Colortran lighting

MattMyster

MattMyster

Active member
Did some searching and couldn't find exact answers to these, looking for more information. I recently acquired a few colortran mini pro's and am wondering what size barn doors they use, what type of bulb's you can replace them with when they burn out (avg price? can you get them at walmarts?) and as far as the heat - I know they get extremely hot, how can I use color gels or softeners with the extreme heat they produce? Is there a maximum amount of time I should have them on without them getting too hot/exploding? And do you know which light stands they would fit on?

Sorry for the multitude of questions, new to video lighting and the lights just came by themselves so I have alot of searching to do.

Thank you for any assistance at all, it's really appreciated.

Cheers!
 
1. Not sure, you'll have to measure that out. Once that's done I might know of doors from a specific model that are more readily available.
2. DYS (ANSI code) is typical, 600w, 3200k, 75 hour life. Can't get these at walmart, I got a pack of 13 for under $20 on eBay for my tweenies though. They're some of the less expensive lamps out there.
3. Once you find the barn door size, get barn doors and clip the gels onto them with clothespins. Gels are meant to withstand extreme heat.
4. No.
5. I think mini pros may have a smaller than standard receptor for stands. Again, measure it. If the hole is 5/8" in diameter, it will fit on any stand with a baby/750 pin.
 
1. I measured the width/height of the light - about 5 1/2 inches each
2. Thanks, the code is 176-092 - none currently on ebay but I've found some other online retailers...they can be found as low as $5-$8 but the shipping to canada kills it...$80 in ship for 3-5 which is ridiculous. Hoping I'll be able to find somewhere more reasonable...
 
Closest thing I know of to 5 1/2" would be the doors for a midget / tweenie. Those have a 5 1/8" flange.
 
Would I need a dimmer for these lights to use on studio shoots, say if I had 3 650w colortran mini pros? I was just thinking there's no way to dim them, then I came across dimmers on ebay but they look complicated to use. Any recommendations for dimming? Would I have to use the colortran brand dimmers or is there better, newer alternatives?
 
I would recommend just building your own hand squeezers, you can get all the parts at Home Depot. Should cost under $20 (USD) each. If you don't feel comfortable dealing with electricity, buy some premade ones like this:
http://www.filmandvideolighting.com/10vadi.html
or this:
http://www.filmandvideolighting.com/60diwhasq.html

They're not complicated. If you were looking for Colortran dimmers, you probably were seeing dimmer packs meant for permanent installations that are controlled by a board, but that isn't what you need.
 
I use Harbor Freight router controllers as dimmers on my tungsten lights under 1000 watts. I use them all of the time with 650 open face lights like the Colortran Mini-Pros. They get pretty warm, but they work fine. The dimmer has a 15 amp fuse. While I have never blown a fuse in these dimmers, but I would keep some spare fuses around just in case. Dimming a light does lower the color temperature (Warm up the light), but that is no big deal, for me.

Here is the link:

http://www.harborfreight.com/router-speed-control-43060.html
 
To expand on the OP:

As for barn doors, Moseph may be correct that the closest thing you can find is the 4 ways for a Mole Midget or Tweenie. I just bought a set (For a Midget I just picked up used) from B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=orderHistory&A=details&Q=&sku=167237&is=REG

I would contact Mole for the specs on the doors.

http://www.mole.com/index.html

I also found this guide for the bulbs they will take:

Colortran Mini-Pros.jpg

The bulb codes are are the 3 letter combos in UPPERCASE, like DYG, EKB, EKD and DYR. The most common I have seen, and use, are the 600 watt DYS bulbs.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=282706&is=REG&Q=&A=details

I am pretty sure that those lights will also take the 650 watt DVY bulb.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/243216-REG/Eiko_DVY_Lamp_650W_120V.html

You can use professional gels and diffusion sheets with them, but you have to keep them away from direct contact with the bulb. If they had barn doors the clipping gels or diffusion to them is no big deal, without the doors you need to get creative with the gels. What I have done with open-faced lights without barndoors in the past is get a loop of chicken wire that fits around the front of the light and then affix diffusion/gel to that. I have used baling wire to hold the whole thing to the light. I now have frames of various sizes that I can use in front of open-faced lights for gels and diffusion.

There is no maximum amount of time that you can keep them on. In normal use, you can keep them on until the bulbs blow. They are designed to not overheat or explode. Now they will get very hot and you have to be careful in handling them. Don't put them close to flammable materials and wear leather gloves when handling them hot. Also, DO NOT TOUCH THE BULBS WITH BARE HANDS when changing the bulbs. The oil in you hand (Fingerprints) will cause hot spots on the bulbs when in use and increase the chance of the bulb blowing. What I do is clean the bulbs with rubbing alcohol and a tissue when I pull them out of the box and put them in the lamp with gloves on. I also make it a habit to clean the bulbs with alcohol when I pull them out for use.

Congrats on the lights though. Those lights are robust and should serve you well.
 
Thanks David & Moseph for all the assistance! Just another question...I've been running my colortran mini pro for a few hours now over the last week since I bought it, and it's been emitting a metallic like old rusty smell and very light whisps of smoke when it's on. I did a basic clean under the reflector and such, and it doesn't seem to be coming from the wiring. I'm wondering if this is normal, if these lights emit smells or possible answers as to what's burning. The only thing I could think of is the base of the bulb is plastic or some type of material and it was put in at a slight angle so its touching the reflector...I'm thinking since the reflector takes the brunt of the heat it may be burning the bulb part that comes into contact with the reflector, but then again I feel like the bulbs would be meant to withstand these temperatures? If it's faulty I probably will return it and try and get some better condition mini pros.

Really love the mini pros though, so compact and light. Bulb changing isn't efficient at all, would take at least 5 minutes and a screw driver as far as I know, but other than that solid purchase they are overwhelmingly bright for the size!
 
I have an old 650 watt light (A Smith-Victor can light) that smokes a little. I think I bunt a gel in there about 15 years ago and it still smokes a bit, especially when I fire it up after it has been in storage awhile. I think that the bunt out gel spot gathers dust and it has to burn out a bit over and over. If I pull my lights out of storage for a shoot I like to set them up outside, fire them up for a while and let them "Cook off" the dust. You might want to clean up the Colortran as best you can, let it cook off for a while and see if that clears it up. It probably just has years of collected dust and what not that needs to be cooked off.
 
Sounds good, yeah I'm going to do that and let it cook off for a few more hours outside and if there's still the same smell/burning I'll know it's not the dust/particles. Thanks!
 
I have this kit as well. Mine also get very hot and smoke. I've left them on for more than an hour and they've never burst into flames, but they do make me nervous.

To diffuse them I bought a Manfrotto gizmo that goes from the stand to the light, allows me to adjust the angle, and has a hole for an umbrella. Only problem is that the Manfrotta is set for stand 5/8" stands, so there is a little play and wobble. I keep the umbrella out at least 6 inches from the light. It hasn't burnt at all.

I use them for interviews and find they're often too strong (with 650w or 420w), or I want one to be less powerful. I just bought a router speed adapter to use as a dimmer and was disappointed to discover that, while it does dim the lights (though not to 0), the lights end up making an ugly hum at anything less than 100%, which for me makes the dimmer unusable.

I think someone above said the bulbs are hard to change. Mine aren't too hard. I put on gloves and wiggle the bulb straight out. I takes some force and I'm always worried the bulb is going to break in my hand, but it never has.

I got these for a good price so I can't complain, but Iwould actually like to replace them with something new, but I can't decide what to get. LED panel? Fresnel kit? Lowel DP 3? I'm open to suggestions :)
 
The most common smell (apart from electrical burning which you've ruled out) is simply dust and excessive lubrication. So if anyone has ever used a bit of light oil on the yoke, or maybe internal screws this burns off. Same thing with any painted parts. Plug a brand new par can in to see and smell this burning in. Dust, on older kit smells really unpleasant. When they've been on for a while, the smell reduces, and just smells 'hot'.

Most pro lamps will need sourcing from pro sources - easily findable on the net. Local suppliers will be very rare! Once you have the barn doors, and the pegs, a half sheet of gel will simply 'flap' between the opposing vertical doors. The closer to the lamp, the quicker they fade. Diffuser works like this too. There's no need to make it taut.
 
paulears said:
The most common smell (apart from electrical burning which you've ruled out) is simply dust and excessive lubrication. So if anyone has ever used a bit of light oil on the yoke, or maybe internal screws this burns off. Same thing with any painted parts. Plug a brand new par can in to see and smell this burning in. Dust, on older kit smells really unpleasant. When they've been on for a while, the smell reduces, and just smells 'hot'.

Most pro lamps will need sourcing from pro sources - easily findable on the net. Local suppliers will be very rare! Once you have the barn doors, and the pegs, a half sheet of gel will simply 'flap' between the opposing vertical doors. The closer to the lamp, the quicker they fade. Diffuser works like this too. There's no need to make it taut.
Click to expand...

Use heat shield to protect colored gels. http://www.filmandvideolighting.com/heshsh2119.html
 
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