Niall Flynn

Hi Folks, 

I got a Desisti 1200/2500 hmi head and ballast, it had a open door fault/bulb disconnect fault showing on the digital read out on the ballast. So on investigation the door open switch wasn't sprung or opening the switch, I looked inside and as expected. The spring had came of the door switch. I repaired this and plugged the lamp head in to the ballast thinking all would be well however the fault still shows up which is definitely been repaired. I wondered do I have to clear the fault in the ballast software to get it back up and running. The ballast and light are in like new condition and ran perfectly before. If anyone could shed any light on this it would be very much appreciated.

Link below to video 

@Phil Rhodes interesting to hear about the output, I had expected them to have a much higher out put with the Dome on, very useful info. 

Thanks for the response, I just wondered if there was anyone repair shops like this one in Europe? 

Hello Folks, 

I am considering investing in some arri skypanels or some cream source vertex 8s

I wondered had anyone had any experience with the creamsource vertex 8s, on research they do seem to be a good alternative to a sky panel s60 and a built in ballast and a high IP rating makes them even more attractive. Also they seem to be a hard source to begin with which would be useful as it will give me both hard and soft light options. However they are not available to hire here in Ireland and I have no hands on experience with that brand. So I was looking for people who have experience with them and any feedback on them. 

Hi Phil, 

I wondered why this ceramic technology didn't get that popular it seems to be a great design yet there is no large heads with this set up that I could find. They all seem to be 150 watt or 250 watt sizes. 

Hello folks, 

I am currently trying to source hmi plugs for my strand 2500 watt and 1200 watt magnetic ballast lights. (2500w)I have bought a ballast and head both strand but the plugs don't screw together they are slightly different. I wanted to swop the plug on the ballast and the header cable to get them working together.  And my 1200 watt the plug just broke on the header cable. I am finding it hard to source new ones, and struggling with how to take apart the plugs on the header cables them selfves? And ideas, I am a competent electrician but never had to swop these out before and it's baffling me. I intend fully megar testing each core once I replace them.  

Sorry , I had thought I got back to this post. It turned out to be a faulty bulb. Been using this light a fair amount since I got it. Very useful seeing as it's only 250 watts.  Thank you everyone for your responses.

Hi Guys 

 I will upload a video of the buzzing sound as well just in case it's a lose connection or something simple. Really hoping it is as this was a very useful light especially as it has a low electricity draw. I am very thankful for the response to this post. 

Hanks for the response,It's more of a buzzing. 

Hello folks, 

Just wondering if any one could shed any light on this. I have a arri 250watt ceramic with the correct bulb which is very specific. It worked fine one I put it in but then I handt used it in a while and the unit now give out a very load rattle noise one I hit the on switch. I wondered if anyone new what this could he and how I fix it. I really loved this light and turned out to be a very useful part of my kit. Any help appreciated. 

On 4/15/2020 at 2:29 AM, Phil Rhodes said:

Do let us know how you get on, I find this stuff quite interesting.

Looking into it, I notice that Arri's own one-sheet for the product requires a bulb having a GZY9.5 base. Googling for that base reveals a few matches though most are 200W. I think the GZY is the hot-restart version of the GY9.5 base which is more common, but I found a few matches. This would seem to be the daylight option, but obviously, you should make sure you like what you're buying as they're not inexpensive. I would pick one up - and a spare, maybe - nowish, as this sort of thing may go out of manufacture at some point as LEDs take over.

Watch out for non-hot-restrike versions, and for things using the GY9.5 base which is clearly different. Some 250W metal halide bulbs are probably intended for intelligent lighting and other theatrical applications and may have odd colour or very high colour temperature, so check all the vital statistics before buying.

The DF25 are interesting. They are marked up as using the Sylvania BriteArc lamps, which are as far as I can tell a metal halide reworking of HMI so that there can be a tungsten option (which I suspect you can also do with the Arri 250, or could in theory; you can certainly do it with the 150W stuff.)

It's trivially easy to retrofit a lot of lighting devices with vastly-more-efficient 150W ceramic stuff and with an inverter it can be run from batteries, so it's an interesting route to go down.

The light has arrived so I am thankful for the info on where and what exact bulb it will need. And yes they are definitely not cheap. I wondered about a tungsten color version it would be great to have the two different color temperature bulbs to get maximum use out of this fitment. Also when you talk about retro fitting with vastly-more-efficient 150W ceramic stuff. Where can the actual bulb fitting be got? And also what is the output of the 150w ceramics to are talking about? I would be interested as I have some old lights that maybe cold be retro fitted and given a new lease of life.

Hello Phil 

Thanks for the response, Id imagine these are like them German Hedler DF25 lights. But the fan assist in them puts me off. Comparing them to the aputure Cob is a good comparison in alot of ways, but its hard to know the life span of the COB 300d MK 2  and how serviceable they are just yet. There is a rather long waiting time to get one serviced and a very high fee also. With the arri i could service it myself as they are a much more basic.

So i just pulled the trigger and got one of these for 250 pounds, I think its a fair price. However i can not seem to find a supplier for the daylight bulb. Just wondered if you had any links or leads to one.

ARRI Studio Ceramic 250

Hi Guys 

I am interested to hear peoples opinions on this light it sounds like something that would be very handy to have in my kit. It seems to have a built in ballast and the bulbs can be swopped between a tungsten 3300k bulb to a hmi type bulb with a 5500k temperature. They power usage is 250 watts and has a light output the equivalent of a 1k tungsten. They sound to have a lot versatility and they run cooler temp wise. But am i missing something here. Why are these not that popular, fair enough they are an older light fitting buti have never seen one of these on set or in any hire houses? The CRI is 90 is this the reason. I d love to hear opinions on this light the pros and the cons off anyone who has used them.  I am considering buying one but dont have any where to hire it from to test one first.

On 3/4/2020 at 9:34 AM, Tom McGrath said:

Hi Niall,

That size is not very common that I'm finding (discontinued old-style Arri, for example), but I'll keep my eyes open.

Thanks so much I have been looking all over not many around that will fit.

Firstly thanks so much for your response. I have measured between the ears where the barn door slides in and fits on. I have some pictures as well. The measure ment is 40mm which is 15.748031496 Inches 

Hello there folks. 

My 2.5 strand hmi barn doors have unfortunately have gone missing. This light is a linch pin in my kit and is pretty useless without the barn doors. I just wondered if anyone had any spare ones they are willing to sell. I have searched the internet looking for them and had no luck. Any leads or suggestions of where to look would be deeply appreciated. 

Anybody have any links to cheap ish flicker box set up for 240 volt lighting?