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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => Lighting Forum => Topic started by: jason misterka on November 17, 2015, 09:52:01 PM

Title: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: jason misterka on November 17, 2015, 09:52:01 PM
Hello lighting folks -

Sound guy asking.  I'm looking for a recommendation for ideally four, or at the most six, lights. 

These are not to run a "Light Show" but instead to illuminate the stage with fairly natural looking white light.

If we need a lighting show, we bring in a lighting company.  These are for bluegrass festivals, relay for life, first night fireworks events, etc.  Think decent looking work lights :)

What I am looking for is a fixture I can have the staging guys hang easily on the front of the roof of an SL100 or SL250 (16-20ft from the stage deck).   Or I can put on a pole on an ultimate stand or Applied L16.

I was thinking something like a waterproof LED mole?


Here are the requirements, I believe, let me know if this is realistic:

-  Able to be fitted and mounted with cheeseboro, clamps or bolts to SL100 or SL250

- Enough "brightness" and dispersion to light up a 32x24 stage from 20ft.  I'm not too worried about keeping the light on the stage, a little spill is OK for these, and obviously if the stage size and height of the roof changes each gig, then there will be a little fluff.

- since they will be used on different size stages, they need to be able to dim gracefully

- Waterproof (often put up the day before when the stage roof goes up, etc)

- Only need white, but needs to be decent white.  Not perfect but decent enough for amateur photographers not to gripe with me all night.

- DMX control, linked together.  We will bring in a baby console to turn them on when we arrive.

- need all four or six to run on one 20amp 120volt circuit, ideally linking to each other without needing additional cabling, but if I need to I can get additional waterproof cabling. 

- The idea is simplicity.  Since I am relying on the staging company to mount these fairly often, they need to go up easy and not have a bunch of buttons that can be bumped and need a 25ft ladder to reach during soundcheck...

- hoping for a sub $300 per unit price.  What's out there?

Thanks!
Jason



Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: veditor78 on November 18, 2015, 05:32:32 PM
I couldn't find anything that matches all your needs at your price point. Definitely nothing weatherproof.

The closest thing I could find in your price point is the Chalet SlimPAR Pro VW (http://www.stagelightingstore.com/Chauvet-SlimPAR-Pro-VW?sc=25&category=447157 (http://www.stagelightingstore.com/Chauvet-SlimPAR-Pro-VW?sc=25&category=447157)).

It doesn't have locking power connectors so if one connection comes loose you could loose the downstream fixtures.

If you can go up to $400 per fixture then you can look at the Blizzard RokBox InfiniWhite (http://www.stagelightingstore.com/Blizzard-RokBox-InfiniWhite?sc=25&category=447157 (http://www.stagelightingstore.com/Blizzard-RokBox-InfiniWhite?sc=25&category=447157)). This fixture has locking power connectors. It is also brighter (lumen spec) than the Chauvet fixture.

With a 20' throw each fixture would get you around a 9' light circle at the stage floor. If you want even coverage across the entire stage you will need closer to two dozen fixtures. Six fixtures would allow you to light up specific areas of the stage with decent intensity.

Both of these fixtures are not professional grade, they lean more towards the prosumer level.

If you can do without dimming I would lean towards some standard splash proof T8 fixtures like this (http://www.badwgroup.com/collections/wet-location-linear-fluorescent-strips/products/vsa4a232asemv000000i?gclid=Cj0KEQiA4LCyBRCY0N7Oy-mSgNIBEiQAyg39tr0dHvbH54fMmmL1BuIYr6Fd0ojjoveZAG9y8cZjeUUaAnXQ8P8HAQ (http://www.badwgroup.com/collections/wet-location-linear-fluorescent-strips/products/vsa4a232asemv000000i?gclid=Cj0KEQiA4LCyBRCY0N7Oy-mSgNIBEiQAyg39tr0dHvbH54fMmmL1BuIYr6Fd0ojjoveZAG9y8cZjeUUaAnXQ8P8HAQ)). This type of fixture would be very bright, but you wouldn't have much control of where the light went.

I hope this was of some help.
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: John Fruits on November 18, 2015, 10:03:22 PM
Hot exactly what you are looking for, but take a look at the Kreios FL and FLx.
Not DMX, but to some extent dimmable with standard dimmers (smoothly down to about 10% IIRC). Very high CRI. 
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: Cailen Waddell on November 18, 2015, 10:16:04 PM
The chauvet IP fixtures are the budget way to go.  Yes they CAN do colors but they don't have to, and their open white presets are generally good enough.  And they come with the appropriate yokes to easily clamp to a roof structure. 

Alternatively look at some of the Amazon led floodlights.  Google 50w warm white led flood light at Amazon, and you will see some stuff come up.  They work ok, and last about 2000 hours before the LED or driver crap out, but they are super cheap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: jason misterka on November 19, 2015, 12:29:55 PM
I couldn't find anything that matches all your needs at your price point. Definitely nothing weatherproof.

The closest thing I could find in your price point is the Chalet SlimPAR Pro VW (http://www.stagelightingstore.com/Chauvet-SlimPAR-Pro-VW?sc=25&category=447157 (http://www.stagelightingstore.com/Chauvet-SlimPAR-Pro-VW?sc=25&category=447157)).

It doesn't have locking power connectors so if one connection comes loose you could loose the downstream fixtures.

If you can go up to $400 per fixture then you can look at the Blizzard RokBox InfiniWhite (http://www.stagelightingstore.com/Blizzard-RokBox-InfiniWhite?sc=25&category=447157 (http://www.stagelightingstore.com/Blizzard-RokBox-InfiniWhite?sc=25&category=447157)). This fixture has locking power connectors. It is also brighter (lumen spec) than the Chauvet fixture.

With a 20' throw each fixture would get you around a 9' light circle at the stage floor. If you want even coverage across the entire stage you will need closer to two dozen fixtures. Six fixtures would allow you to light up specific areas of the stage with decent intensity.

Both of these fixtures are not professional grade, they lean more towards the prosumer level.

If you can do without dimming I would lean towards some standard splash proof T8 fixtures like this (http://www.badwgroup.com/collections/wet-location-linear-fluorescent-strips/products/vsa4a232asemv000000i?gclid=Cj0KEQiA4LCyBRCY0N7Oy-mSgNIBEiQAyg39tr0dHvbH54fMmmL1BuIYr6Fd0ojjoveZAG9y8cZjeUUaAnXQ8P8HAQ (http://www.badwgroup.com/collections/wet-location-linear-fluorescent-strips/products/vsa4a232asemv000000i?gclid=Cj0KEQiA4LCyBRCY0N7Oy-mSgNIBEiQAyg39tr0dHvbH54fMmmL1BuIYr6Fd0ojjoveZAG9y8cZjeUUaAnXQ8P8HAQ)). This type of fixture would be very bright, but you wouldn't have much control of where the light went.

I hope this was of some help.

Thanks Josh -

We actually own eight Slim Par Pro fixtures on two trees of four.  I don't have too many complaints with them, however, they are not waterproof and they didn't get bright enough IMO for this project.  I have the RGBA version from two or three years ago. Maybe the newer version is better, but unless the newer version is waterproof I can't use them for this. 

I'm not hard and fast at $300.  I was just hoping for $300 since I didn't need any color changing, just white.


EDIT also I like the idea of the multiple color temp options on the Blizzard units but they aren't waterproof either, correct?

Jason
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: jason misterka on November 19, 2015, 12:36:15 PM
The chauvet IP fixtures are the budget way to go.  Yes they CAN do colors but they don't have to, and their open white presets are generally good enough.  And they come with the appropriate yokes to easily clamp to a roof structure. 

Alternatively look at some of the Amazon led floodlights.  Google 50w warm white led flood light at Amazon, and you will see some stuff come up.  They work ok, and last about 2000 hours before the LED or driver crap out, but they are super cheap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What I'm looking for would actually be taking the place of our 4 on a tree Slim Par Pro rig that we already own.  I like those but my complaints are that for this they are not quite bright enough, and not waterproof.

I have two damaged units right now due to a surprise rain storm and no good way to get the lights down.

The warm LED work lights may be the way to go, I've gotten a few of those at Lowe's for dark loadouts and they do well at that so I can try them out.  I was hoping for something with built in dimming capability though.


Thanks,
Jason
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: Cailen Waddell on November 19, 2015, 02:56:03 PM

What I'm looking for would actually be taking the place of our 4 on a tree Slim Par Pro rig that we already own.  I like those but my complaints are that for this they are not quite bright enough, and not waterproof.

I have two damaged units right now due to a surprise rain storm and no good way to get the lights down.

The warm LED work lights may be the way to go, I've gotten a few of those at Lowe's for dark loadouts and they do well at that so I can try them out.  I was hoping for something with built in dimming capability though.


Thanks,
Jason

Chauvet has outdoor rated units in its professional line, like the Colorado 1 IP.  They will keep going through a fairly driving rainstorm.  We clean ours with garden hoses.  But they are more costly than the Slimpars so perhaps not where you want to spend money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: jason misterka on November 19, 2015, 03:31:42 PM
Chauvet has outdoor rated units in its professional line, like the Colorado 1 IP.  They will keep going through a fairly driving rainstorm.  We clean ours with garden hoses.  But they are more costly than the Slimpars so perhaps not where you want to spend money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will check them out, thanks. I'm having to rebuy some damaged Slim Par Pro as it is so I'd rather spend a bit more and have them not break when it rains.

Jason
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: veditor78 on November 22, 2015, 07:56:24 PM
If you can go over your $300 budget I would definitely look at the Chauvet Colorado IP series. I have 18 Colorado Tour 1 fixtures and they have been bulletproof. The IP series are the same except with waterproof electrical and data connectors.
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: Tim Woodworth on December 10, 2015, 12:40:00 PM
We have a lot of the Elation ELAR108s that we use all year on our Stagelines and we have yet to have one fail. They are more than your $300.00 budget, but you will never worry about them.
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: Don T. Williams on December 11, 2015, 06:58:21 PM
With moving heads, it looks a lot more professional if you have more than two.  My opinion being stated, there are a couple of manufactures that offer dual head units for around $100 more that their similar single head units.  One of these is the Chauvet Intimidator Spot Duo.  Two of these would give you 4 moving heads at a relative bargain.  It has fairly narrow beams, which makes it brighter than many of the more expensive more powerful LED lights.

Of course, there are always trade-offs with numbers of functions, features, and quality.  None of these are a Sharpe or high end Mac.  You don't get something for nothing, but with these types of lights you do get movement, color, and texture (the gobos).  For most in the audience (not lighting pros), that is all it takes to impress.  And adding a haze machine were permitted insures the beams are noticed.
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: jason misterka on April 10, 2016, 09:27:25 PM
I wanted to reply back to everyone that we have made our decision, received the units, but haven't tried them out yet.   April gig got moved inside due to high winds and pending snow...

Here is what we landed on:
http://www.blizzardlighting.com/products/outdoor-rated-lights/item/636-tournado-ww-cob

They are ip65, just white and simple to use.  Moderate budget.  Wide.

Since I haven't used them yet I am hoping they are bright enough, but most of our uses for these are small stages, the biggest being 32x24.  I'm hoping 4 fixtures will do a good enough job, but I bought 8 to be safe or to divide up when necessary.

Our Slim Par Pros will turn into up-lights, or at least upstage lights.

I'll report back after I used them if anyone is interested.  I can't be the only soundguy looking to easily light up a stage without a bunch of effort.

Jason










Hello lighting folks -

Sound guy asking.  I'm looking for a recommendation for ideally four, or at the most six, lights. 

These are not to run a "Light Show" but instead to illuminate the stage with fairly natural looking white light.

If we need a lighting show, we bring in a lighting company.  These are for bluegrass festivals, relay for life, first night fireworks events, etc.  Think decent looking work lights :)

What I am looking for is a fixture I can have the staging guys hang easily on the front of the roof of an SL100 or SL250 (16-20ft from the stage deck).   Or I can put on a pole on an ultimate stand or Applied L16.

I was thinking something like a waterproof LED mole?


Here are the requirements, I believe, let me know if this is realistic:

-  Able to be fitted and mounted with cheeseboro, clamps or bolts to SL100 or SL250

- Enough "brightness" and dispersion to light up a 32x24 stage from 20ft.  I'm not too worried about keeping the light on the stage, a little spill is OK for these, and obviously if the stage size and height of the roof changes each gig, then there will be a little fluff.

- since they will be used on different size stages, they need to be able to dim gracefully

- Waterproof (often put up the day before when the stage roof goes up, etc)

- Only need white, but needs to be decent white.  Not perfect but decent enough for amateur photographers not to gripe with me all night.

- DMX control, linked together.  We will bring in a baby console to turn them on when we arrive.

- need all four or six to run on one 20amp 120volt circuit, ideally linking to each other without needing additional cabling, but if I need to I can get additional waterproof cabling. 

- The idea is simplicity.  Since I am relying on the staging company to mount these fairly often, they need to go up easy and not have a bunch of buttons that can be bumped and need a 25ft ladder to reach during soundcheck...

- hoping for a sub $300 per unit price.  What's out there?

Thanks!
Jason
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: Robert Piascik on April 12, 2016, 08:17:03 AM

I am absolutely interested in hearing about these once you've used them. Looks like a good solution!
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: Don T. Williams on April 13, 2016, 06:28:12 PM
Sorry I didn't read the whole thread and jumped in the middle.  I missed the waterproof and light up the entire stage part.  Ignore my suggestion.
Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: Mike Karseboom on April 16, 2016, 02:02:24 PM
Sounds like Jason found what he was looking for so I will introduce a slight swerve...


I am looking for waterproof lights that will do RGBWA to be used as front lights.  I want the colors, not just whites but do plan to use them for front lights on typical 20x20 or smaller stages.  There is usually no lighting truss so I am putting lights on crank stands with a t-arm or or otherwise mounting them within 10' of the front line performers.


I sometimes use 2x Chauvet SlimPar Pro Tri fixtures on each side in this situation.  The lights have good enough coverage (25 degree beam) and are bright enough, but they are not that warm looking on the faces and they are not water proof.


I see a lot of good fixtures in the $300-600 /ea range.  Unfortunately I am not in that price range and really only use the lights a few times a year.  So I am looking for more affordable alternatives even if it means buying direct from China. 


Does anyone have any specific recommendations for products that might be appropriate.  I have been looking at the Becen BC-418 and the Wingo  WG-5012 as possible candidates.
 
http://www.becenlight.com/cp/html/?98.html


http://www.wingolight.com.cn/html/products/ledparlight/284.html









Title: Re: Waterproof LED recommendation
Post by: jason misterka on April 30, 2016, 08:00:07 PM
I am absolutely interested in hearing about these once you've used them. Looks like a good solution!

I've sent them out a few times now with our other crews but tonight is the first time I've used them myself.

Not cheap, but waterproof, wide and bright.  They have a much better white than most LED fixtures I've used, and very easy to operate (one fader of course). 

3 per side would easily work on an SL100 and 4 per side would be just fine on an SL250/260.  Possibly could get away with less, I've had 8 and 9 piece bands today so all stage space was used.

Recommended.  My Slim Pars are now upstage uplights.

Jason