At Sunal Parts, we speak with tanning bed owners and salon operators every day. One of the most common sources of confusion we hear about involves tanning bed starters—what they are, which beds use them, and when they need to be replaced.

This guide answers the most frequently asked questions about tanning bed starters so you can diagnose problems faster, protect your lamps, and keep your equipment running efficiently.

👉 You can view and purchase replacement starters here:
Tanning Bed Starters at Sunal Parts

Do All Tanning Beds Use Starters?  No.

s12-starter--68000

s12-starter

Only 220V tanning beds that use choke ballasts require starters.

  • 110V home tanning beds do not use starters
  • 220V beds with choke ballasts do use starters
  • Beds with electronic or rapid-start ballasts do not require starters

If your bed is a traditional commercial unit with Choke ballasts, it almost certainly uses tanning bed starters.

What Does a Choke Ballast Look Like?

A choke ballast is easy to identify:

  • White or off-white in color
  • Heavy weight
  • Rectangular shape
  • Mounted with two screws

Beds using this ballast style require one starter per lamp.

Choke Ballast

Choke Ballast

How Do I Know If My Tanning Bed Uses Starters?

Check the lamp holders at each end of the tanning lamp.

If your bed uses starters:

  • The starter is mounted in the same lamp holder as the lamp as pictured below 

    bjb-26-291-w-starter-holder---

    Lamp Holder with starter mounting

  • It is round and roughly the diameter of a C-size battery

If you see this round component, your bed uses starters and they should be replaced regularly.

How Do I Remove a Tanning Bed Starter?

Removing a starter is simple:

  1. Grab the starter with your fingers
  2. Push down, Turn it one quarter turn
  3. Pull it out

No tools required.

Philips Starters

Philips Starters

How Many Starters Does My Tanning Bed Need?

One starter per lamp.

For example:

  • 32-lamp bed = 32 starters
  • 40-lamp bed = 40 starters

You can find bulk and single replacements in our
tanning bed starters category.

How Often Should Starters Be Replaced?

We strongly recommend replacing all starters every time you install new lamps.

Replacing starters with new lamps:

  • Ensures proper lamp ignition
  • Prevents flickering and darkened lamp ends
  • Extends lamp life

Starters are inexpensive compared to the cost of damaged lamps.

What Damage Can a Bad Starter Cause?

A failing starter can cause:

  • Darkened lamp ends
  • Glowing or flickering
  • Difficulty starting
  • Premature lamp failure

Bad starters send excess energy to the lamp, which can permanently shorten its lifespan.

One Lamp Is Out — Is It the Lamp or the Starter?

Use process of elimination:

  1. Take a starter from a working lamp
  2. Move it to the lamp that is not lighting
  3. If the lamp works, the original starter is bad

You can also swap the tanning lamp itself with a confirmed working lamp.

When in doubt, replacing starters is often the simplest and most cost-effective solution.

Which Tanning Bed Starter Should I Buy?

Several trusted manufacturers have made tanning bed starters, including:

  • Philips
  • Sylvania
  • Cosmedico
  • Cleo Power

The most important factor is matching the starter’s wattage range to your lamp.

👉 Browse compatible options here:
Shop Tanning Bed Starters at Sunal Parts

What Is the Wattage of My Tanning Lamps?

The lamp wattage is usually printed directly on the lamp.

If it’s not visible, contact Sunal Parts and we’ll help you identify the correct wattage and starter.

Do F72 or F73 Lamps Use Starters?

Generally, no.

Beds using F72 or F73 lamps typically use rapid-start ballasts, which do not require starters.

If your bed does not have starters in the lamp holders, replacement is not necessary.

Need Help Choosing the Right Starter?

If you’re unsure whether your tanning bed uses starters or which ones you need, Sunal Parts is here to help.

🔧 View available options:
Tanning Bed Starters – Sunal Parts