(I am slowly learning theater technology. It's not my area of expertise. But if you need a desktop PC repaired or a server fixed, I can do that.)


There's this thing called a top hat or snoot used as a shroud to get rid of side light from a fixture. And there's these things called barn doors that do a similar job..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Snoot-barndoor.JPG


I do not see top hats or barn doors for sale on this website for the 64 LED Pro. So, what other brands of top hats and barn doors will fit it?

Are the square gel holder clips on the 64 LED Pro a standard size for all PAR-64 fixtures?

Can I just go out and buy a top hat from anywhere that sells PAR-64 lighting and expect that it will fit properly?

- Dale

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I also fix servers and desktops, routers, switches, VOIP and more. Neverending. I just learning of some new stupidity from Sony. Let me just say if you do upgrades, you're totally screwed. Isn't that nice and closed-minded of Sony?

OK, back to the subject:

I rarely see Par Cans with barndoors. I typically see different type of lights with those. I don't know if they start with a G or an L, but Lekos? Doesn't matter. Those are what I typically see with barn doors.

But, I see your point. A Par XX is a Par XX. So, a Par64 should fit a 64 LED Pro or a traditional Par64 can. SHOULD! Can't guarantee it.

Accessories come in frame sizes. Sizes are as follows:

Opti Par: 7.5"
S4 Leko 5 Degree: 14"
S4 Leko 10 Degree: 12"
S4 Leko 19-50 Degree: 6.25"
S4 Leko 70-90 Degree: 7.5"
S4 Par/ParNel: 7.5"
6" Fresnel: 7.5"
8" Fresnel: 10"
Par 64: 10"
Par 56: 9"
Par 46: 7.5"
Par 38: 6"
Par 36: 6.25"
Par 16: 3"

Par 64 LEDs should use Par 64 size frames. There are a few companies that you can get accessories from.

As for using things like top hats and barn doors on instruments, it is very common in theatre where more control is needed. Also for not letting the audience see the lights and control light bleed. Fresnels are the most common lights to have barn doors, but pars are common as well. I use barn doors on my back light pars for corporate events so the light doesn't blind the audience.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SerraAva,

One of my concerns about the 64 LED Pros is that the lighting elements are pretty much at the front. Normally, in what I've seen, Par 64's tend to have the bulb closer to the rear of the fixture, with the rest of the can sort of taking on the role of the "barn doors" or at least kind of doing a basic job of keeping the light "under control".

I know what Dale is talking about with the "scattering" out the edges that he's experiencing with his 64LED Pros. For me, simply putting in the included gel frames addressed this issue enough to satisfy my requirements.

Where the light source is on the fixture doesn't have an effect. What matters is the lensing on the fixture. For example, a S4 90 degree has the lamp all the way at the very back of the fixture, 18.3" away from the lens to be exact, but the light comes out at a 90 degree angle. At 4' distance, the beam is 7.5' large. At 8', it is 15.1' large.

However, since it comes out at such an extreme angle, accessories are not recommended do to the amount of light loss.

Dale:

Kind of on the low end, I realize that my Color Fusions attempt to do a barn door type action. It works fairly well. Permanent solution as they are mounted to the fixture, but all 4 panels can be adjusted as needed.

If I get some time(I gotta burn 16 unique CD's today), I might investigate some of the lights SerraAva mentioned. I doubt I'd buy any in the immediate future, but always helps to broaden my education.

It looks like these Altman lighting products MIGHT fit the 64 LED Pro. I guess I am just going to have to buy one of each of these to try it and find out, and if not, resell on eBay if it does not fit.


ALTMAN 8-SN - Snoot 10"x10"
http://mail.altmanltg.com/publ...DSN&PLID=&Country=US


ALTMAN 8-BD-4 - 8" 4 Leaf Barndoor
http://mail.altmanltg.com/publ...em=8-BD-4&Country=US

(Note, the 8" barndoor size seems to refer to the tube diameter, not the square bracket on the back.)

- Dale Mahalko

If I were you, I'd make a few phone calls over to Altman Lighting first to ee what they have to say about the compatibility.

Just, seems to be a good way to save money. I think your ideas are good, and your methodology is sound, but now that it's come time to actually take action, it's best to take proper action. Get on the horn or start shooting emails or both.

Me personsally, I don't have time for "might". I have time for "it's gonna work".

My main concern is that Altman is playing the proper marketting role of "fits Altman products" to keep it all in-house. Taking SerraAva's advise, which makes sense, a Par64 s a 10" diameter, so anything 10" should work. But, since we're mixing and matching brands here, sometimes we don't get guaranteed ineroperability.

This brings up a valid concern. Why hasn't ADJ seen the vision and offered a set of accessories inline with what you're looking for? It would make sense. The more I'm learning, it seems ADJ could offer these as optional accessories.

Call first, get ALtman's recommendation. It could be they say "hey, you know, these just aren't gonna work out for you". Who knows....

call altman lighting. They have very good barn doors.. These will be better then top hats. Top hats are a pain for mobile use where barn doors fold up nice.. And they are adjustable. You can change them for different rooms... I use them with my par64 leds and they work wonders...

Dale's application involves a permanent install. His issue is more of "what is going to work best for his application" rather than the convenience of one type over another.

I think the fact that you mentioned that the barn doors made by that company work on the 64 LED's will be of much help for Dale though. hey, every bit of brain storming around here tends to help in one way or another.

sorry mis read thought it was mobile gig.. But top hats in basicl words i never liked them.. Any install i have ever done i stay away from them also. The barn doors will preety much do the same with the option of being able to adjust. A top hat is exactly that like a leko with no lenses.. Ive used barndoors on mr led and regular pars as well as theatrical lighting with my fresnels and even the larger model for scoops..
if your any good with sheet metal they are very easy to make also.. If not i think i picked mine up for about ..

i paid around 12 bucks a piece for them.. I got about 100 at one time i think if you want just a few they are about 22 bucks.. But Go altman there are other brands out there and the welds and fastners fall apart WAY to easy..

I think Dale will just have to try them and see what works best for his application.

What size barn doors do you recommend for the 64 LED Pros? I may be tempted to check those out a bit more. But right now, I'm in a winding down mode. I've developed a serious back injury so I'm trying to finish my obligations before shutting down production for a while.

altman has NEW barn doors. There are very nice compared to the older ones that were a little less quality. BUT much more expensive.
if your going to put them on a par 64 you would want an 8inch barn door. The new barn doors actually combine a little but of a snoot design in it as well.. MUCH better the the ones i bought a while back.. YOu will def likt these. Ive used barn doors for years and also use them in many schools where ive done installs... And they seem to have liked them as well..

Thanks for the tip. I'm possibly stopping the travelling(except for some events) and into a more or less fixed installation environment next year. Seems like that may be the time to make this investment.

I also think Dale might appeciate those suggestions as well. I know I am going to take a serious look at these myself.