How do you make fluorescent flicker?

Richard J. Johnson

Richard J. Johnson

Joystick Member
I need the fluorescent lights in my lossfest entry to flicker on and off down a hall way. I have no idea how to do this. I was hoping there was some cool industry trick that I am not cool enough to know about.:Drogar-Evil(DBG):

thanks
 
Mmm

This is what id do:

Get a disk of something, probably 200mm in diameter then cut randomly sized and spaced notches into it. Then mount this on a slow motor (start at 6-7RPM and speed it up if its not fast enough)

Then get a mains rated paddle switch (the kid with a little wheel on is always good) and then wire that into turn your lights on and off.

When the wheel turns, the notches turn the switch on and off in a random pattern.

Could probably hook some relays up into an RS232 thingy and do it through a computer if you want....
 
I know tubes do the flicker thing due to age, and some lighting maniacs actually collect these old tubes (by offering to swap them for a new replacement tube) - but whether you can force the effect by doing something to a tube I have no idea.

hoarp001's idea will work but could be difficult to set up. If you just need a brief effect, consider just wiggling the light switch? :) And for any shots where you don't need to actually see the tubes, you could do something in post
 
I think I understand. But it is so far beyond my skillset I know I would shock my self or burn my crib down.


hoarp001 said:
Mmm

This is what id do:

Get a disk of something, probably 200mm in diameter then cut randomly sized and spaced notches into it. Then mount this on a slow motor (start at 6-7RPM and speed it up if its not fast enough)

Then get a mains rated paddle switch (the kid with a little wheel on is always good) and then wire that into turn your lights on and off.

When the wheel turns, the notches turn the switch on and off in a random pattern.

Could probably hook some relays up into an RS232 thingy and do it through a computer if you want....
Click to expand...
 
Put the fluorescents on a dimmer. I think you would need ones with a magnetic ballast to work though.
 
even new ones will flicker when they start up until they get to full power. So my guess like pmark said is to try and have control over the amount of energy being output to it. If you lower it, it will flicker.
 
We may be doing something similar for our LossFest entry and so I asked my DP if it was possible. He said you can put it on a dimmer...but it will eventually ruin the ballast. So, just make sure they didn't cost you much! :D

Good Luck!
 
I was trying the same thing on my last short film and all of the previous suggestions had been suggested to me, but then I ended up using a plugin in post... not perfect but it did give the desire effect... In after fx, there's a plugin call "Flicker" or "flickering" or something like that... try it and see if you could adjust it the way you want...
 
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