[Konvas] DIY HMI lighting - off-topic

[FauxFilm at aol.com]

Hey Sean....
 
Just as a note, that Alzo system is "fickle" because of the bulb, not the  
fixture.  I bought one just to play with and hooked the ballast up to a  
"regular" 150w Osram single-end real HMI globe and it fired it up just fine (the  
only downside is that the ballast is not hot-restrike).  So I am now  building a 
little 150w HMI in a PAR can that I had laying around (adding  reflector, 
socket, fresnel lens) so that I can use it as a  backlight/hairlight.   I could 
probably just buy one of the 150w HMIs  that Richard sells at Cool Lights for 
not a heckuva lot more money by the time I  get all the parts bought, but this 
way I will have a real 150w HMI that only  ways about a FOURTH what the bigger 
regular fresnel 150's weigh... very easy to  hang off a grip arm on a C-stand, 
etc. 
 
Incidentally, I was able to do a side-by-side shootout with the real HMI  
bulb and the 150w HID bulb that comes with the Alzo kit.  No  comparison.  The 
real HMI bulb is probably somewhere in the neighborhood of  twice as bright.
 
They don't offer them as a part on their website, but I did email the Alzo  
folks and ask, and yes they will sell you just the ballast if you want.   It's 
part SKU 154-1 for $138.60.  So actually, if you DID want one of their  
ballast and HID bulb combos, it would be much cheaper to buy the ballast  and bulb 
separately than to buy their kit... ha.
 
Also also... when you are doing your testing and inventing PLEASE shield  
your peepers.  These lamps (not in their housings) DO put out a LOT of  UV.  Even 
though I was trying very hard to always block my direct view, I  could easily 
tell that after only a couple of minutes it was definitely burning  my 
eyes.... took a couple of hours to get completely back to normal.  That  goes for 
the crappy Alzo bulb too... even though it SHOULD be shielded, I could  feel it 
burning, too.
 
When I get some time (probably within the next couple of weeks) I will  
finish up the little HMI and try to post some DYI pics.
 
T2
 
_________________________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
_http://fantasticplastic.com_ (http://fantasticplastic.com) 
 
 
 



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