A Ultraviolet-C germicidal (UV-C) Lamp Hour Meter from UV Resources alerts building engineers to potential disruptions to benefits of the technology, including decreasing HVAC energy costs by an average of 10-25 percent.
UV-C Lamps installed in HVAC/R systems have been shown to improve indoor air quality, increase airflow, boost heat exchange efficiency and reduce maintenance needs. Moreover, the savings generated by the UV-C equipment is a fraction of the average $0.15 per cfm installation investment.
Over time, all UV-C lamps will lose energy yield, regardless of the make or model. Left undetected, this decreased germicidal output will allow harmful microorganisms to propagate on HVAC cooling coils, drain pans and upper air spaces.
Able to be installed anywhere, the UV-C Lamp Hour Meter solves this problem by measuring the total run time of the lamp from installation against industry standard data that correlates with roughly a 9,000-hour annual lifespan. After 8,041 hours, or about 11 months, the solid green LED light on the meter and the BMS signal changes to a slow, intermittently flashing orange LED and signal as a reminder that lamp replacement is imminent. After 9,000 hours, a red LED and signal begin to flash rapidly, indicating the immediate need for lamp replacement. Once the lamps are replaced, the meter is reset.
“Historically, only about 20 to 30 percent of building engineers actually replace their UV-C lamps, usually because they’re installed in typically overlooked areas,” explains Dan Jones, president of UV Resources. “The UV-C Lamp Hour Meter continuously tracks lamp life and reminds engineers before it’s time for a change-out, giving them time to preserve the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and efficiency benefits garnered through UV-C.”
Due to its stand-alone nature, the UV-C Lamp Hour Meter can be installed anywhere convenient for the building engineer. It can also be incorporated into a building management system, in which case a 5V signal will be used for a relay connection.
Other Key features of the Lamp Hour Meter:
- A LCD screen that displays the total elapsed run-time from the moment of installation.
- Green, Yellow and Red LED Visual Lamp indicators that signal its status to building engineers (green for fully operational; orange as a warning for upcoming replacement need; red for immediate replacement need).
- 5V indicator signal for remote monitoring by BMS systems.
- Memory that allows the meter to pick up where it left off in case of power loss.
- A push button reset of lamp-life timer to zero hours after replacement.
- Construction consisting of industrial grade plastic impregnated with black-carbon for structural integrity.
- Mounting tabs for installation.
- A terminal block featuring screw-down electrical clamps, 5V out-signal and power connections using solid or stranded wire.
- The ability to be powered by a 24V wall adaptor or hardwired.
Benefits of Annual Replacement
Aside from the main IEQ and HVAC/R efficiency benefits derived from keeping the UV-C lamps functional and capable of destroying harmful microorganisms, an annual replacement schedule is more cost effective than individual replacement.
“The annual schedule maintained by the UV-C Lamp Hour Meter allows building managers to consolidate change-outs into one service interval, allowing the facility to purchase lamps in higher quantities to save both money and time on installation,” explains Jones.