LED Powered Lights

[DJPLEASURE 0]

I have been toying with the idea of LED powered lighting, apparently it is the way forward.

I have seen a few of these effects about, but unfortunately none give any idea of what the equivalent wattage of these led effects is.

 

I have purchased a water ripple effect for a back drop, should be with me today, so I'll pop back and edit this and let you know my findings.

[YourBigEvent 0]

I was looking at some this morning.Don't bother !!

[RobbieD 0]

I have been keeping my eye on these kind of colour changers too. The only good one I have seen so far is the Pulsar Chroma Range.

 

The only version suitable for mobile discos would the ChromaBank which can often be seen on TV shows, but works out very expensive (I’ll let Chris tell you how much). The other fittings in the range need to be connected to the ChromaZone power unit/DMX interface by fragile multi-core DC cables with fiddly connectors to work. - Not very convenient for mobile use.

 

It’s only a matter of time before good lower cost versions come on to the market.

 

Has anyone had any experience with these kind of products?

Edited July 1, 2004 by ADS Entertainments

[ChrisPointon 0]

There is talk about this form of technology being the way forward....but at this present time they are wading through treacle! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif .

 

LED technology is only just taking over replacing brake and indicator lights in cars and in Traffic Lights, and then these are still only just reaching the light level required for these applications.

 

A reliable, LED replacement which can match toe to toe, the light output of an halogen or MSD projection lamp is still a long way off. I recently looked at finding a replacement MR11 type lamp (12v 20W) for a halogen desk lamp, I found one - but it isn't bright enough to be of any use....a night light would be more descriptive.

 

There are reliable versions of colour changers, such as those mentioned above which do have the light output, however these are also very expensive, and are usually used for decor lighting, or lighting statues and focal points http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif .

 

The main problem with LED's is that in order to create a bright light, the viewing angle decreases. In other words, the brighter the light, the more narrow the beam, this gives a pinspot effect which is not suitable for gobo projection or for bouncing off mirrors (or mirrored glass) as found in Moonflowers and general Disco type lighting effects.

 

Then again, given that my LED Replacement MR11 lamp was £7.99 and next to useless when compared to the standard light output of its 2000 hour 40p standard halogen replacement. If the technology DID exist now, would you be willing to pay £50 or £60 for an LED version of an ELC 24v Lamp?, which at the end of the day may be used in a lighting effect costing the same?.

 

Personally, It think that you'll find the current LED lighting effects extemely lost when used alongside conventional Halogen ones http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif

[DJPLEASURE 0]

Unfortunately DHL failed to locate my address, so will not receive until tomorrow now. Light output is a concern, if this effect is not powerful enough to provide a backdrop, simply the unit will develope a fault and be returned for refund.

[YourBigEvent 0]

The ones I looked at were only 'WOW' because of the LED's I would not have brought them as this were 'panel' lights and looked like lightboxes (Spin I can give you the telephone number http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif ), and cost £300 each, there was a tube effect which MIGHT look OK on top of the trussing, but only if you could be bothered to erect it every gig.

[mp3djuk2004 0]

DJPLEASURE

 

i had the water effect led light but the light output isnt enough to warrant using it for gigs, its only good enough for a small very dark room. maybe in the near future they will be bright enough to use professionally.if any if thinking of trying an led based light i really wouldnt bother yet, unless its the led panels (as above)

[Gary 0]

The LED effects which I've seen in DJ shops are quite dim (as mentioned above) and also, dispite focus/lens adjustments, never seemed as sharp edged or defined as a normal bulb.

 

Chris? Any prices on those LED Octopod 30's or 90's (and similar units in the LED range that I PM'd you about) or are they still non-UK?

[ChrisPointon 0]

QUOTE

if this effect is not powerful enough to provide a backdrop, simply the unit will develope a fault and be returned for refund.

 

Rant Alert!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/188.gif

 

 

As a dealer myself, can I just say that this is the sort of customer attitude which puts up the prices on equipment and gives every consumer a bad name. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/bash.gif . Just bear in mind that if the unit is returned as Faulty and no fault is found that we are perfectly and legally entitled to charge you a "re-stocking fee", so you'll more than likely still find yourself out of pocket.

 

To return an item as "faulty", when you simply couldn't be bothered to do your homework or see a demo locally, before placing the order waste's the distributors time, the engineers time and the manufacturers time and ultimately this time has to be paid for somehow, and the only people who actually cover this cost are the people sending stuff back and buying the gear - i.e YOU the consumer.

 

If you've bought the product by mail order, then you are covered by the Distance Selling Regulations which give you 7 days to decide whether you want to keep the product. There are some restrictions in place for the distributor in order to stop this being abused, and you are still liable to pay the original carriage charge, and pay your own return carriage charge and make sure that the equipment is adequately insured and packaged. If the item is damaged on it's return trip, or not in the original packing and in perfect resaleable condition, then you are still liable to purchase the product or claim from your carriage insurance.

 

Be honest, if YOU made a mistake and don't like the product then return it under the distance selling regulations, don't return it as "faulty". Don't make the rest of us pay for it!, remember we are all Somebody's customer http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/nono.gif

[mp3djuk2004 0]

gary,

 

the Tracpod looks a good effect, ive just seen a media file of them in action.

[Gary 0]

QUOTE (mp3djuk2004 @ Jul 2 2004, 11:01 AM)

gary, the Tracpod looks a good effect, ive just seen a media file of them in action.

I've seen the track90's in use, and have a catalog with them in but no price lists...they could be super expensive, or quite reasonable...Who's for option 1...? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif

[chrismk 0]

 

Im a regular at our local electronics high street store and they have got to know

me quite well over the few years.

When I do show interest in a product they are really ok with the idea to buy now

return later if Im not happy with any item I've bought from them.

so far I've returned about 7 items out of the + 40 60 times Ive been there, my last

return was the moondot LED effect cos I had to see it to believe it.

 

Why did I return it, well to be honest maybe for a fiver I might hang on to it for

kiddies parties other than than its more of a colured blur of rubbish.

 

Onto LED's in the future, it is without doubt this technology is going to progress in

a big way, just looking at basic home lighting is a bonus, look at it like this.

One Christams evennig your all around the dinning room table having dinner when

out tof the blue there's a power failure, remedy, LEDs can run on low voltages for

looooonnnnggg periods of time cos of there low draw rate per hour, a standard 12

volt car battery would be way more than enough for this task but a more reliable

Nicad or Ni Metal battery would be ideal.

 

In Club use or where ever at this present time its a waste of money and hassle

and you would need lots just to have any impact, if any.

 

cheers

[YourBigEvent 0]

QUOTE

One Christams evennig your all around the dinning room table having dinner when out tof the blue there's a power failure, remedy, LEDs can run on low voltages for looooonnnnggg periods of time cos of there low draw rate per hour, a standard 12 volt car battery would be way more than enough for this task but a more reliable Nicad or Ni Metal battery would be ideal.

 

Wouldn't cook a 16lb turkey though http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ChrisPointon 0]

QUOTE

LEDs can run on low voltages for looooonnnnggg periods of time cos of there low draw rate per hour, a standard 12 volt car battery would be way more than enough for this task but a more reliable Nicad or Ni Metal battery would be ideal.

 

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/offtopic.gif

 

Hmmm, how many people have a fully charged car battery lying around?. With regard to Battery Packs, I recently bought some solar powered garden marker lights which have 1 led fed from a pair of Ni-mh AA batteries. They last around 4 hours after a sunny day. I would hate to see how long they lasted with a cluster of LED's. The MR11 lamp I have has 35 white leds and still doesn't give enough light to read comfortably.

 

One the subject of Power Cuts..I live in a semi-rural area which is fed by a circa 1950's substation. On average I lose grid power for at least a few hours per month http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/scared.gif , I've got around this in the past by using rechargeable Fluorescent lights which use standard 18 Watt tubes and last for around 4 hours on one charge. These are also good for working on the car, or going into the loft and only cost around £19. More recently i've invested in a 1500W generator from Makro for £119, runs for 6 hours on one fill of unleaded and more than enough to run the PC, Central Heating Pump, Fridge and TV (yes the essentials! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/tongue.gif ). However since I bought it, we've had no power cuts....bloody typical.

 

 

QUOTE

(Andy) Wouldn't cook a 16lb turkey though

 

Don't they have Gas in Torquay? .....other than after having to many curries!

[chrismk 0]

IF the two of you above really noticed what I was saying then you'd have noticed

that I was saying the 'potential' although at present I agree with both of you 100%.

 

The other solution as Chris has so wisely done is to invest in a genny but as he

says since he got it the power failures are no longer to be seen.

 

I do belive that in the near future LEDs will play a role in many applications

due to there low heat output and intensity which at present is somewhat lacking

never the less though they are somewhat very accurate in for use in applications

such as instruments etc, and they very reliable, easy to replace and cheap.

 

I have seen LED clusters in many a place to create a mood atmosphere and

they work well.

 

Cheers

 

And Chris I have PM'd you for lighting.

[DJPLEASURE 0]

I read about 6 words of your rant, and hope you feel better now that you got it off your chest!

I purchased from [Edited] and I feel no guilt what so ever about the fault situ, and it will have an actual fault.

This is not what I'd normally do, but recently I have had nothing but hassle with them and they have cost me money through poor customer relations, also cost me money for transport when they supposedly held back an item for me, I went to collect same day and item was not there. Then I bought a spare amp, didnt work and gave me hassle in refunding. I bought a hard drive from them......it had data on! had trouble again with refund.

 

Anyway to the point tried the light, it was an Aquadot, purchased as it was on special offer, light output is about the equivalent of 50watts, ideal for a nice effect on your front room ceiling, with all the lights out, but thats about it.

[nrgize 0]

I was given demo on Aquadot, and Zagdot. I thought they were all to low powered. The only LED stuff that looks good is some of the Abstract range.

[ChrisPointon 0]

I had a Newsletter from RS Components today which contained an article on LED's replacing Incandescent Lamps in domestic applications. According to the Electronics industry they reckon that it will be 2008 before a direct equivalent which can give the same amount of light as a conventional lamp, will be available on the market.

 

Bear in mind that this is talking about replaciing 40 and 60 watt BC Lamps in the home!, I wonder how long it will be before a decent LED version of an halogen projection lamp is available?.

[Daz35 0]

I saw one of the aforementioned LED panels earlier today in a local store, and it looked like a £300 light screen to me!

[chrismk 0]

So no further comments after PLASA then.............

 

LED lighting has indeed come along way and is increasing all the time

 

Cheers

[Gary 0]

Indeed there were lots of VERY interesting LED products at PLASA 2004.

 

The big distinction is that whilst LEDs are superb in products where the LED is seen directly by the audience/dancefloor/stage etc, they are still pretty useless when it comes to them pretending to take the place of the light source WITHIN a projection effect - eg: A moonflower or Gobo projector.

[Kingy 0]

Face it guys, its like me winning the lottery....It aint gonna happen! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[MadGutts 0]

Well heres my 2p...

 

LED effects are ok for small venues. They don't have any where near the power of HTi bulbed effects, and i doubt ever will.

Saying that... LED's have been around since the 70's.. back then you could have any colour - as long as it was red. Then they made green and soon after yellow... Its it only in the last 2 years that blue LED's are affordable.

 

The main problem is that the size of a LED and the amount of heat it would have to generate to produce the amount of light we would require, isn't possible.

 

If you have seen the LED torches (some of you have probrably got them - i have!) then you can see the power that is now possible. but this still doesn't compare to a normal torch with a proper bulb! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

 

Only time will tell...................

[brianmole 0]

QUOTE

The big distinction is that whilst LEDs are superb in products where the LED is seen directly by the audience/dancefloor/stage etc, they are still pretty useless when it comes to them pretending to take the place of the light source WITHIN a projection effect - eg: A moonflower or Gobo projector.

 

Well said Gary, this bit is crutial to the use at present.

 

 

Have some of you not seen the LED colourchangers used in TV studios etc? They are very VERY bright and replace PAR56 type parcans very effectively. Obviously, colours are also spectacular. But these are very pricey at this time. As more are sold, prices will drop.

 

The cheap projection effects today are low output. This is a start, eventually they will have higher and higher output.

 

Buy me a drink when you win the lottery http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[F_Swift 0]

Well im new to this forum

 

But being a dj/producer and lighting designer i do some mobile disco work and i disagree on alot on what you people say about Led Disco lighting effects.

 

I recently did a couple of gigs at a local venue and i used hi tech lighting such as 4 Martin mac 550 moving head lights , dmxed into my laptop with 2 simple mojo Scan 1 mirror heads as fast back up..

And i had complaints from the venue manager about my lighting...

The next time i just used Led Lighting effects like the moondot,zagdot etc and they worked perfect and filled the room just the same as the macs did but with less output of corse, the manager said they wer great.

You people say that it will take ages to make an led lighting effect as powerful as a H bulb or T bulb , but i disagree , yes hologen bulbs are very bright and hot , because hologen gas comes from the surface of the sun which is very bright.

But they could make an Led bulb as powerful and they mite just do that soon i think , ive been talking to alot of lighting directors and electricians and they think it's only a matter of time ..

remember Lighting bulbs are about resistance from electrical particles , the less the resistance , the less brightness, the more resistance , the brightness and output higher.

Leds are electronic circuits that have electrical particles going through them and there is resistance but very lowcase , soon you will find that getting higher..

To write off Led Moondots gobos is stupid

They can do just as good i think as normal bulbs but maybe with less output in brightness but come on people who is really going to notice this after a few beers?

A laser beam is the same process as an Led light and do we say bad things about them? No

I actually think Led lighting is different as mobile dj sometimes myself, think of it this way all mobile dj's use H or T bulb lighting effects , so be different just like when you dj on a 1210 try to be different to the dj yesterday or before you

it's about style and thats what led lighting offers discos and venues.

 

F Swift dj