TMC 15/25W Replacement Quartz Sleeve 5276

TMC 15/25W Replacement Quartz Sleeve 5276

A genuine replacement sleeve for compatible TMC UV clarifiers and sterilisers

The TMC 5276 quartz sleeve is the transparent tube that separates the UV lamp from the water in a compatible TMC unit. It is a replacement service part for an existing installation, supplied as one sleeve. Choose it by the manufacturer’s part number and the model of your UV unit, rather than by lamp wattage alone. Different UV ranges can use lamps with the same wattage while requiring different sleeves, seals and end fittings.

TMC identifies 5276 as its 15/25W replacement sleeve. Its published spare parts catalogue specifies this part for the Pond Clear Advantage UV15 and UV25, and the current Vecton Titan 850 spares list also includes it. This gives you a useful starting point when checking the parts diagram for your own equipment. If the label or handbook identifies a different sleeve reference, select that reference instead.

Detail	Specification
Manufacturer	Tropical Marine Centre
Part number	5276
Part type	Replacement quartz sleeve
Size designation	15/25W
Manufacturer’s nominal dimensions	420mm long × 30mm diameter
Quantity supplied	One sleeve

What the quartz sleeve does

A UV unit needs to expose flowing water to ultraviolet light while keeping that water separate from the lamp. The quartz sleeve forms that physical barrier and allows UV light to pass through it. A sleeve must therefore be both clean enough to transmit light and sound enough to maintain the separation required by the unit. It is a different component from the lamp itself: replacing a damaged sleeve does not renew an ageing UV lamp, and changing the lamp does not repair a cracked sleeve.

When planning servicing, identify which part actually needs attention. A dirty but undamaged sleeve may need cleaning in accordance with the equipment handbook; a chipped, cracked or otherwise damaged sleeve needs replacement. If water has entered the electrical area, isolate the equipment and have the fault assessed before using it again. Do not assume that fitting a new tube alone has made wet electrical components safe.

Checking the right replacement before ordering

Start with the model label on the UV housing and the spare parts diagram in its instructions. Look for reference 5276, then compare the nominal length and diameter with the specification for your existing sleeve. Measurements are useful as a cross-check, but the manufacturer’s exact part reference is the better way to distinguish similar glass tubes. Keep any model suffix or generation information when you make that comparison.

The longer TMC Pro Clear 30/55W replacement quartz sleeve is a separate option. It should not be substituted simply because it is also a TMC product. Similarly, a 15W or 25W unit from another manufacturer is not automatically compatible with this sleeve. If you cannot identify your model, send us a clear photograph of the equipment label and the existing part before ordering.

Seals and other service parts

The sleeve relies on the correct seals and fittings in the UV assembly. Inspect those parts while the unit is dismantled, paying attention to damaged, flattened or displaced seals. TMC’s Pond Clear Advantage UV15/UV25 parts diagram identifies 5281 as the quartz sleeve O-ring. Check the parts list and quantity needed for your particular unit; O-rings and other fittings are separate purchases from this single replacement sleeve.

If your maintenance also involves the water connections, our TMC Pond Clear Advantage three-part hosetail 5249-D is another service item for the relevant range. A hosetail serves a different purpose from the sleeve and its seals, so choose only the components needed for the repair. Replacing unrelated parts will not resolve an incorrectly fitted or damaged sleeve seal.

Handling and fitting the replacement

Follow the instructions for your exact UV unit when removing and refitting the sleeve. Isolate the electricity and water supply, allow the equipment to cool, and prepare a clean, stable working area before dismantling it. Quartz is fragile: support the tube along its length and protect its ends from knocks. Keep it away from grit, tools and hard edges that could chip or scratch the surface.

Do not force a sleeve into a housing or use an end fitting to pull a misaligned tube into place. If it will not sit correctly, stop and check the part identity, seal position and assembly sequence. Reassemble using the manufacturer’s method and complete the prescribed water and leak checks before restoring electrical operation. Never look directly at an exposed operating UV lamp.

Keeping the UV assembly serviceable

Inspect the sleeve during the maintenance intervals recommended for your unit. Deposits on its surface can interfere with light passing through, so use the cleaning method and products specified in the handbook. Rinse and handle the part as directed, and inspect it again before refitting. Keeping the model number and sleeve reference with your pond maintenance notes makes the next service easier and reduces the risk of ordering a similar-looking part that does not fit.