will fit perfectly in OEM equipment
and operate indistinguishably.
Of course service and value are nearly as important as the physical product. From a value
standpoint CTS cannot be beat, you get the performance of the OEM, but with list prices
that generally start 15% to 20% below the OEM’s. Finally, CTS continues to fight the
global move to strand customers in automated call services. You will always be greeted by
a live customer service representative who can help you with your order or direct you to
our technical service group for any technical questions.
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