Hi, first post so hi everyone.
I've always been a fan of bright lights. Used to make carbon arc lamps as a teenager, also made a few filament lamps in big glass flasks using fridge compressors as a vacuum pump etc.
Anyway, more on that another day.
I'm looking to build an HMI spot light. Have bought a 1200w HMI double ended from eBay. I also bought a 1200w "faulty" ballast unit from eBay. (Google " Strand Lighting QuartzColor 1200w Compact Daylight HMI / MSR Ballast (magnetic ballast. Model: 2077." and it should come up)
Also got a Vagnini & Wilson IGK 06 1800w Ignitor, eBay too.
Also for a bargain price I've got in the post a CSR 1200 single ended, guess from where.
Got the ballast working, turned out one the 5 PFC caps was knackered and tripped the ballast out. Fuses on the PCB were blown too.
Removed the offending capacitor, replaced fuses and fitted a 13a plug and ballast works perfectly!
Hooked up lamp and ignitor and it fired up first time with no drama.
Ran about 15 mins before I shut down as the pvc cables going to the lamp were getting cooked with the heat off it.
I do have pix and a video, I'll upload when next on the PC.
Anyway. My main question is about reflectors. At this time I won't make one, looks alot of mess and my wife won't like that.
Firstly, the diameter. there are several large (400mm+ diameter) reflectors on this forum for this size of lamps. Looking at commercial housing , they have 150-250mm diameter reflectors.
What difference (other than the obvious beam diameter) does the diameter of the reflector make to the beam?
Is there a general rule or guide that larger reflector have some advantages over smaller ones?
Finally, on lamp mounting. With commercial searchlight, Skyscanners etc, the lamp is axially located through the centre of the reflector via a hole.
However, the Arri fresnel style movie set lamp housing and many home brew reflector have the lamp mounted parallel to /lain across the opening if you like, of the reflector.
My gut feeling is an axial mount through the centre is easier to adjust and focus etc by just moving the reflector.
Again, I may have missed something there.
Thanks,
Stuart
I've always been a fan of bright lights. Used to make carbon arc lamps as a teenager, also made a few filament lamps in big glass flasks using fridge compressors as a vacuum pump etc.
Anyway, more on that another day.
I'm looking to build an HMI spot light. Have bought a 1200w HMI double ended from eBay. I also bought a 1200w "faulty" ballast unit from eBay. (Google " Strand Lighting QuartzColor 1200w Compact Daylight HMI / MSR Ballast (magnetic ballast. Model: 2077." and it should come up)
Also got a Vagnini & Wilson IGK 06 1800w Ignitor, eBay too.
Also for a bargain price I've got in the post a CSR 1200 single ended, guess from where.
Got the ballast working, turned out one the 5 PFC caps was knackered and tripped the ballast out. Fuses on the PCB were blown too.
Removed the offending capacitor, replaced fuses and fitted a 13a plug and ballast works perfectly!
Hooked up lamp and ignitor and it fired up first time with no drama.
Ran about 15 mins before I shut down as the pvc cables going to the lamp were getting cooked with the heat off it.
I do have pix and a video, I'll upload when next on the PC.
Anyway. My main question is about reflectors. At this time I won't make one, looks alot of mess and my wife won't like that.
Firstly, the diameter. there are several large (400mm+ diameter) reflectors on this forum for this size of lamps. Looking at commercial housing , they have 150-250mm diameter reflectors.
What difference (other than the obvious beam diameter) does the diameter of the reflector make to the beam?
Is there a general rule or guide that larger reflector have some advantages over smaller ones?
Finally, on lamp mounting. With commercial searchlight, Skyscanners etc, the lamp is axially located through the centre of the reflector via a hole.
However, the Arri fresnel style movie set lamp housing and many home brew reflector have the lamp mounted parallel to /lain across the opening if you like, of the reflector.
My gut feeling is an axial mount through the centre is easier to adjust and focus etc by just moving the reflector.
Again, I may have missed something there.
Thanks,
Stuart