Hi guys, im trying to get some help on lens to make a searchlight with a 150w 12volt xenon short arc lamp. I know this can be done because a company called Megaray make two of them.
I wrote to them and ask for some help, but they just said, buy the lamp from us. They have a good point, but they sell for over 4500 USD. So any ideas would be helpful.
Colin
I wrote to them and ask for some help, but they just said, buy the lamp from us. They have a good point, but they sell for over 4500 USD. So any ideas would be helpful.
Colin
does it really have to run on 12 volts?
You could make a very nice searchlight for less than 1/10 that cost, if it can run from 120 or 240 VAC power. You can buy a 250 or 400 Watt MH lamp and ballast for less than $150 US, and combine that with one of EdmundOptics parabolic reflectors ($40 - $78 US):
http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=1364
It would have some limitations:
Needs a line cord!
Takes a few minutes to warm up to full brightness.
Can't be restarted for 5-10 minutes after you turn it off.
If you can live with those, then you get a brighter searchlight that uses lamps that run for 10000-20000 hours and cost under $50 each.
If it really has to run from 12 VDC battery power, then you could add an inverter for another $50 or so.
You could make a very nice searchlight for less than 1/10 that cost, if it can run from 120 or 240 VAC power. You can buy a 250 or 400 Watt MH lamp and ballast for less than $150 US, and combine that with one of EdmundOptics parabolic reflectors ($40 - $78 US):
http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=1364
It would have some limitations:
Needs a line cord!
Takes a few minutes to warm up to full brightness.
Can't be restarted for 5-10 minutes after you turn it off.
If you can live with those, then you get a brighter searchlight that uses lamps that run for 10000-20000 hours and cost under $50 each.
If it really has to run from 12 VDC battery power, then you could add an inverter for another $50 or so.
Thankyou very much for your help. The link you have sent is great, just spent three hours looking through their products and found it very intresting. Do you have a link for lamps and ballasts? Or any ideas on were i should start to search for them.
Thankyou again for good help.
Colin. (ps. liked your dog)
Thankyou again for good help.
Colin. (ps. liked your dog)
lamp & ballast kit
You could buy one of the lamp kits at www.exclusiv-online.com.
They are actually much higher quality than you need, but may be an easy way to go. Another idea would be to look for a local source. You need a 250 Watt or 400 Watt Metal Halide lamp and matching ballast. If the color temperature is 4200 to 6000 K, it should be very nice white light. A 3000 K color temperature would be rather yellow. Make sure the ballast you get can run on your local power: 230 VAC @ 50 Hz?
These lamps are used in shop windows, parking lots, large buildings, stadiums, etc. So it will not be impossible to find locally. You just have to ask the right store. Try a supplier of materials for electricians.
You could buy one of the lamp kits at www.exclusiv-online.com.
They are actually much higher quality than you need, but may be an easy way to go. Another idea would be to look for a local source. You need a 250 Watt or 400 Watt Metal Halide lamp and matching ballast. If the color temperature is 4200 to 6000 K, it should be very nice white light. A 3000 K color temperature would be rather yellow. Make sure the ballast you get can run on your local power: 230 VAC @ 50 Hz?
These lamps are used in shop windows, parking lots, large buildings, stadiums, etc. So it will not be impossible to find locally. You just have to ask the right store. Try a supplier of materials for electricians.
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