Jump to content

Guy Holt

Basic Member
  • Posts

    680
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Guy Holt

  1. The Honda EU6500 and EU7000 are capable of sustaining up to 6750W of continuous load through its 240V twist-lock. Like a car, Honda engineered a single base model of the EU6500 and EU7000 for the world market that they then customize for the different national markets. The difference between the various national models is primarily in the power output panel, which is configured according to the electrical system and prevailing codes of the country (that also affects its rating) in which the generator will be sold. For the US market, Honda distributes the generator with a predominantly 120V power output panel that does not provide full access to the power of the generator which is 7650W. To demonstrate this is the case all you have to do is look at the wiring schematic of the UK model - the EU70i. Where the countries that make up the United Kingdom have not conformed entirely to the European Union standard of 230V, but still generates 240V power, the UK model is a good indication of the true generating capacity of the EU6500 an 7000 models sold in the U.S. The difference between the two machines is in the circuitry of the power output panel and electronic governing system. Where we have a fairly complicated system of 20- and 30A 120V circuits, as well as a 30A/240V circuit, as well as a voltage selector switch to switch between them, and a 50A master breaker to protect the circuits in 120V mode; the UK model, by comparison, is very straight forward with three 240V receptacles wired in parallel The three receptacles of the UK model have no fused overload protection where we have 20- and 30A fuses on our power output panel. According to Electrical Codes, that can only be the case if Honda has engineered an electronic circuit breaker into the microprocessor controls of the inverter module so that current is shut off to the receptacles if the generator is overloaded. Sure enough, the manual states that the generator has an electronic circuit breaker. rated for a continuous load of up to 7650W. With the EU version of the EU7000is, when you exceed 7650W the power cuts off to the receptacles. To re-energize the receptacles, you must shut the machine completely off and turn it back on again. It makes perfect sense that Honda would engineer a continuous load capacity of 7650W into the base model of the generator when you consider the electrical systems of the UK countries. Where we have 15- and 20A circuits, they have 13-and 16A circuits. Two 240V/16A circuits provides a total of 7650W (3840W/circuit x 2 = 7650W) which is what we found that the electronic circuit breaker in the inverter module of the EU7000s distributed in the US are also set for. Our 60A transformer/distro taps the inverter as it was designed for the EU market, which gives us access to the full power designed into the generator for these markets. Our 60A transformer/distro will then step-down the 7650W at 240V to a single 60A/120V circuit that is capable of powering bigger lights, or more smaller lights than could be operated on the generator otherwise. For more details about these issues see an article I wrote for our company newsletter that explains the electrical engineering principles behind these issues and how to resolve them. The newsletter is available at http://www.screenlightandgrip.com/html/emailnewsletter_generators.html. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip
  2. The Honda EU6500s or EU7000 outfitted with 60A Bates receptacle are standard Hondas (nothing special about them.) Like all Honda EU6500/7000s, they have two inverters that can be operated either in parallel or in series. When the power select knob is set for 120/240V, the two inverters are in series to provide split-phase power (120V line-to-neutral and 240V line-to-line through the 30A 4-pin Twist-lock receptacle). When the power select knob is set for 120V only, the two inverters are in parallel to provide a single large 120V circuit. In 120V only mode the maximum output is 50A (regardless of what kind of Bates receptacle is put on the machine). The only way to get a true 60A/120V circuit is to use a small 240V-to-120V step-down transformer on the 30A 4-pin Twist-lock receptacle when the power select knob is set for 120/240V. Which means any Honda EU6500 or EU7000 without the Bates modification (even ones from building suppliers) can power a 5k through its 4-pin 240V Twist-Lock receptacle with a 240V-to-120V step-down transformer like the one we sell with our HD Plug-n-Play Pkg. Our transformer/distro is designed to step down the 240V output from a a dryer receptacle or EU6500/7000 to a 60A/120V circuit, or a range receptacle or paralleled EU6500s/7000s to a 100A/120V circuit. As an added feature they can boost the voltage to compensate for voltage-drop over a long cable run so that you can operate the generator/s out of the back of the grip truck or from around the corner of a building where it won't be picked up on your audio tracks. For more details about these issues see an article I wrote for our company newsletter that explains the electrical engineering principles behind these issues and how to resolve them. The newsletter is available at http://www.screenlightandgrip.com/html/emailnewsletter_generators.html. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip
  3. Sam, when there is a potential difference in charges between two points expressed in volts, current will flow if they make contact with each other and form a circuit. Since it takes only milliamps to electrocute someone, you can receive a lethal shock if you are the one making the contact. For this reason, the National Electrical Code (2014 NEC Article 250, Subsection 20(D)) requires that when two sources of power ("separately derived systems" in NEC parlance) are located within 20 feet of each other, or when one supplies equipment which might possibly come within 20 feet of equipment supplied by the other (unavoidable on a steel ship), the two sources of power must be bonded together so that they share a common ground point. Connecting to a common ground, creates a zero reference or zero potential difference, and eliminates touch potential, thereby eliminating the shock hazard. According to Code, the bonding conductor can be covered, insulated or bare and is not required to be installed with other circuit conductors or in a raceway. It must be solidly connected (expect the inspector to kick the connector) and metal-to-metal (so you may need to scrape off some paint.). Use the rating of the ship's largest circuit overcurrent device and 2014 NEC Table 250.122 to size the bonding conductor, keeping in mind that it cannot be smaller than 6 AWG. ANSI E1.19, Section 6.4.2 stipulates that "Class A GFCI protection shall be used on all 15 to 100 ampere 120-240 Volts AC, single and three phase receptacles and circuits where water or moisture is present or is likely to be present" which is just about everywhere on a ship. This may be the hardest requirement to comply with since, many HMI, Kino, and LED motion picture lights generate sufficient residual current to nuisance trip hardware store GFCIs and /or the GFCIs on the Honda. The solution is to use a small step-down transformer to convert the unprotected 30A-240V output of the Honda to a 60A-120V circuit, and a film-style 60A GFCI (like the Shock Stop 60-60IL.) The Shock Stop has a more forgiving trip curve and harmonic filtration to eliminate nuisance tripping from residual currents. Hardware store GFCIs and the GFCIs on the Honda do not. Another benefit to using a 60A step-down transformer/distro with the Honda is that it enables you to use standard film style distribution equipment (like 60A Bates Extensions, 60A Bates Siamesses (sp?), and 60A Bates-to-Edison breakout boxes) to distribute power around your set. And since 2020 NEC 215.9 permits an upstream feeder to be GFCI protected in lieu of the requirement for such interrupters on branch circuits (as specified in 2020 NEC210.8), a 60A Shock Stop just downstream of the transformer/distro will provide Code compliant GFCI protection of your entire distribution system. Another benefit to using a step-down transformer/distro is that it will enable you to run a 4k HMI on the Honda. For more detailed information on using small step-down transformer/distros and film style GFCIs to provide ground fault protection with portable Honda generators, I would suggest you read the article I wrote for our company newsletter on the use of portable generators in motion picture lighting. Of the article Harry Box exclaims: "Great work!... this is the kind of thing I think very few technicians ever get to see, and as a result many people have absolutely no idea why things stop working." "Following the prescriptions contained in this article enable the operation of bigger lights, or more smaller lights, on portable generators than has ever been possible before." The article is available online. The use of small step-down transformer/distros with portable Honda generators is also covered in the latest editions of Harry Box's Set Lighting TEchnician's Handbook and Blain Brown's Cinematography: Theory and Practice. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight and Grip, Lighting & Grip Rental & Sales in Boston
  4. How do you know the switch is repaired? The switch may require adjustment after replacing the spring. The only way to confirm the safety switch is functional is to test continuity between the safety loop pins of the head pigtail with the door closed. If you read continuity, the switch is functional. If you don't read continuity, the switch needs adjustment. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting rental and sales in Boston
  5. Then you might consider paralleling two Honda EU7000s and using a step-down transformer to convert the combined 240V output to a 100A circuit at 120V, which is enough to power a 10K. Paralleled Honda EU7000s can also power an ARRIMAX 9k. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston
  6. For example, I have used this same package repeatedly at historical house/museums like the Ames Estate in Easton MA that has served as the location for numerous American Experience PBS historical biographies. A popular state fee free location, the Ames Estate, like many historical house/museums does not permit tie-ins and the electrical wiring is so antiquated that it is unusable. Fortunately, they have a 50A/240V circuit in the carriage house for a welder they use to repair the mowers they use at the park. Our standard mode of operations when shooting there is to run 250V extension cable from the 240V receptacle to a 60A HD Plug-n-Play transformer/distro in the entry hall of the house. Using a 60A Siamese at the transformer/distro, we then run 60A 6/3 Bates extensions, down to the library, to the second floor, and back to the maid's pantry. At the end of each run we put another 60A Siamese. A 60A snack box on one side of the Siamese gives us 20A branch circuits. The other side we leave open for a large HMI or tungsten light. Now we can safely plug HMIs up to 4K or tungsten up to 5k into our own distributions anywhere in the house to balance the interior levels to the exteriors and maintain continuity. A good example of this approach is an American Experience program titled "The Most Dangerous Women in America" about Typhoid Mary that I lit for PBS. For part of her life, Typhoid Mary was quarantined on an island in New York's East River. Because New York's East River today looks nothing like it did when she was in quarantine, we used a 30' blowup of a picture of the East River at the turn of the century rigged outside the windows of the house. We had to strike a delicate balance between the interior and exterior levels. We wanted to overexpose the exterior by one stope so that it would look realistic and hide the fact that the exterior was a blown-up picture. We rigged a 20x20 solid over the porch windows and the blow-up to keep the sun off both. That way we could light the blow-up and interior so that it remained consistent even though the sun moved on and off the porch in the course of the day. To take the edge off the blow-up, we used a single scrim outside the window to help throw it out of focus. To maintain continuity between shots, we brought a 4kw HMI Fresnel in a window on one side of the room as a sun source and a diffused 1200 par through a window on the other side as a northern light source. We powered both heads off the 240V receptacle in the garage using one of our 60A transformer/distros. The two 2.5k W Par lights used outside to light the blow-up were powered by a Honda EU6500 through a second 60A transformer/distro. Since the Honda could be placed right on the lawn, we were saved from running hundreds of feet of feeder back to a tow generator. I have been able to use this same basic package at numerous museums and historical houses throughout New England. Fortunately for us, to make ends meet, many historical houses rent themselves out for events and weddings. For that reason, they usually have at least one updated service with 30 or 50A 240V circuit for the warming ovens of caterers. For production stills from this show and other PBS and History Channel historical documentaries shot entirely , or in part, with just a couple of transformer/distros and a Honda use these links: http://www.screenlightandgrip.com/html/tmintro.html http://www.screenlightandgrip.com/html/unhisintro.html http://www.screenlightandgrip.com/html/franklinintro.html In my experience, every show requires slightly different lights but they all benefit by the additional power that can be accessed through 240V circuits with a step-down transformer, so you might consider investing in distribution equipment that you will use on every shoot rather than lights that you will only use on some. Besides, these days the older HMI Fresnels and Pars can be rented very cheaply. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Sales and Rental in Boston
  7. Don't impose artificial limitations on yourself. If by the "maximum I can work with in terms of power" you mean what you can plug into household electrical outlets you are imposing artificial limitations on yourself. If you expand your horizons to include 240V range and dryer plugs you can safely and legally power much bigger lights like tungsten 5ks and 4k HMIs. Regardless what LED manufacturers claim, I have yet to see a LED fixture that can match a 2.5 HMI Par. And as Aapo Lettinen correctly stated, LEDs can't match a tungsten light for color rendition at 3200K - especially skin-tones. As you get into lighting dramas you will need these larger lights to maintain continuity. You can safely and legally power any tungsten 5k or 4kHMI on a 240V wall outlet if you use a 240V-to-120V step down transformer like the one we manufacture for our modified Honda EU7000s inverter generator. A transformer converts the 240 volts supplied by industrial and household 240V receptacles back to 120V in a single circuit that is the sum of the two legs of the circuit. For instance, a transformer can make a 60A/120V circuit out of a 30A/240V dryer circuit that can power a 4k HMI or tungsten 5k. What makes it safe to plug a 4k HMI into a 240V outlet is that a transformer automatically splits the load of whatever you plug into it evenly over the two legs of the 240V circuit so that you have 100 percent phase cancellation. I use transformers not only to power big HMIs (2.5-4kW) and big tungsten (5kW), but also more smaller lights, in situations where a tie-in is not an option, and the budget doesn't permit for a tow generator. If you outfit the transformer like our HD Plug-n-Play Transformer/Distro, with a 60A Bates receptacle, you can use 60A Bates extension cables, 60-to-60 splitters, and fused 60A Bates-to-Edison breakouts (snack boxes) to run power around set - breaking out to 20A Edison outlets at convenient points rather than running stingers all over the place trying to find a separate circuit so that you don't trip a breaker. The best part about using a transformer/distro with a 240V receptacle in this fashion is that no matter where in the distribution system you plug in, the transformer automatically balances the additional load, so that you don't have to be an experienced spark to distribute power on set. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting & Grip Equipment Rental and Sales in Boston
  8. Time to revive this thread with some indie tricks-of-the-trade for lighting large rooms with drop ceilings. You don’t necessarily have to go to the expense of bouncing big HMIs into the ceiling. One of the biggest challenges in situations like this is getting light into the eyes of your talent. If you don't, your talent's eye will look dark and bruised because a very toppy bounce won't dig into their eyes. As an alternative, the OP may want to consider the approach we took on a short film called "Act Your Age" that takes place in a senior center (use this link to see production stills.) We hung 4'-4 Bank kinos with Opal coved below the fixture to make a "Bay Light." Coving the Opal under the light, redirects it so that it will dig into the talent’s eyes. And you can skirt the fixtures to keep the light off the white walls (something you won’t be able to easily do with a bounce source.) You may also want to consider using a combination of hard and soft light as we did here to create contrast in a situation where the practical lighting is usually very flat. For a hard light source, we powered a 4k Fresnel off the wall. Most schools have a 240V receptacle of some kind. Common 240V circuits in schools include, Copier receptacles, range receptacles, and special receptacles installed for air conditioners. The latest generation of 2.5/4k HMI ballasts will operate on either 120V or 208-240V and fit comfortably in these circuits. If you are using an older ballast that runs only on 120V, you can step-down a 240V circuit to 120V with a transformer. A step-down transformer will convert the 240 volts supplied by 240V receptacles to 120 volts in a single circuit that is the sum of the two single-phase legs of 30/50 amps each (60A usually). Now that you have a larger 120V circuit, you can operate larger lights like 2.5 or even 4k HMIs, or more smaller lights, than you could otherwise. A step-down transformer can do the same with the enhanced 7500W/240V output of a Honda EU7000is Generator. By giving you access to more "house power" through common 240V household outlets, a Transformer/Distro can eliminate the need for dangerous tie-ins or expensive tow generators (use this link for details.) As you can see from the production stills, we used a special drop ceiling hanger that enables you to use a drop ceiling like a studio grid. Use this link for more pictures of productions that used drop ceilings on location as if they were a studio grid. Another alternative is to cut ¼” Luan plywood to the size of the ceiling tiles and screw a baby wall-plate into it. Then replace the ceiling tiles with the plywood wherever you want to hang a light. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lightng Rental & Sales in Boston
  9. Not necessarily. One of the biggest challenges in situations like this is getting light into the eyes of your talent. If you don't, your talent's eye will look dark and bruised because a very toppy bounce won't dig into their eyes. As an alternative, you may want to consider the approach we took on a short film called "Act Your Age" that takes place in a senior center (use this link to see production stills.) We hung 4'-4 Bank kinos with Opal coved below the fixture to make a "Bay Light." Coving the Opal under the light, redirects it so that it will dig into the talent’s eyes. And you can skirt the fixtures to keep the light off the white walls (something you won’t be able to easily do with a bounce source.) You may also want to consider using a combination of hard and soft light as we did here to create contrast in a situation where the practical lighting is usually very flat. For a hard light source we powered a 4k Fresnel off the wall. Most schools have a 240V receptacle of some kind. Common 240V circuits in schools include, Copier receptacles, range receptacles, and special receptacles installed for air conditioners. The latest generation of 2.5/4k HMI ballasts will operate on either 120V or 208-240V and fit comfortably in these circuits. If you are using an older ballast that runs only on 120V, you can step-down a 240V circuit to 120V with a transformer. A step-down transformer will convert the 240 volts supplied by 240V receptacles to 120 volts in a single circuit that is the sum of the two single-phase legs of 30/50 amps each (60A usually). Now that you have a larger 120V circuit, you can operate larger lights like 2.5 or even 4k HMIs, or more smaller lights, than you could otherwise. A step-down transformer can do the same with the enhanced 7500W/240V output of a Honda EU7000is Generator. By giving you access to more "house power" through common 240V household outlets, a Transformer/Distro can eliminate the need for dangerous tie-ins or expensive tow generators (use this link for details.) As you can see from the production stills, with the right rigging equipment, you can use drop ceilings like a studio grid. Use this link for more pictures of productions that used drop ceilings on location as if they were a studio grid. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental & Sales in Boston
  10. If you are looking for a Power Quality Analyzer there are a number of options. At a list price of $1495, the Fluke 41B Power Quality Analyzer was Flukes’ entry level single-phase scope meter. It combined the ease of use of a digital multimeter, the visual feedback of an oscilloscope and the power of a harmonics analyzer in a single instrument. It provided numeric values for rms, peak and total harmonic distortion (THD) for the complex voltage and current waveforms generated by motion picture lights. A bar graph showed the distribution of harmonics in complex waveforms, while its scope provided a graphic representation of both voltage and current waveforms. I use the past tense because, unfortunately, the 41B has been discontinued. Flukes’ entry level scope meter is now the 43B Power Quality Analyzer which sells for about $3800. Besides offering all the same capabilities of the 41B, the 43B trends voltage, current, frequency, power harmonics and captures voltage sags, transients, and inrush current. As far as I know (Fluke’s product line is constantly changing) the 43B is the only instrument that combines the capabilities of a Power Quality Analyzer, a 20 MHz oscilloscope, a multi-meter and data recorder in a single tool. The next step up in Power Quality Analyzers in Fluke’s product line is the 434-II, which sells for about $6900. It offers all the same capability as the 43B, but for all three phases simultaneously. It also offers a cool bar graph screen that combines power quality parameters (RMS Voltages, Harmonics, Flicker, Dips, Interruptions, Rapid Voltage Changes, Swells, Unbalance, Frequency, Mains Signaling) all on one screen. The length of a bar increases if the related parameter is further away from its nominal value. The bar turns from green to red if an allowed tolerance requirement is violated. These two options have several drawbacks. They are expensive but are available for rental in major markets. Their screens are poorly designed and exhibit dead scan lines after a while. The dead scan lines don’t affect their measuring capability, so they are just a nuisance. The screens can be swapped out for a couple hundred bucks at independent service shops (Fluke charges a lot more). The final drawback is that they are cluttered with features that have no benefit to set lighting technicians. The latest in metering technology designed specifically for set lighting technicians is GenNet IoT. Employing the latest Internet of Things (IoT) technology, GenNet IoT provides an unprecedented level of accessibility to the critical information required to manage generators and power distribution by delivering it to an operator’s phone, tablet, or laptop via 4G LTE wireless technology. It has an embedded web server that can display not only comprehensive power quality measurements but also engine data using standard internet browsers and allows for device configuration from the browser. To help you interpret the vast amount of information it generates (such as phase loading, voltage and power levels, power factor, and power quality measurements), its embedded web server presents real time, historical, and event information in easily understandable browser-style graphic displays. If a generator is equipped with InteliVision 5, GenNet IoT will also display critical engine data such as oil pressure, fuel level, and water temperature. To alert operators to problems before they can get out of hand, GenNet IoT also offers configurable event triggers. Max/Min limits can be set for any measured parameter. If any of the limits are exceeded, GenNet IoT will dispatch an e-mail alarm alerting you of the event. For example, to alert operators of a voltage unbalance that can degrade the performance of a generator and connected loads, its web server displays numerical and graphic phasor representations of the voltage of each phase, its phase angle, the average voltage, and will push an email alarm to your mobile device if the % (-) sequence harmonics (VNeg) exceeds two percent. Gen Net IoT’s email alarms can be a show saver for set lighting technicians since it is easy to miss load induced power quality issues in the thrash to get the first shot of the day. Gen Net IoT can also be used to prevent engine failure in Tier 4 generators caused by “wet stacking.” Wet stacking is the build-up of carbon in a generator’s engine caused by light loading. Generators need to operate at high temperatures to completely burn diesel fuel. When run under light loads, less heat is generated in its combustion chamber, leaving some fuel unburned. The unburned carbon coats the fuel injector nozzles, compromising their ability to adequately vaporize fuel. This, in turn, further lowers the combustion temperature and allows more unburned fuel to clog the fuel injectors. If left unchecked, wet stacking can result in premature engine failure. Operators of Tier 4 generators must be particularly vigilant. Tier 4 generators are more efficient, but they are also more vulnerable to the effects of light loading. They need to operate under higher loads (at least 75% of the nameplate rating) to reach the temperatures necessary to prevent carbon buildup and engine failure. With the reduced loads characteristic of sets lit predominantly by LED fixtures, wet stacking is an increasing concern for operators of Tier 4 generators. GenNet IoT prevents wet stacking by controlling a digital load bank to “auto-load” a generator. It does so by a Modbus control signal over ethernet that will initiate a digital load bank to automatically apply load to a generator in a step fashion if the lighting load drops below 75%, and to decrease the load it applies if the combined load begins to exceed 75%. In this fashion, GenNet IoT assures that the generator is sufficiently loaded to prevent wet stacking and premature engine failure. A tremendous benefit with Tier 4 generators when operating under the reduced load of sets lit predominantly with LED fixtures. To take one more thing off the plate of a generator operator, GenNet IoT can also automate the process of ghost loading. To maintain voltage unbalance within a narrow range when the impedance of the system neutral is high, GenNet IoT can control a companion load bank manufactured by Simplex specifically for it. If GenNet IoT senses unbalanced phases, it will trigger the load bank to apply load to the low phase in 5kVAR load steps. In this fashion GenNet IoT can maintain balanced phases thereby reducing deleterious unbalanced voltages. To further customize the load bank for film production Simplex has engineered it to apply an inductive load rather than the resistive load of standard industrial load banks. An inductive load offers several benefits in motion picture production. Without the tremendous heat generated by resistive coils, an inductive load bank eliminates the requirement for loud cooling fans and is thereby nearly silent in operation which permits the generator to be closer to set. An inductive load also corrects the leading power factor of motion picture lights these days. HMIs, Kinos, and LEDs are capacitive loads that cause voltage to lead current. Typically ghost loading is required when powering sets lit predominantly by LEDs. By applying an inductive load, Gen Net IoT corrects the power factor of the system (by pulling voltage back in phase with current) while maintaining a 75% load on the generator to prevent wet stacking. One Gen Net IoT on its own provides unparalleled access to the critical info required to manage a generator. Multiple Gen Net IoTs in a wireless 4G network, provides the ability to manage multiple generators from a central location. When there is more than one operator, Gen Net IoT enables them to share data and work in shifts – allowing them to get needed rest during overnights. One drawback to GenNet IoT is that it is only available for rental (most lighting technicians couldn’t afford one anyway.) As part of their rental model, a GenNet IoT customer support technician also receives the email alarms and is on hand to offer advice on how to correct the problem. It’s a whole new world from when I started in this business thirty years ago. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting equipment sales and rentals in Boston. P.S. In the interest of full disclosure I am involved in the development of GenNet IoT and so get overly excited about its features.
  11. You are correct that without a neutral in their mains cable these ballasts will not contribute to the elevation of return current on the system neutral of a distribution system – only smaller non-pfc ballasts operating line-to-neutral will do that. But, elevated neutral current is not the only adverse effect the harmonic currents drawn by these ballasts have on a distribution system whether it is single phase or three phase. Ed has already pointed to one: they draw an excessive amount of power (72A) compared to a power factor corrected ballast (55A). Since this watt-less power does not contribute to illuminating a set, it effectively reduces the capacity of your service. But that is not all. The current they draw is severely distorted by their large smoothing capacitors, which only draw current during a very brief period as the voltage waveform peaks. Since the ballast draws power for only a brief period, it draws a spiked current waveform with a high crest factor and harmonic content. This distorted current will have an adverse effect on the distribution system whether it is single phase or three phase. First, since the load of the light is only on the peak of the voltage waveform, in high impedance systems like generators, voltage drop occurs only at the peak, resulting in the flat-topping of the voltage waveform in the entire distribution system. Which means all connected loads encounter a chopped voltage waveform. Since the switch-mode power supplies of smaller HMIs, Kinos, and LEDs also only draw current at the peak of the voltage waveform, they can be starved of power. Second, since the harmonic currents drawn by these ballasts oscillate at high frequencies they travel on the perimeter of conductors (skin effect). Since more current is traveling through less copper the effective resistance of the conductor increases leading to further voltage drop, but more importantly an exponential increase in I2R heat loss, resulting in the possible nuisance tripping of breakers, and the overheating of conductors and the generator stator. Power factor correction circuitry is expensive - adding up to 25% to the cost of a ballast. For this reason, the manufacturers of HMI ballasts only incorporate it where it is absolutely necessary. Now a days all HMI ballast greater than 4kw include power factor correction because it is essential to the reliable operation of the ballast and connected loads. Which means you will need to take several precautions in using them. First, oversize generators and transformers by a factor of two. Second, oversize your feeder cables. Finally watch out for voltage flat-topping using a digital mulit-meter or power quality analyzer like GenNet IoT that can read peak voltage as opposed to rms voltage (the rms value of flat-topped voltage is the same as a sinusoidal voltage waveform.) This is a complicated subject, I strongly recommend you read a series of articles I wrote for Protocol Magazine (the qtrly journal of ESTA) on Production Power on a Budget and Power Quality in the Age of LEDS available at our website at http://www.screenlightandgrip.com/html/hd_plug-n-play_pkg.html. Harry box cites these articles in the latest edition of his handbook. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston
  12. You can use the 1kW Iris lights without flicker. The reason that you get flicker from small filament bulbs (<5kW) is that at high speeds the camera will capture the changing intensity of the light output of the bulb as it rises and falls as the voltage waveform rises and falls. If you use three 1kW Iris where you would normally use one, and put each fixture on a separate phase of the power service, the light output between the three fixtures will be constant as each compensates for the drop in intensity of the other. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rentals & Sales in Boston
  13. No. It depends on the ballast. I have only been able to do limited testing of HMIs but for example an Arri 4k power factor corrected ballast dumps 16.22mA of current into the EGC while a Power Gems 4k non-power factor corrected ballast dumps only 2.47mA. In order to reduce the amount of RF emitted, UL permits but does not require manufacturers of electronic devices to capacitively couple high frequency harmonic currents to ground (UL1244, UL1950, UL3101.) To accomplish this, some but not all ballast manufacturers include a mains input filter to stop electrical noise from being passed in or out of the ballast via its mains lead. Such filters typically include a pair of small capacitors, one connected between the hot and earth and the other between the neutral and earth wires of the incoming mains. The value of the capacitors is chosen to snub the high frequency noise by shunting it to ground. As such, these RF filters can be a source of appreciable leakage current on the EGC. Arri shunts the noise their ballasts generate while apparently Power Gems does not (use this link for more details.) Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston.
  14. Not really supposed to market products on these boards. Contact me off list through message or at rentals@screenlightandgrip.com for details. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental & Sales in Boston
  15. Let's try this again. Use this link to Shock Stop's marketing material and training guide. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston.
  16. Use this link to Shock Stop’s marketing literature and training guide. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston.
  17. The GFCI outlets on portable generators are not portable. They are hardwired into the generator. UL943 requires open neutral protection of portable GFCIs because they are likely to be used on wiring of questionable integrity that could have an open neutral, such as the temporary power systems of construction sites or the portable power systems of motion picture sets. Where open neutrals with GFCIs can create hazardous conditions UL943 requires portable GFCIs to interrupt power to the load if there is a break in the line side neutral conductor. It is nearly impossible for the neutral conductor of a GFCI hardwired into a generator to break. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston.
  18. Don’t try to power an ARRI 1200 HMI Par with non-pfc electronic ballast with the Voltec. To reduce the amount of RFI emitted into the atmosphere, the ARRI 575/1200 non-pfc electronic ballast shunts the high frequency harmonic currents drawn by the ballast to the EGC. The end result is 16.4mA of leakage current on the EGC that trips unfiltered GFCIs like the Voltec every time. I’m not sure the Guardian LG20 has harmonic filtration (I haven’t found an inline GFCI dongle that does.) I don’t know for certain, but I suspect the Guardian LG20 is a rebranded Southwire Model 25230. They look identical and Southwire sells them unbranded in quantity only. If that is the case, they don’t provide the harmonic filtration required to eliminate nuisance tripping with non-linear loads. Fortunately, where 15- and 20A circuits must be GFCI protected, Section 215.9 of the Code permits the feeder to be GFCI protected instead. Section 215.9 reads as follows: “Feeders shall be permitted to be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter installed in a readily accessible location in lieu of the provisions for such interrupters as specified in 210.8 and 590.6(A).” Since this section prescriptively identifies feeder GFCI protection “in lieu of” that required in NEC Section 210.8, it permits the use of film GFCIs (like the Shock Block SB100, LifeGuard LG100, and Shock Stop 60-100), with 100A Lunch Boxes to satisfy the Code's requirement for GFCI protection on all single-phase branch circuits of 150V to ground or less, rated 50 amps or less. With a more accommodating trip curve and high frequency filtration, it is better to use a film GFCI just upstream of a 100A Lunch Box, then to use individual GFCI dongles on each 20A circuit of the Lunch Box. Unfortunately you can’t buy the Shock Block SB100, or LifeGuard LG100 (they can only be rented.) Shock Stop, however sells the SS60-100. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston.
  19. Yes, but this is the same company that calls a product (the LG400) that does not meet the NEC definition of a GFCI by that name and promotes the use of it in a manner that does not satisfy the NEC requirement for GFCI protection where prescribed by the Code. It would be great if you could send me that picture. My email address is rentals@screenlightandgrip.com Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston.
  20. They also state their LG400 is a GFCI when it clearly is not. Shock Block prevaricates whether their LB100 (also made by AC Power Distribution) conforms to UL943 or UL1640. As I said before, I could be wrong and there is a wall box style GFCI receptacle with open neutral protection. There is only one way to settle this debate definitively. That is for Kyle to take the cover off his Guardian boxes to get the manufacturer and model number of the wall box style GFCI receptacles on the box. A Google search of the part number will tell us if it provides open neutral protection as required by UL943 and by extension the National Electrical Code. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston.
  21. This is a complicated topic because there are three standards that can apply to the ground fault protection equipment we use: UL943, UL943C, and UL1053. As well as a standard for portable power distribution equipment: UL1640. There exists a lot of confusion and misinformation about “GFCIs” because too often manufacturer’s and their representatives conflate these standards, gloss over the differences, and use a single brush to paint everything as a “GFCI” when it is not. The NEC is very precise in its definition of what constitutes a GFCI. The NEC Article 100 definition for a GFCI is: “A device intended for the protection of personnel that functions to de-energize a circuit or portion thereof within an established period of time when a ground-fault current exceeds the values established for a Class A device” An attached informational note states: “Class A ground-fault circuit interrupters trip when the ground-fault current is 6mA or higher and do not trip when the ground-fault current is less than 4mA. For further information, see UL943, Standard for Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters.” (The bold and underscore are mine) Which is very different than the NEC Article 100 definition for Ground Fault Protection Equipment (GFPE) that must conform to UL1053. Ground Fault Protection Equipment is: “A system intended to provide protection of equipment from damaging line-to-ground fault currents by operating to cause a disconnection mean to open all ungrounded conductors of the faulted circuit. This protection is provided at current levels less than those required to protect conductors from damage through the operation of a supply circuit overcurrent device.” As an example of how manufacturer’s and their representatives play fast and loose with these classifications, take Guardian’s description of their Model LG400 3-phase device rated for up to 400A and up to 480V: “The LG400 is the workhouse of the larger GFCI's! With a total capacity of 1200 amps (400amps a leg) it is the perfect tool to protect those 4/0 cable runs. Larger GFCI's like this are classified as equipment protection. However, Bender was able to utilize the same technology incorporated in the smaller "Class A" devices into a large GFCI. When desired the user can have the trip level changed from 20mA to 5mA to be at the same level of protection available in our smaller devices. The LG400 is also capable of a voltage selection of 480, this is very handle when you need to protect those 480 volt power systems that are more and more common these days.” (the poor grammar is their own.) The LifeGuard LG400 is not a GFCI according to the NEC definition. The NEC Section 100 definition of a GFCI is a “Class A device” as specified by UL943. UL943 defines GFCIs as devices having a fixed trip setting of 5mA (+/- 1mA). Even though it can be set-up to trip “at the same level of protection available in our smaller (Class A) devices”, the Guardian LG 400 is not technically a GFCI because they offer user adjustable trip thresholds. Since they do not meet the complete UL943 standard, they technically do not meet the Code requirement for GFCI protection where prescribed. The LifeGuard LG400 is sometimes erroneously described as a Class C GFCI. It is not a Class C GFCI because the UL943C standard requires a fixed trip threshold of 20mA and ground-connection monitoring not provided by the Guardian LG400. To meet the UL943C standard, a Class C GFCI must automatically disconnect the supply if the load is not properly bonded to ground (the total ground resistance must be less than 38 ohms.) To assure that happens an insulated pilot wire from the device to the load, and a termination device located at the load are required to monitor the load-ground connection – neither of which exist in motion picture applications. Since this monitoring function is required for Class C GFCIs installed in NEC applications, the LifeGuard LG400 is technically not a Class C GFCI either. So clearly the LifeGuard LG400 is not a GFCI regardless of what their website says. If the LifeGuard LG400 is not a GFCI, what are they? I put this question to Nehad El-Sharif, a former engineer in Littelfuse’s industrial GFCI division, and author of many articles on the UL943C standard (Littelfuse is the manufacturer of the Shock Block brand of film GFCIs.) He thought they must conform to a different UL standard than GFCIs, UL1053, making them instead Ground-Fault Protection Equipment (GFPE.) The distinction is important because GFPE uses very different trip parameters than GFCIs. Ground fault protection devices generally fall into four different classifications. To improve the generally poor reliability of early GFCIs, in 2003 UL revised the standard for Class A GFCIs (UL943) to prevent nuisance tripping by transient conditions that are not of a sufficient duration to pose a hazard. The revised standard allowed Class A and subsequently Class C GFCIs to trip on an "Inverse Time Curve." The advantage to an inverse time trip curve is that it permits transient spikes in leakage that are sufficiently short in duration so as not to pose a shock hazard to pass while keeping current through the body to safe levels. UL943 also defines outer limits to the curve. A Class A GFCI must trip within 5.59 seconds if the differential between the current going out on the hot and returning on the neutral exceeds 5mA (+/- 1mA), and 20 ms if it exceeds 300 mA. Class C GFCI’s must operate within the same inverse time curve as Class A devices, except that their operating threshold is 20 mA (non-adjustable). There is a third category of device, Equipment Ground-Fault Protective Devices (EGFPDs) that also operate within the Class-A formula but have a 6- to 100-mA threshold setting range. And finally, Ground-Fault Protection Equipment (GFPE) that must conform to the UL1053 standard. I asked Nehad El-Sharif if high amperage multiphase devices like the LifeGuard LG400 could be EGFPDs and he couldn’t say with certainty but thought not. The distinction is important because GFPE uses very different trip parameters than the inverse time curve of EGFPDs. In UL1053 there is no fixed inverse time trip curve as in UL943. Instead, to conform to the UL1053 standard, the operating time (the time from which the trip threshold is exceeded to the time the circuit is interrupted) depends on the percentage of the current differential relative to the trip threshold. If the ground current is 85% of the trip threshold, the device shall not trip. At 115% of the trip threshold, the device will ultimately trip – there is no set time. At 150% of the trip threshold, the trip time can’t be more than 2 seconds. At 250% of the trip threshold, the trip time can’t be more than 1 second. It could be a lot less than one second, but it can’t be more than 1 second. In other words, under the UL1053 standard the operating time is the same regardless of the trip threshold. Besides using different trip parameters, the operating principle of GFPE is very similar to GFCIs. A sensor comprising a toroid that surrounds the conductors detects the algebraic sum of the current in the live conductors (phases and neutral). In the absence of a ground fault, the algebraic sum of the currents in the conductors is equal to zero and the toroid does not detect any flux. If a fault occurs, the sum is no longer equal to zero and the current difference in the toroid generates a current in the winding. This current is rectified, filtered for high frequency harmonics and amplified. If the resulting signal is greater than the user adjustable threshold (usually between 10 and 30mA), a time delay is initiated (it may be equal to zero for an almost instantaneous response or prolonged for a delayed response). If the fault is still present at the end of the time delay, an opening order is issued to a control device (usually a breaker rather than a contactor as in the case of most GFCIs.) Since this is consistent with Guardian’s description of their LG400, it is likely a GFPE rather than a GFCI. But because Guardian conflates these different standards and refers to all their devices as GFCIs, regardless whether they meet the NEC definition or not, it is not clear whether the LG400 is an EGFPD or GFPE. The Shock Stop 400D, with Bender RCM420 residual current monitor, is clearly a GFPE. Like the Guardian LG400, the Shock Stop 400D is a 3-phase device rated for up to 400A with adjustable trip thresholds. Rather than use the maximum operating time allowed by UL1053, the RCM420 uses a more aggressive trip curve, similar to that used in European RCDs (1 x ID ≤ 180ms, 5 x ID ≤ 30ms, where ID is the trip threshold.) As such, the operating time of the SS400D is very short in comparison to the UL943 curve. For instance, a SS400D set for a trip threshold of 10mA must trip within 180ms at 10mA, compared to approximately 4 seconds required by the UL943 curve. This more aggressive trip curve makes it possible for the user to program a time delay yet still fall within safe limits (superimposing the time-current characteristic curves for the SS400D with thresholds 10, 30 and 100 mA over the safety curves published in IEC 60479-1:” Effects of current on human beings and livestock” clearly illustrates this.) And, since user handled loads statistically account for most shocks, a time delayed GFPE, like the SS400D, can provide adequate ground fault protection for personnel if set up properly, given the low touch voltages involved in a solidly grounded 120/208V service (ungrounded (two prong) systems require Class A protection). How does this relate to Kyle Perritt’s lunchbox? It establishes that manufacturers and their representatives play fast and loose with UL classifications in their marketing material. Sometimes what they don’t say is as revealing as what they do say. For example, the Shock Block marketing literature for their 100A GFCI with Bates Connectors (model SB100) clearly states that it is “UL Listed per UL 943 Class A”. In contrast their marketing literature for their GFCI Lunchbox (model LB100), which is also made by AC Power Distribution, simply states that it is “UL listed” without specifying to which standard. Is this because it is not listed to UL943 as is the SB100? What UL standard could it be listed to if not UL943? AC Power Distribution boxes are UL listed, but to Standard 1640 – the standard for portable power distribution equipment. The requirements of UL1640 pertain to protection against contact with live conductors and placement of breakers and not ground fault protection with GFCIs. Under UL1640, GFCIs can be incorporated into portable power distribution equipment as “supplemental devices” without changing its classification. Given that I can’t find a wall box style GFCI receptacle like those found on the AC Power Distribution, Guardian, and Shock Block GFCI Lunchboxes that has open neutral protection, leads me to believe the only UL standard these boxes conform to is UL1640. I could be wrong and there is a wall box style GFCI receptacle with open neutral protection. There is only one way to settle this debate definitively. That is for Kyle to take the cover off his Guardian boxes to get the manufacturer and part number of the wall box style GFCI receptacle. A Google search of the part number will tell us if it provides open neutral protection as required by UL943 and by extension the National Electrical Code. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental and Sales in Boston.
  22. This is a good case in point why electrical distribution should be left to qualified persons. As you may recall from my post above, NEC Article 530 requires that an individual using portable lighting and power distribution equipment know how to comply with NEC safety rules when performing installations. The NEC Section 100 definition of a GFCI is a “Class A device” as specified by UL943. Among UL943’s many requirements is that portable GFCIs trip if there is a break in the line side neutral conductor of a circuit. It does not require the same of GFCIs meant to be permanently installed in a wall outlet box. Since the GFCI Lunch Boxes you bought from Kayelites incorporate wall box style GFCIs without open neutral protection they do not meet the code requirement for the use of portable GFCIs outdoors. (For the same reason Phil’s shop made RCD boxes would not pass US code.) A qualified person, trained in ground fault protection, would know the difference between GFCIs suitable for portable use and permanent installation. The same is true of OSHA. OSHA29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1)(i) states: “The employer shall use either ground fault circuit interrupters as specified in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section or an assured equipment grounding conductor program as specified in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section to protect employees on work sites . . .” Under §1926.404(b)(1)(ii), when using GFCIs to comply with paragraph (b)(1)(i), the employer must use an "approved" GFCI. Under §1926.449, approved equipment is equipment that is "acceptable." Section 1926.449(a) defines acceptable equipment as follows: “(a) If it is accepted, or certified, or listed, or labeled, or otherwise determined to be safe by a qualified testing laboratory (like UL) capable of determining the suitability of materials and equipment for installation and use in accordance with this standard…” As I mentioned previously, UL requires portable GFCIs to offer protection against an open-neutral condition. Why the different requirements for portable vs. permanently installed GFCIs? Since portable GFCIs are likely to be used on wiring of questionable integrity, such as the temporary power systems of construction sites or the portable power systems of motion picture sets, UL943 requires portable GFCIs to interrupt power to the load if there is a break in the line side neutral conductor. Given the wear and tear equipment receives in these environments, it is more likely that one of the circuit conductors could be broken on the supply side of the GFCI. If it is the energized, or Hot, conductor that is broken, no hazard exists at the GFCI, and it is readily obvious because there is no power. If, however, it is the grounded circuit conductor, or neutral, that is broken on the line side of the GFCI, it is less obvious. The line voltage terminals would still be energized. The only indication of an open neutral would be that a load plugged into the circuit doesn’t turn on. Since the brain of the GFCI relies on a complete circuit in order to operate, under this circumstance the GFCI would not trip if there were a ground fault on its load side. Of course, the problem would be detected if the unit were tested with the test button before each use as required by Code, but we know that precaution is seldom taken. It is because of this possible hazard that UL943 requires that the load terminals of portable GFCIs must be de-energized when the neutral is interrupted on the line side of the device. Portable GFCIs accomplish this by using “NO”, or normally open, relays rather than the more common “NC”, or normally closed, relays. With NO relays power must be complete to the relay in order for the contacts to be closed. If there is no power, such as from an open neutral, the relay contacts are opened by spring pressure. Power is necessary to overcome the spring pressure, closing the contacts. Sorry to say that your GFCI Lunchbox is not a UL approved Class A GFCI and therefore does not meet Code where a Class A GFCI is required. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting equipment rental and sales in Boston
  23. The problem with this type of industrial GFCI is that they are prone to nuisance tripping with HMIs, Kinos, & LEDs. To improve the generally poor reliability of early GFCIs, in 2013 UL revised the standard for GFCIs to allow them to trip on an “inverse time” curve. An inverse time curve introduces a delay that decreases as the magnitude of the current increases. The advantage to an inverse time trip curve is that it permits a transient imbalance that is sufficiently short in duration so as not to pose a danger to pass while keeping current through the body to safe levels. To assure the latter, UL943 requires that as fault current increases the maximum allowable time to open a circuit decreases, with an almost instantaneous response time required (no more than 20 milliseconds) if the fault current is greater than 300 mA compared to 5.59 seconds at 6 mA. In other words, the higher the current, the faster the GFCI must trip. The advantage of UL943’s trip curve is that it minimizes nuisance tripping from surges in residual current while providing protection from shocks. The manufacturers of industrial GFCIs like these choose not to use the more accommodating UL943 safety curve because it requires sophisticated microprocessors, which makes their product more expensive. Instead, they use a more aggressive response that is lower and faster than that required by UL943 (typically 250ms at 6mA where UL943 permits 5.59 seconds at 6mA.) The more aggressive response of these GFCIs is permissible because the UL943 standard is the absolute highest current vs. time response allowed but it is not mandatory. That is, a device will fail UL testing if it responds slower than the standard requires; but will pass if the response time is less than the standard requires, even if it is a lot less. While the more aggressive trip curve of industrial GFCIs does not generally pose a problem in the one-tool-per-circuit application for which they are designed, it has proven to be a problem in electrically noisy environments like motion picture production. “Film” GFCIs, like LifeGuards, Shock Blocks, and Shock Stops use sophisticated (read expensive) micro-processors to trip more closely to the UL inverse time curve and so are more forgiving of transient surges caused by switching on other lights, which greatly reduces nuisance tripping. Industrial GFCIs like these are also prone to nuisance tripping with lighting loads because they do not filter out harmonic currents. Non-linear lighting loads (HMIs, Kinos, & LEDs – the predominant loads these days) by design leak a small amount of harmonic current to the equipment grounding conductor called ‘residual current.” If the GFCI does not incorporate filtration of harmonic currents (most all industrial GFCIs do not), these residual currents will nuisance trip the GFCI. For that reason, it is important to use “film” GFCIs that incorporate low band pass filters to filter residual currents (the GFCIs you get at hardware stores do not because they make the GFCI even more expensive.) Use this link for more details. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental & Sales in Boston
  24. Without meters you are tethered to the camera and the camera can be a real bottleneck when it comes to each department of a production (Electric, Grip, Camera, Wardrobe, Make Up, Set Dec, etc.) having to accomplish what they have to accomplish before the camera can role again. The value of meters, and knowing how to use them, is that they provide you the information you need to light a scene in your mind's eye and then translate that to reality. Rob Draper, when he was teaching at the Maine Film Workshops, used to call it the Zen of Cinematography and tell this story about how he works. He said he would always plot the lighting for a scene in advance on paper – specifying every detail down to the FC candle output from each instrument. This allowed him to pass off to his Gaffer all the details he needed when he arrived on set. Rob would then go off to craft service to get a cup of coffee. By the time he finished saying good morning to everyone (client relations are very important for a DP), and got back to the set, the lights were starting to come up. With a cup of coffee in hand, he possessed a clarity of mind that enabled him to now take the lighting to the next level. He found time within time to address the finer nuances of shading and color: the Zen of cinematography. This is what you lose when you tether yourself to the camera. The old school method was that the DP would choose the camera stop, which would establish the Key Tone - say T5.6 for deep focus. Having chosen his exposure he can then calculate how many Foot Candles (FC) he needs on different elements of the scene. To figure out how many FC you need for exposure, all you need to know is that it takes 100 FC to get an exposure of 2.8 with an ISO 100 film with a 180 degree shutter at 24 FPS (1/50th of a second shutter speed.) If your digital camera is 2 stops faster than an ISO 100 film, you will need 100 FC to get a stop of 5.6. Once you know how many FC you need for exposure you can simply calculate how many FC will give you the effect you see in your mind’s eye. Of course, it helps to have done a lighting test of what effect over and underexposing a subject will give. Such a lighting test for talent (you may also want to do one for key props or sets) would consist of testing in a systematic fashion the effect of Key, Fill, Back Light, Kickers, Hair Lights, and Liners that are over and under exposure. For example, to test the effect of your key light on flesh tones, set your exposure with two doubles and a single in your key light. Then remove them a half stop at a time (without changing your camera exposure setting or exposure of the chip chart), and systematically note on a slate in the frame what you are doing. Once you have removed all the scrims, your flesh tone will be two and a half stops over exposed (since you have not changed the camera setting.) Put all the scrims back in and now, using single and double nets, systematically under expose the flesh tone in half stop increments (remember rotating a net relative to the light source will make it "fatter" or "thinner", which will enable you to "dial in" the exact level you want from the light.) If you want to play on the lower register continue to under expose the flesh tone until it becomes a pure silhouette. Do the same for Fill, Back Light, Kickers, Hair Lights, and Liners in isolation and in specific combinations that you plan to use them. Having systematically tested each light, you can now see the effect that different ratios of each has on the scene and can even use the test as a reference on set when lighting the scene. An example of this type of pre-visualization would be say you are shooting a couple conversing at a bar. After working through in your minds eye that you want a low-key look with selective (shallow) focus you might settle on a stop of 2.8. Say the script calls for the guy to be somewhat mysterious and distant and the women to be very open and receptive, then you may choose to keep him in deep shadow with just enough of a liner to separate him from the subdued background of the bar. This type of lighting on him could be motivated by a practical fixture you establish behind him, which would be consistent with the more frontal key you want for her, since you would want to light her more frontally so that her character is clearly apparent, but not him to retain some mystery to his character. Having roughed out your style and light placement you can begin to set your levels and balance your lights based on lighting tests you have shot over the years. For instance, if your camera is two stops faster than an ISO 100 film, you will need 24 FC to properly expose your key tone (mid gray) at a T Stop of 2.8. 24 FC would then give you a “properly” exposed flesh tone on her. But this is a bar with subdued lighting, so you don’t want full exposure on her. You liked the feel of a half key (1 stop under) in your lighting tests so you would light her with 12 FC from a high frontal key. Again, because the scene takes place in the subdued lighting of a bar, you don’t want to over fill her. Going back to your lighting tests you like the look and feel of an 4:1 key to fill ratio so you would give no more than 3FC of fill light. You need to separate her from the dark background of the bar and so you might give her a backlight of 6 FC because that's what looked appropriate in the lighting tests to separate her hair color from a dark background without looking over-lit. You would want to make sure you flag her backlight off him since you want to play him in near silhouette and so have to keep any frontal light on him to under 1 FC because four stops under exposure was a near silhouette with just the right amount of detail in the lighting test. For the liner to separate him from the dark background of the bar you will need a fairly strong fixture capable of delivering 48FC from directly behind him since your lighting tests established you need to be at least a stop over exposure for the liner to read. Once you have figured out how many FC you need for the effect (a liner in this case) you can figure out which lights will give you that using the photo-metrics that manufacturers provide on their websites, or you can download Arri’s handy photometric calculator (be wary of the photo-metrics given for LED lights.) With a little experience you begin to develop a feel what light will give you what you need in different situations. You wouldn’t want to try to use the practical fixture that you are flying in behind him to motivate this lighting scheme as the source for the liner on him because, first of all it’s placement in the shot may not be far enough around his back to serve as a liner. But, also to deliver 48 FC on him, it would be screaming hot in the shot. For this reason it is better to use a separate light to light your talent and treat the practical so that it looks realistic in the shot. I find that practical lamps never look convincing unless one treats the lampshade as well as boost the bulb wattage. Unless it is completely opaque, you typically need to treat the shade to keep it from burning out (remember stopping down to keep it from blowing out will throw off the balance you have set with your other lights) You can put a lower wattage lamp in it, but then the output of the practical on the bar will look rather anemic. I find you get a more realistic look if you boost the wattage of the bulb and line the inside of the shade with ND gel. It is a delicate balance to achieve. You can achieve this balance without a monitor, by using the old school method with incident and spot meters and a selection of practical bulbs including PH 211, 212, and 213 bulbs. Years ago Walter Lassaley, BSC, instructed me to balance practical’s such that an incident reading of the direct output one foot away from the bulb is one stop over exposure which in this case would be 48 FC. I have found that rule of thumb gives a realistic output to the practical. After establishing the practical’s output using an incident meter, you then use a spot meter to determine how dense an ND gel is needed to line the inside of the glass shade. You can do all of this pre-visualization, setting of levels, and balancing based upon a location scout, blocking with stand-ins, and your lighting tests. In other words, almost everything can be worked out ahead of time so that when you arrive on set you know exactly what you need to do. This is especially helpful on low budget projects since, generally the time spent with minimal crew in scouting and blocking with stand-ins, is considerably less than the time wasted working these things out on set with a large crew and principle talent. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting Rental & Sales in Boston
  25. American Grip makes a 4x4 frame on which you can mount 16 1x1 mirrors on their mirror holders. This rig will allow you to redirect the output of the M18 in 16 different directions, so that you can aim light to each opening in the curtains. Another approach I have used in situations like this is to use a convex mirror like those used to see around corners. The convex of the surface spreads the light while maintaining its hard quality. Guy Holt, Gaffer, ScreenLight & Grip, Lighting rentals and sales in Boston
×
×
  • Create New...