Skytrackers

[Burt_Gummer]

I've been fastinated by theses things since they are sooo bright. Everyones seen 'em, the ones used for advertising with the bright beams. I've been searching for a long time to figure out how the optics are aligned in these. Anyone have any info on it?. I sound crazy, but I've got some high powered halogen bulbs that I want to make something with so I decided to make a REALLY bright flashlight. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Any info would be great. Thanks in advance.

-Burt

[LED-FX]

Big reflector small source, no big secret.

Parabolic reflector, parabola has a tiny point of focus where every thing will be reflected out in a parallel beam, outside the focus point it will go a bit this way or that.

WW2 carbon arc searchlights, 6-8` diameter used two carbon rods and a point of light less than 1/4" in diameter. Kick sand in face of skytrackers ;-)

Skytracker et al, use xenon light sources, this is a very short arc lamp allowing most of light to be collected by parabolic mirror and thrown out front parallel.

http://members.misty.com/don/dschlamp.html#dlsphid

Typically 2.5Kw to 7Kw lamps.

www.skytracker.com

www.spacecannon.it

Tungsten saource is a bit big, so need big reflector.

HTH
Adam

[PhotonWrangler]

I remember looking at one of those carbon-arc searchlights as a child. It was parked outside of a movie theater and I was standing off to the side of it, in complete awe of the amount of light that was coming out of that monster! I distinctly remember the angry-looking white-hot flame at the center of the lamp, and it was painful to look at it, even at a steep angle. Waaaaay more powerful than the current crop of Space Cannons and Star Trackers, but way less portable also! And a lot crankier.

[markdi]

ge carbon arc search light are around 15 to 18 kw I think