TDP Lamp - Components

Components

The components are typically a rolling base, vertical pole, electronic timer (mechanical or digital), spring arm, and head. The components of the head are what makes the TDP lamp different from other far-infrared heating devices. The head consists of a wire cage, a heat reflector, an electrical heating plate, insulator, and a mineral plate. It is the mineral plate which is the unique element. The heating element operates at about 870 °F (466 °C), and the lamp emits far-infrared radiation in the 2–50 micrometre range. Based on black body radiation, all heating elements that are operating at 870 °F will emit the same light spectrum.

The mineral plate is a proprietary formula of 33 trace elements which are also found in the human body, in various chemical binding forms. The actual formula, specific mineral forms, and amounts of each of the materials used in manufacturing is secret. Twenty-six of the elements represented have been revealed by various manufacturers. They include: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, calcium, carbon, chromium, cobalt, copper, iodine, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, selenium, silicon, sodium, sulfur, tin, titanium, zinc, and zirconium, bonded onto an iron plate 0.3 to 0.6 millimeters in thickness. The iron plate is 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters in thickness and provides stability and protection for the more fragile mineral layer, and distributes heat evenly on the plate. The remaining seven elements are suspected to be bismuth, germanium, lithium, potassium, rubidium, strontium, and vanadium, although verification has not been available.