Fluorescence Light Source

The most important upgrade you can do for your fluorescence microscope is to exchange the HBO (mercury arc lamp) for a LED or mercury metal halide light system. The advantages are: no alignment, brighter light, way longer lifetime.

The existing lamp housing is extremely difficult to service without removing brackets and zip-ties. In addition, each new Hg lamp requires critical alignment, and the alignment controls are nearly inaccessible in the present configuration. Thus a serious problem exists with the present BX51 microscope setup in the ALS.

I have identified a light source that can replace the HBO fluorescence light source on your Olympus BX51 microscope. This light source uses a remote, integrated Hg-Metal halide lamp/power supply, with the light transmitted to the microscope via a flexible liquid light guide (LLG). Alternatively you may purchase a LED system that will accomplish the same thing.

The advantages for the MMH are:

1. The lamp can be replaced easily by a pulling out the power supply below the bench and replacing the lamp unit. No manipulation of the microscope is necessary.
2. No lamp alignment is necessary.
3. Lamps cost approximately $700, and have a lifetime of 1500h. HBO burners are $150 with a lifetime of 200h.
4. With the addition of a 2.5ND filter to the existing “BF” (brightfield) filter cube, this lamp can replace the halogen light for reflected illumination. Filters can be purchased from Chroma Technologies, Omega Optical, or Olympus.
5. The complete system eliminates the T-fitting, manual mirror, HBO housing, and Halogen housing.

The light source is an Excelitas X-Cite 120Q 120W metal halide short arc lamp system with light guide and coupler.

An alternative, and better light source for CST is the CoolLED pE300