Hey everybody - This is my first post here. I had an idea for a reflector that I thought I'd ask you all about.
If you have the right type of bulb, would the reflector off one of these work?:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t.../ref=sr_1_9/102-8561702-9180156?v=glance&s=hi
Has anyone tried them?
They're big, yes. But they're very cheap. You can find them at the hardware store for just a buck or two - you don't even have to buy the light fixture.
I'm planning on using a 500 W worklight ( I know -- hot and yellow. That's ok ), so I'm not sure that this would work for me. But it's just an idea.
If you have the right type of bulb, would the reflector off one of these work?:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t.../ref=sr_1_9/102-8561702-9180156?v=glance&s=hi
Has anyone tried them?
They're big, yes. But they're very cheap. You can find them at the hardware store for just a buck or two - you don't even have to buy the light fixture.
I'm planning on using a 500 W worklight ( I know -- hot and yellow. That's ok ), so I'm not sure that this would work for me. But it's just an idea.
reflector
No, it won't. It isn't the right shape, and it doesn't even look very shiny. I think these work more as a lamp shade, so the light doesn't go in all directions.
You could make a better reflector from a stainless steel hemisphere-shaped soup ladle. Look at the cheap stores, like K-Mart or Pick-And-Save.
As for your cheap lamp, look at all the halogen bulbs at Home Depot. They have some pretty bright lamps (ie. 250 Watt) that are much smaller than the long 500 Watt work lamp bulbs. You will probably get more useful light out of the smaller bulb, since the long tubular ones are so far from the ideal point-source.
Also keep in mind that you will have a heat problem, using halogen.
No, it won't. It isn't the right shape, and it doesn't even look very shiny. I think these work more as a lamp shade, so the light doesn't go in all directions.
You could make a better reflector from a stainless steel hemisphere-shaped soup ladle. Look at the cheap stores, like K-Mart or Pick-And-Save.
As for your cheap lamp, look at all the halogen bulbs at Home Depot. They have some pretty bright lamps (ie. 250 Watt) that are much smaller than the long 500 Watt work lamp bulbs. You will probably get more useful light out of the smaller bulb, since the long tubular ones are so far from the ideal point-source.
Also keep in mind that you will have a heat problem, using halogen.
Out of curiosity...why are you planning to use a halogen work lamp? They are totally not ideal for this application. You could get a metal hallide set up for no more than 60 bucks and it will work 50 times better than a Halo work lite. Trust me.
The reflector on that link I gave you isn't exactly the one I was thinking of. The ones you'd find in a hardware store appear to be much more spherical, and they're much more shiny. They aren't my first choice, but as I said, I think they'd be better than nothing.
I'm planning on using halogen lights because even at $60, MH lights are just too expensive for me. I'm willing to deal with the problems associated with halogen in exchange for the price difference. I plan to upgrade to MH at a later time.
I would much prefer to use a smaller sized bulb like the ones you mention from home depot, but where do I get a fixture that can use them? That was why I had decided on using a work light. I've already got one out in the garage that can be stripped down and used as is. I've looked for a fixture that I could use other halogen bulbs in, and I haven't been able to find any. Any suggestions?
To address the heat issue, I plan to do a couple of things. First, I'll have four 80 mm fans in the enclosure. Two up by the LCD panel, both sucking air in, and two back by the bulb, pushing air out. They'll be arranged so that there are two fans (one in and one out) on each side of the enclosure. I also plan to keep the rear portion of the light setup closed off from the rest of the enclosure. This way, heat from the reflector can be removed.
Also, In my searching, I've also found the reflectors from maglites:
http://www.tacticalflashlights.com/flashlights/108-036.html
Those might be able to be used somehow. Maglites make a great beam.
So thanks in advance for your ideas. I'll be checking back often to see them.
I'm planning on using halogen lights because even at $60, MH lights are just too expensive for me. I'm willing to deal with the problems associated with halogen in exchange for the price difference. I plan to upgrade to MH at a later time.
I would much prefer to use a smaller sized bulb like the ones you mention from home depot, but where do I get a fixture that can use them? That was why I had decided on using a work light. I've already got one out in the garage that can be stripped down and used as is. I've looked for a fixture that I could use other halogen bulbs in, and I haven't been able to find any. Any suggestions?
To address the heat issue, I plan to do a couple of things. First, I'll have four 80 mm fans in the enclosure. Two up by the LCD panel, both sucking air in, and two back by the bulb, pushing air out. They'll be arranged so that there are two fans (one in and one out) on each side of the enclosure. I also plan to keep the rear portion of the light setup closed off from the rest of the enclosure. This way, heat from the reflector can be removed.
Also, In my searching, I've also found the reflectors from maglites:
http://www.tacticalflashlights.com/flashlights/108-036.html
Those might be able to be used somehow. Maglites make a great beam.
So thanks in advance for your ideas. I'll be checking back often to see them.
In case you were planning on using a maglite reflector, they are plastic, so you will end up with a glob of plastic hanging around your halogen light, definitely not a good thing.
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