EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Olympus / Keymed ripoff

Comments please gents,

Our Trust recently purchased 2 Olympus CLV-S40 lightsources.
Replacement lamps are available from MGC Lamps @ £185.00 but without a timer.
The replacement MGC lamp will not work without the timer being renewed.
Replacement timers are only available from Keymed.
Keymed won't sell the timer as a seperate item.
The ripoff price for lamp & timer is £1090.00.

Can this be described as a restrictive practice.
Pete

If the timer is the same as commonly used by KeyMed it is available from Hospital Lamp Supplies (HYBEB) 01162358818 or RLT Lamp Sales 01514277273.
-and yes the KeyMed price is a rip-off.
Graham

Hi Graham,
No not the mercury column timer but a LCD strip - I've just been informed that the 'new' timer contains batteries.
Pete

The new timers do use two batteries and a PIC micro, to reset that remove the batts for a few minutes, or better still replace that timer with a mercury bubble type.

Why a lamp won't work until the timer gets changed I dont know - I did not think that there would be any data just a voltage present to tell the timer to move along.

Hi Andy,
Thanks for that, I'll give it a go, but also can't understand the timer / lamp operating principle.
Ladies, my appologies for the original post of 'comments please gents' I feel suitably chastised.
Pete

Pete,
FYI, you can re-use the mercury column types by putting a reverse current of a few microamps through it (we use a PP3 + a series res to limit it to around 9uA). It takes several days to complete, but saves buying new for every bulb replacement

Hello,

Andyj81 is correct about resetting the digital hour meter.

Simply unclip the front panel off, locate the batteries, remove for a few mins, re-assemble, the hour meter is now zero.

Enjoy

Hi Folks, (Ladies & Gents)
Thanks for your comments.
Pete

I think this highlights why EBME/Biomedical Engineering/Clinical Engineering needs to be involved in the purchase of medical equipment so we advise in whole life costs of the equipment. Rather than having to sort out solutions to problems.
But I hope I am preaching to the converted.
Robert

Your dead right actually, if you want a shock, check out the contract maintenance costs of the Olympus / Keymed cameras, scopes and such, phone up the service department, theyre likely to answer " stand and deliver !! "