36 inch Gorilla

[SuperTrouper]

You're hardcore LightSward!

You must have some understanding neighbours donating their houses for beamshot targets like that! 😀

 

[LightSward]

You're hardcore LightSward!

You must have some understanding neighbours donating their houses for beamshot targets like that! 😀

Thanks.

My neighbors have been very positive and supportive of this.

I'm think the condominium owner above my shop has been bothered by an occasional very bright light beam streaking across her bedroom window. I very much try to limit the time I outdoor test the lights. For the mile Beam Shots, (when I drive around the streets of town, to see how far I can see the beam), I place the searchlight on the upstairs deck, where the beam source is somewhat hidden by trees and bothers the least amount of people. Sometimes, during the test, many vehicles will drive into our 'no outlet' neighborhood.

The winter has early nights, so it is easy to test the light with out anyone really being bothered, since people are just coming home from work and are too busy to notice. But sometimes in summer, with the late sunsets, I may be 'testing' the lights, l sometimes hear the clank of window blinds closing.

I do my best to shield any occupied windows from the Searchlights, and if I think the beam might be an aircraft issue, I have a direct phone number to the FAA I can call, (they prefer at least 48 hour notice, so they can be sure to let any affected pilot know where to go get blinded by the beasts). As a member of the AOPA, (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), I don't want to upset any Captains.
... ...
. 😱 :thumbsup: :candle: 😗 😀 :devil:
Overall I have great neighbors!

 

[LightSward]

Here is the MH, (HID) electronic Lumatek Lighting ballast I've purchased. I paid less than the MSRP listed below. Very Fast Start-up, and bright!!! This thing fires up the 600 watt bulb to full brightness in very little time...very fast! I've watched this thing fire up the regular 600 watt HID bulb in about a minute. Manufacturer claims:
...Fast start-up ...It reaches full brightness in under one minute; magnetic ballasts typically take about fifteen to twenty minutes.....

(I changed some wording in the following as indicated by italics.)

Not just your standard eballast the new Dial-A-Watt Lumateks have advanced dimming capabilities and are able to power different wattage lamps on the same ballast making them the most versatile ballasts available. The 5th generation Lumatek ballasts produce the highest operating frequency of any eBallast on the market today and offer unmatched performance. Now you can dim your lamps which can be a great way to deal with heat issues in your Searchlight and to help control your electricity bill. You can also use different wattage lamps by setting the dial on the ballast to the desired output power and putting in the proper wattage lamp. Note that both the input and output power of the ballast is changed when you select different settings.

For example when you set the dial to 600W on a 1000W Dial-A-Watt Lumatek the ballast performs exactly the same as a regular 600W Lumatek ballast.
This a great feature for Advertisers that want to use a 600W MH lamp for one Searchlight such as the Gorilla and then switch over to a 1000W HPS lamp when it's time to go Disco.

Lumatek makes the only dual-voltage eBallast available that produces the same lamp power when used on 120V or 240V.
This is a major advantage considering that a typical dual-voltage eBallast losses as much as 15% of its output when used on 120V.
All Lumatek models are generator ready and are capable of being used on 208V three-phase power.

Lumatek has been a long standing pioneer in creating innovative lighting technologies for the Searchlight Industry.
Lumatek offers the most complete line of dimmable multi-wattage ballasts on the market.
Sold in more than 40 countries Lumatek is the world's number one selling ballast.

Lumatek 240V 1000 Watt Electronic Ballasts burned the 2 test bulbs we tried visibly brighter to the eye than a regular coil/core ballast!

Why choose a Lumatek Electronic ballast over a core-and-coil (magnetic) ballast?
- Fast start-up ...It reaches full brightness in under one minute; magnetic ballasts typically take about twenty minutes
- Completely silent ...you have to put your ear up to the ballast before you can detect the slightest sound
- Small compact design ...600watt ballast weighs less than 4.5 kilos compared to almost 20 kilos for magnetic ballasts.
- Produce less heat
- Cut-off circuitry ...Automatic cut off when a short is detected. For ultimate safety.
- Longer bulb life...Lumen output loss over time is dramatically less than with magnetic ballasts
- Fully interchangeable ...Lumatek ballasts can light both HPS and MH bulbs

More lumen output...20%-30% more lumens output...More light equals more people will see the searchlight.

There are no fans to break down or make noise; fan cooled ballast's have a very high failure rate. Lumatek ballasts are very, very reliable. Which is why we offer the excellent warranty.

The ballast can be mounted in areas of high heat. Up to 140° Farenheit.

- Every Lumatek ballast is burned for 12 hours at the factory
- Excellent three year, full exchange warranty
- Lumatek ballasts are 8% brighter than ROM and future ballasts
- No fans to break down after 1 or 2 years
- Safer - The Lumatek ballast is completely sealed from the inside

Ballast comes with 15' Lampcord !
Most companies add $35 for this cordset

This ballast will run a HPS or MH 1000 watt Bulb
When Selector switch is set to 600 it will run a 600 watt MH or HPS bulb
The Dual Voltage Ballast comes with a 120 volt power cord ( regular 3 prong) or special order 240 volt cord.

New Switchable / Dimmable 10000 watt ballast
Will Run 1000 watt bulbs, 750 watt bulbs & 600 watt bulbs
Price: $349.95

326.20 USD

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Sun Master bulb has a nice searchlight color, and very pleasant when shined on things.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT] Sun Master bulb being made

This combination seems to work well, and will get me through until I get more $$$ to upgrade.

 

[Chauncey Gardner]

Great project & thread LS!

Has me wondering about all the old dishes we have around the place...

Like the one we used as a gazeebo roof...

Great beam shots in a nice setting.

 

[LightSward]

Great project & thread LS!

Has me wondering about all the old dishes we have around the place...

Like the one we used as a gazeebo roof...

Great beam shots in a nice setting.

:twothumbs Thanks. It has been much fun!!
Dishes, pots and pans, salad or mixing bowls can be quite useful in ways not always evident at first glance. One of my first searchlights used a large shiny mixing bowl. It just happened to have a virtually perfect parabolic shape.

May 2010 Pacific Northwest Get Together

 

[LightSward]

New rotating platform and yoke are mostly finished for now. Looks great! I'll post photos next few days when one of my photo buckets allows me to put more photo on. :thumbsup:

 

[LightSward]

At long last, a few daytime photos and a video of the Gorilla's new panning mechanism. The panning mechanism rotates a full 90 degrees from side to side. I will upgrade it to a full 360 degree pan in the future. For now 90 degrees is plenty of beam movement for the venues I usually provide searchlight service to. Usually there is a building obstruction, trees or regulated air space I try to avoid, making the 90 degree pan perfect for many of these situations.:twothumbs

36 inch Gorilla Searchlight, on new yoke and stand

This stand pans 90 degrees, left to right, working well in downtown areas and many strip malls. Easy to transport the whole set-up in a small car.

Click for VIDEO

Gorilla Searchlight with new panning mechanism .avi by Jared Wells

This video shows the 600 watt special bright HID fast start 36 inch Gorilla Searchlight on it's new panning mechanism. This powerful, homemade searchlight is used to open new local film fest and night club promotions, along with small business openings and sales events!
(more)





The old wooden Yoke and Stand will temporarily support the 50 inch Monster, during it's new Yoke 'fitting'.

Part of the original rotating mechanism and sheet metal, used on the searchlights, and metal mixing bowls, I briefly considered using as searchlight reflectors, a few years ago, now used in this 400,000 volt Van De Graaff Generator. I constructed this high tension generator from junk, around the same time I built the new Searchlight Yoke. I Captured this little 8 inch beauty yesterday. The Large Sparks actually help relax and soothe sore, tight muscles.

..

Shorter, but way intense spark, loud pop!


Van De Graaff Generator and Grounding Sphere


0:18 Video, Click Image
(400,000 volts are expected on a dry day, but Portland, Oregon's constant somewhat humid, rainy days, makes the sparks much smaller, around 200,000 volts or less. Still 4 to 6 inch sparks are common with built in dehumidifying heater.) 😎 Lights up fluorescent bulbs with-in three feet, just sitting in box.

 

[LightSward]

Just a quick Note:

I will show off the 36 inch Gorilla at the Movie Premiere of my brothers movie "Born Again Sage", but there has been a slight delay filming the last and very important scene, (Insurance and permit issues of a night club). September will be the new opening month, and at the Laurelhurst Theatre 2735 East Burnside Street, Portland, OR 97214(503) 232-5511‎, and then it will show at the Hollywood Theater later in the month.😗

More info as the film is completed.:candle:

 

[D-LUX]

Wow! That's very cool.
It must be very rewarding designing and building someing like this... learning from your earlier projects and applying this knowledge. A huge effort, well done.

 

[LightSward]

:thumbsup: Thanks for the good words.

This has been very rewarding, and has helped me keep my sanity, during the slow work schedule, I've been enduring for the last few seasons.

Cheers! :wave:

 

[LightSward]

The new panning mechanism on the Gorilla, makes the light beam much more attention grabbing.

I'll post some videos soon, of the new panning mechanism and beam shots.😗

 

[LightSward]

Will be doing a test run of the 36 inch Gorilla near the Laurelhurst Theater: Burnside and 28th street, Portland, Oregon, sometime around 10-10:45 p.m. Tonight, (Thursday, July 22, 2010). Hopefully will get some good beam shots.😗

 

[LightSward]

Awesome! For just a 600 watt, HID, large arc size bulb, the Gorilla did well during the competition with the nearly full moon. I think I got some good beam shots. I could see the light beam for many blocks! I think it will look decent during opening night of "Born Again Sage"!

Some streetlights seem to use very high wattage bulbs, especially at intersections. It was sometimes hard to see the searchlight at these brightly lit intersections, but neighborhood street lights weren't as bright, making the searchlight much easier to see.

I overheard many passing bicyclist and pedestrians referring to the searchlight, and noticed motorist looking for the source as well. There are a lot of sidewalk cafes, etc., in the area, with lots of foot and bicycle traffic, making this a good spot for the Gorilla. Eventually I'd like to put a small arc, multi-k-watt HID / HMI bulb in this.

Photos next few days.
:thumbsup:
LightSward

 

[LightSward]

The Gorilla on new Panning System

Here are a few beam shots. I kept the Gorilla panning all night, some of the photos show the beam wider and dimmer than it appears to the eye, because of the time lapse. I will use the tripod next time. Also, I had litmited 'sky exposure', so I had to point the searchlight almost straight up, which reduced the distance from the Gorilla, the beam could be seen. Still, Gorilla, very eye catching around the Laurelhurst neighborhood.

:twothumbs

Video of Gorilla Panning a news helicopter
CLICK IMAGE FOR PANNING VIDEO OF THE GORILLA
The 36 inch wide Gorilla searchlight is seen advertising it's new look, by shining over the Hill Billy Film Studio Back Lot and Portland area.

Video of Gorilla Panning the night sky when a news helicopter flew over several times. Many people were drawn to the "Gorilla".


Gorilla showing off it's lighting ability

Gorilla Panning the Portland Night Sky from the back lot of the Production Studio location of many Portland Movie projects. The Gorilla, with it's soft, eye pleasing beam, blends in nicely with the Portland, Oregon culture.




Gorilla as seen from the Production Studio

Gorilla Panning the Portland Night Sky from the back lot of the Production Studio location of many Portland Movie projects. The Gorilla, with it's soft, eye pleasing beam, blends in nicely with the Portland, Oregon culture.


Gorilla Panning the Portland Night Sky

Here the 36 inch Gorilla can be seen projecting into the Portland, Oregon, night sky, from the studio location the "Born Again Sage" Movie is produced at.



Gorilla Panning the Portland Night Sky

Gorilla as seen from a block away


Gorilla panning the night away

The Gorilla could be seen, during this practice run, for many blocks in all directions.




Gorilla shines from behind studio house

Here the 36 inch Gorilla is seen shining over the Studio location where the "Born Again Sage" Movie was produced. special effects location as well.
The Searchlight Beam in many of these photos appears much wider and dimmer than it actually is, the panning motion, during the time lapse photo, made the beam look different than the eye sees it.


Gorilla as seen from the Production Studio

Here you can see the 36 inch Gorilla from a quarter mile distance, competing with the nearly full moon and bright lights.




Eventual location the Gorilla searchlight will invade...
The Laurelhurst Movie Theater is a nice old place with beer and pizza

The Laurelhurst Movie Theater is a nice old place with beer and pizza. This is just a couple blocks from the production studio of "Born Again Sage". the sidewalk may be too small a space to set up the light, so a parking lot in the back may have to suffice...beam will shine over the building top.



Gorilla as seen from Laurelhurst Theater

Here the Gorilla is seen from the Laurelhurst theater location. Standing next to the theater, I took this picture of the buildings across the street, where you can see the Gorilla Searchlight Beam panning over the buildings from a couple blocks away.


36 inch Gorilla from over a quarter mile distance

You can see the 36 inch Gorilla panning from over a quarter mile distance at this location. The nearly full moon is just off camera. I could have gone further, but the searchlight was starting to draw many people and it was getting late.

 

[LightSward]

I apologize for the poor quality photos from the last photo segment. My Nikon, I've been using, does not seem to be working properly. I will remedy that ASAP.:candle:

 

[LightSward]

Well, I am trying to put together a little road trip, to fire up the 600 watt Gorilla, somewhere, I can show the tremendous brightness of this thing. I'd like to travel to the Columbia Gorge, and light up a waterfall, for a few minutes, from a mile or so away.

Do to scheduling, It looks like the first Movie Premiere of "Born Again Sage", will be just before night fall, so I won't be using the Gorilla; at the Hollywood and Laurelhurst Movie Theaters, until later in the fall, when the days aren't so long. We originally thought, management would only let us do a late night viewing...which in this case is actually good news for the movie getting a good crowd,:thumbsup: but I won't be able to show off the Gorilla. :candle:

 

[LightSward]

For a variety of reasons, Laurelhurst Movie Theater management didn't think the dark sky, 😎 before the movie, was long enough, this time of year to have a searchlight for the Premiere of "Born Again Sage"...which starts at 9:15 pm,... almost totally dark. I understand. They prefer a good solid hour or more of dark sky before the movie starts, so we will wait until the movie moves to the Hollywood theater, a month later, to show off the GORILLA SEARCHLIGHT. This was the original plan, I was just hoping for more exposure...:thinking:


LightSward

Born Again Sage Preview
vimeo.comHarold Nicholas Wells, The Phantom Hillbilly, stars, writes and directs this feature about a heavy metal rebel who never grows up. Featuring Cinema Queso, Extra Medium Sketch Comedy and Star Can't Dead alumni, plus a cast of Portland cameos as never-aging...

. :naughty: :candle: 😀 😎 .
C-Yah Then!

 

[LightSward]

:twothumbs Sell Out Crowd! The 7" 35 watt HID converted Cyclops was hung by a shoe string from a tripod and rotated to act as a searchlight for the Premier of "Born Again Sage". Sidewalk was packed, so good thing I didn't bring the 36 inch Gorilla. Hundreds of people had to be turned away because the theater was packed with standing room only and extra seats brought in! Management of Laurelhurst Theater didn't expect this, so we are looking for another theater to show it in next few weeks. The Gorilla Searchlight will shine for sure at the Hollywood theater next month. Awesome!:twothumbs

I will post some photos of the 7" Cyclops shining on the "theater markeeee", next few days, with the block long crowd lined up to buy tickets!

 

[LightSward]

Some photos showing the location where, I set up the 7 inch, 35 watt HID, Cyclops, to attract attention to: "Born Again Sage's" - First sold-out Screening






Some video I filmed of the 7 inch, 35 watt HID, Cyclops, hung by a shoe string from a tripod, at the Laurelhurst Movie Theater. This was the main opening night of my brother's movie premier, "BORN AGAIN SAGE".

I just set up the Cyclops for about fifteen minutes. Several people said they could see the beam from the light several blocks away.:naughty:

Click Image for Video of 7", 35 Watt HID, Cyclops:twothumbsCyclops lights up the Movie Premier. I really want to bring the Monster or Gorilla next time. Have to see what management says...limited space, big crowds. When we show the Movie at the Hollywood theater a mile or so away, there is plenty of room for a searchlight there!

Born Again Sage's Photos - "BORN AGAIN SAGE": WORLD PREMIER!

Photo 7 of 13 Back to Album · Born Again Sage's Photos · Born Again Sage's Profile



Born Again Sage's Photos - "BORN AGAIN SAGE": WORLD PREMIER! Cool to see it all lit up. My name appeared several times ithe credits for miniatures, special effects assistant, cinematography...my camera work actually looks pretty good on the "Big Screen"!:twothumbs

Photo 11 of 13 Back to Album · Born Again Sage's Photos · Born Again Sage's Profile


Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

 

[LightSward]

ALL THE POSTS OF 2011 ARE GONE, INCLUDING MY MINI LIGHTSWARD THREAD...TOTALLY GONE!

Glad CPF is back. I did not like it going dark for so long. Thanks CPF. Problem is many of the last post have vanished, ALL FROM 2011. All the Christmas tree lot stuff is gone :-(