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Osram Sylvania HBO50W/AC L1 50W Short Arc Mercury Lamp

Osram Sylvania HBO50W/AC L1 50W Short Arc Mercury Lamp

$174.00
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SKU:
HBO50W/AC L1 (69213)
UPC:
4050300507132
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Product Description
Compact, high-intensity short-arc mercury illumination for fluorescence microscopy and UV-enabled optical systems.
SOSCleanroom
Overview

The Osram / Sylvania HBO 50W/AC L1 is a 50W high-pressure short-arc mercury lamp engineered as an intense, compact point source with strong output across the visible and ultraviolet range—commonly used in fluorescence microscopy, laboratory analysis, and UV-enabled optical systems. SKU: HBO50W/AC L1 (69213).

Key Highlights
  • Electrical: 50W; nominal 39V (lamp voltage 39–45V); AC operation
  • Current: 1.1–1.3A (requires proper ballast/ignition system)
  • Light output: nominal luminous flux 2000 lm; high radiance point source
  • Geometry: Light Center Length (LCL) 22.0mm; overall length 53.0mm
  • Base: SFa6-2 (both ends)
  • Burning position: s45; observe “UP” marking
  • Nominal life: 100 hours
  • UPC: 4050300507132
Typical Applications
  • Fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence endoscopy
  • Laboratory & analysis instruments (UV/visible illumination paths)
  • UV curing, fiber illumination, optical waveguides, and specialty optical systems
Handling & Safety Tip
Short-arc mercury lamps operate at high internal pressure and produce intense UV radiation. Operate only in an enclosed, purpose-built lamp housing with proper shielding and interlocks. For installation, use clean nitrile gloves and a lint-free wipe to keep the lamp envelope and bases free of oils and debris.
Industry Update
In July 2025, ams OSRAM announced an agreement to sell its Entertainment & Industry Lamps (ENI) business to Ushio, with closing expected by the end of March 2026. During and after a transition, customers may see changes in branding, labeling, packaging, and distribution. Best practice: qualify replacements by the manufacturer ordering code and critical specs (69213, 50W/39V, SFa6-2, LCL 22mm, s45 orientation) to ensure continuity.
Why Buy From SOSCleanroom
SOSCleanroom (Specialty Optical Systems, Inc.) has supported specialty lighting users as a distribution partner for 40+ years—helping customers match lamp type, electrical requirements, and optical geometry for mission-critical equipment.
Need help selecting the right product?
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Always confirm compatibility with your equipment model, required power supply/ballast, base type (SFa6-2), LCL (22mm), and burning position (s45 / “UP” marking) prior to installation.
The Technical Vault
By SOSCleanroom
Specs & Compatibility
Replacement Guidance Handling & Storage Cleanroom Considerations
Quick Specs
Manufacturer / Ordering Code Osram / Sylvania HBO 50W/AC L1 (69213)
Lamp Type / Technology High-pressure mercury short-arc discharge (HBO family)
Output / Spectrum Broad UV + visible; strong multi-line spectrum (commonly filtered for microscopy/UV tasks)
Nominal Wattage / Voltage 50 W / 39 V (lamp voltage 39–45 V)
Lamp Current / Current Type 1.1–1.3 A / AC
Light Output 2000 lm nominal; high radiance point source
Base / Socket SFa6-2 (anode) / SFa6-2 (cathode)
Light Center Length (LCL) 22.0 mm
Overall Length 53.0 mm
Burning Position s45 (observe “UP” marking)
Nominal Lifetime 100 hr
How a Short-Arc Mercury Lamp Works (Engineering Detail)
An HBO lamp is a gas-discharge light source: instead of a filament, it produces light from an electric arc burning between two robust electrodes inside a quartz (fused silica) burner. The arc gap is intentionally very short (“short-arc”), concentrating power into a tiny volume of plasma. That is the design reason these lamps behave like an intense near-point source—ideal for optical systems that must efficiently collect and focus light (microscopes, fiber illumination, UV-enabled instruments).
Start-up and run-up: When cold, mercury is present as small metallic droplets. A high-voltage ignition pulse initiates a discharge in the starting gas, and the arc rapidly heats the burner. As temperature rises, mercury vaporizes, internal pressure increases, and the lamp transitions to a stable high-pressure arc. The electrical behavior changes during this warm-up period, which is why the lamp requires the correct ballast/driver and igniter matched to the lamp type and power.
Why the spectrum looks “spiky”: Mercury plasmas emit strong spectral lines in the UV and visible. In microscopy and analytical optics, filters and dichroics are commonly chosen around prominent mercury lines (for example, wavelengths commonly referenced include ~365, 405, 436, 546, and ~578–579 nm), which is one reason mercury arcs remain widely used for fluorescence illumination.
AC operation and orientation: This model is specified for AC operation. AC lamps alternate electrode roles every half-cycle, and stable arc behavior depends on correct power supply design and correct installation orientation. OSRAM specifies a s45 burning position and to observe the “UP” marking—this is not cosmetic; it supports thermal balance, arc stability, and predictable electrode wear patterns.
Optical Integration: What Matters Most
  • LCL (22.0 mm) is a core fit variable: optical housings and reflectors are designed around where the arc sits in space. If LCL shifts, coupling efficiency and uniformity drop.
  • Arc stability affects image stability: arc wander or instability can show up as flicker or intensity variation at the sample/target plane.
  • Filters are not optional: systems typically include UV/heat management optics (and fluorescence filter sets) to deliver the correct bands and protect downstream components.
  • Cooling is part of performance: airflow and housing temperature influence pressure, stability, and lifetime—treat “air-cooled” as a system requirement, not a preference.
Safety & Handling (Non-Negotiables)
  • Operate only in an enclosed lamp housing designed for short-arc discharge sources (UV shielding + containment).
  • High internal pressure when hot: allow full cool-down before handling. Never subject a hot lamp to shock or rapid cooling.
  • Mercury hazard: if a lamp breaks, mercury may be released—follow your facility’s spill and disposal procedures.
  • UV exposure risk: prevent line-of-sight UV; maintain interlocks and shielding; use appropriate PPE for service events.
Industry Update: ENI Business Transition (Closing Expected End of March 2026)
ams OSRAM announced an agreement (July 2025) to sell its Entertainment & Industry Lamps (ENI) business to Ushio, with closing expected by the end of March 2026.
Buyer best practice: keep the manufacturer ordering code (69213) in your maintenance records and qualify alternatives by electrical requirements (50W / 39V nominal; AC; current range), base (SFa6-2), LCL (22mm), and burning position (s45 / “UP”).
Replacement & Cleanroom Notes
  • Do not “spec-substitute” short-arc lamps casually: LCL, base geometry, and permitted burning position are optical and thermal design constraints.
  • Service like a controlled maintenance event: stage clean nitrile gloves, a cleanroom-grade lint-free wiper, and a compatible cleanroom swab for socket/contact cleaning.
  • Minimize debris: keep packaging fragments out of instrument housings; use low-lint materials and controlled disposal.
  • Protect optical surfaces: if the housing includes reflectors or UV optics, use cleanroom techniques to prevent haze, particles, or residue.
Need deeper specs or cross-references?
If you need additional information please try our SOSCleanroom specific AI ChatBot which draws from our extensive cleanroom specific libraries.
For mission-critical optical instruments, confirm OEM requirements (power supply/ignition method, base type, LCL, burning position/orientation, cooling, and UV shielding) prior to use.