Open Veils · Answer
Buying the correct UV lamp for undersink filtration in australia
Lamp-to-controller compatibility is the single most critical variable — the wrong lamp can fail to ignite, run outside the ballast's design range, or deliver sub-lethal UV dose without any visible indication. Matching by manufacturer part number, pin count, connector type, and wattage is non-negotiable for verified disinfection performance. Flow rate must also be matched against a confirmed UV dose figure, not just wattage.
Evidence
- The suppressed detail in most UV lamp purchases is that UV dose is a function of lamp output, water clarity (UVT — UV transmittance), and flow rate together.
- The Aus Water Tanks guide (October 2026) makes the point that replacement lamps are not interchangeable: lamp length, wattage, pin count, and connector type must all match the manufacturer's part number for the specific controller installed.
- For Puretec Hybrid E Series systems, the correct replacement is the RL7 (46W, confirmed by Puretec's own product listing, May 2026, priced at $280.84 AUD inc GST).
- For higher-flow whole-house applications, UV Guard's SLT75 (80W, 316-grade stainless reactor) rates 70 L/min at 40 mJ/cm² and 92 L/min at 30 mJ/cm² — a larger chamber than a standard undersink unit and not a drop-in replacement.
- Per Puretec's own published specifications, their Hybrid R3 system rates 54 L/min at 40 mJ/cm² and 70 L/min at 30 mJ/cm² — the latter being the Australian industry standard for drinking water disinfection.