Retrofitting a tungsten PAR with a metal halide bulb at DVinfo.net

Henry Gretzinger · February 28th, 2006, 05:53 PM

Short and sweet: bad idea? I came up as a spark, so electricity is my friend, but I was wondering about the heat dissipation properties of a standard PAR fixture (namely the Source Four PAR or equivalent high-quality PAR fixture). I found some online suppliers of ballasts and screw-type (PAR30, etc) lamps. Any thoughts?

Henry

Boyd Ostroff · February 28th, 2006, 06:09 PM

I'm not familiar with the lamps you're talking about, but this sounds like a bad idea in general. HMI will surely run a lot hotter than halogen, and there are also issues with HMI lamps shattering explosively. Be very careful with this...

Ralph Keyser · March 2nd, 2006, 03:42 PM

On the other hand, this is pretty much what K5600 offers with the Joker Bug series (a great light BTW). You can adapt the Joker Bug to a Source Four and end up with an HMI Ellipsoidal. Lots of punch, lots of control. Of course, all experiments like this are fraught with hazards, so insert all the appropriate caveats here.

Henry Gretzinger · March 4th, 2006, 10:42 PM

I've been looking into this all week. The only issue I have is that all of the suitable HMI bulbs are OEM globes for use with cine (Arri, Mole, etc...) par instruments. Thusly, the bulb manufacturers are reluctant to release ANSI ballast information for these bulbs (and I cannot match a ballast to a bulb without the ANSI number). Any ideas? I am well aware of the hazards of working with HMI bulbs (and have seen one explode in a 2.5k fresnel -- would be hazardous if there wasn't a 1/4" thick fresnel lens on the front of the fixture).

I figure that I could squeeze a 400w MH bulb into a Source Four PAR or the like and still be within safe operating temperatures.

Henry

February 28th, 2006, 05:53 PM	#1
Henry Gretzinger Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 28	Retrofitting a tungsten PAR with a metal halide bulb Short and sweet: bad idea? I came up as a spark, so electricity is my friend, but I was wondering about the heat dissipation properties of a standard PAR fixture (namely the Source Four PAR or equivalent high-quality PAR fixture). I found some online suppliers of ballasts and screw-type (PAR30, etc) lamps. Any thoughts? Henry __________________ Henry Kieffer VanAllen Gretzinger DP, NYC

March 4th, 2006, 10:42 PM	#4
Henry Gretzinger Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 28	I've been looking into this all week. The only issue I have is that all of the suitable HMI bulbs are OEM globes for use with cine (Arri, Mole, etc...) par instruments. Thusly, the bulb manufacturers are reluctant to release ANSI ballast information for these bulbs (and I cannot match a ballast to a bulb without the ANSI number). Any ideas? I am well aware of the hazards of working with HMI bulbs (and have seen one explode in a 2.5k fresnel -- would be hazardous if there wasn't a 1/4" thick fresnel lens on the front of the fixture). I figure that I could squeeze a 400w MH bulb into a Source Four PAR or the like and still be within safe operating temperatures. Henry __________________ Henry Kieffer VanAllen Gretzinger DP, NYC

February 28th, 2006, 06:09 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I'm not familiar with the lamps you're talking about, but this sounds like a bad idea in general. HMI will surely run a lot hotter than halogen, and there are also issues with HMI lamps shattering explosively. Be very careful with this...

March 2nd, 2006, 03:42 PM	#3
Ralph Keyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 287	On the other hand, this is pretty much what K5600 offers with the Joker Bug series (a great light BTW). You can adapt the Joker Bug to a Source Four and end up with an HMI Ellipsoidal. Lots of punch, lots of control. Of course, all experiments like this are fraught with hazards, so insert all the appropriate caveats here.