After reading a few items on messageboards and comments here, I decided to take a look at the technical performance specifications for the Tria again to clarify a few questions about how long the Tria runs.
The specs are included in the TRIA Instructions for Use booklet. The 2 in question, I believe, are Number of Shots per Charge and Number of Charging Cycles.
No. Shots per Charge >300
No. Charging Cycles >250
At the bottom of the page is the following statement: “The TRIA Laser Hair Removal System is designed to work within specifications for several years or until the battery no longer holds charge. The TRIA laser battery will last for more than 250 charging cycles.”
Shots per charge speaks to how long it will operate on a single charge. Note that 300 is the minimum. I’m guessing rumors of a charge lasting only 20 min is based on that number. Assume it takes 4 seconds to set-up and fire each charge. 300 shots * 4 seconds = 1200 seconds/60 seconds/minute = 20 min.
I also believe that the 300 shots refers to a minimum number of L3 charges. 20 min at L3 may be correct. Using the product at L1 or L2 should allow quite a few more than the minimum number at L3 and the unit should run longer than 20 min.
I haven’t actually counted the number of shots I’ve done on 1 charge, but time wise, I’ve definitely gone for more than an hour on L1. Yesterday I went 30+ min on L2 and my Tria was still going strong at that time.
The first time that I ran my Tria, it did appear to lose charge after about 30-40 min. I think the unit may have shut off to avoid overheating. The next time I used it, the phone rang about 25 min into my session and I ended up taking 1-2 min break while I took the call. When I went back to it, I had no problems continuing for the rest of the hour. I had to stop to do something else but the unit was still working.
I am so glad you clarified this and that you are actually being faithful to this blog. So, many try it and never come back with the resuts after a week. Seems liek you are faithful to it. I am curious after 6 months if it is still any better.
Do you think this machine will work on the face? It seems difficult above the lip area personally.
I am also glad you told us about the charges because I know when I found out about the 250 charges and then it dies I was heartbroken. Its so expensive and it only makes me feel better if it last a couple of years. Again thank you so much for this info!! Kepp up the detailed posts. We are reading even if we dont comment all the time!
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Comment by Yvette — July 9, 2008 @ 8:19 pm |
Hi, Yvette, my instructions specifically say the TRIA is for areas below the neck and the unit is not approved for facial hair.
This may change in the future as I’ve read Tria is testing the home laser for use on other areas, but for now I’m not using mine anywhere near my face.
I’d like to find something that works well above the lip but I suspect I’ll leave that to the professionals regardless. Any time I’ve tried to wax that area I’ve burned myself so there’s no way I’m attempting to laser it myself.
I’m sure this blog will be active for a while. I’m glad to hear from anyone who is reading it. Also, I have a number of friends who are following my progress and I’m sure to hear about it from them if I don’t keep up regular updates!
Comment by RA — July 9, 2008 @ 8:35 pm |
Hi, i’m just starting to research the Tria and was wondering how long does one treatment take? how long does it take to do a half leg or the bikini (plus) area?
Comment by Hannah — July 22, 2008 @ 4:54 pm |
How long a treatment can take depends on what level you are using and how carefully you are overlapping the laser pulses. For lower levels, the battery charge lasts longer/yields more pulses, so you can do larger areas.
To give you an idea, on level 2, I can do both of my armpits on 1 charge and that’s about it.
I can’t (yet) tolerate above Level 1 on my bikini line, so I’m able to cover a larger area in less time. A full charge on level 1 lasted over an hour for me. I’ve been pretty conservative in treating that area, so it’s tough to give a time on this one.
It takes about 2 hours to fully recharge the battery.
My legs require multiple charges so treating them is a lengthy ordeal over several days. (I work full-time at my real job.)
Comment by RA — July 22, 2008 @ 5:33 pm |
Yvette I’m concerned about the 250 recharge cycles as well. This seems more like a ploy to sell more units than anything else. I’m interested in hearing from others about how to mod your Tria. I’ve not yet purchased one but expect to soon. While hesitant to open and modify a new Tria I will immediately open the dead on and try altering it’s power system in order to get more use out of it. Laptop batteries contain a chip internal to the battery itself that tells the battery when to stop. Perhaps the Tria is similarly designed.
Comment by Kaya — November 29, 2008 @ 4:23 am |