Is there a way to work around lights with 220v plugs?

[Sniper1154]

So I'm a bit of a novice trying to get my feet wet in the world of lighting. Many folks here have been a HUGE help; however after scouring Craigslist I found a deal that I'd love to take advantage of. Only problem is, the seller's lights have plugs that look like this:



I'll be using these lights for various shoots and would like to have them as a strong foundation for my first light 'kit'; however I'm not sure how I could power these in a household setting? These appear to be 220v plugs (unless I'm mistaken), and from what I've read even if I could get them to power on via some sort of adapter, using 110v plug would only yield a dim light (they're 2K lights that accept 1K and 1.5K bulbs).

Any advice? Any way I can work around this that is just blatantly obvious that I'm missing?

 

[Pickthorne]

That looks like 20 or 15 amp/120 v twist lock, but you should be able to read the rating on the face instead for me trying to remember the different blade configurations.

It doesn't really matter anyway because you want to plug your light into household circuits, and that means that end has got to go.

What really matters is what the fixture's requirements are. Do you have a model # or better yet a pic of the nameplate?

 

[Paul F]

Yes, the white plastic has '20A 125V' moulded into the face in that picture.

2Kwatts @ 120V = ~17amps - this needs a 20 amp service outlet - older houses don't have this service on normal outlets (typically 15 amp service). I don't know that newer houses do either.
1.5k watts @ 120V = 12.5 amps - this technically is not allowed on a 15 amp service (per the National Electrical Code). But it can be done.
1kwatts @ 120V = 8.3amps

That means you need a breaker per light in most instances. You can run out of power in a house very quickly under those conditions. Consider that if a refrigerator or other high power appliance is on the circuit, your out of luck.

 

[Razz16mm]

That's a NEMA L5-20 connector. Unless the house service panel has 20 amp breakers and wiring, the largest lamp you can practically run by itself on a circuit is 1.5k. Fine for temporary service on a 15 amp circuit. You can change the plug or buy an Edison adapter to fit. A 2k lamp will trip a 15 amp breaker pretty quickly.

 

[gonzo_entertainment]

JUST had to do this same swap on a Mole 750 I bought off ebay (from twist lock to Edison). It's a 5 minute job, but as noted a 2K is pretty dicey on household circuits. I don't even own one, 1K is the biggest light I have in my kit (for this reason among others).

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

JUST had to do this same swap on a Mole 750 I bought off ebay (from twist lock to Edison). It's a 5 minute job, but as noted a 2K is pretty dicey on household circuits. I don't even own one, 1K is the biggest light I have in my kit (for this reason among others).

By the same token... 2 1K's will be 2K, will overload the 15 Amp circuit... and 2 750's, that is 1.5K may be 'dicy', especially with ballasts and startup... so figuring out what plug is on what circuit is needful and needs to be done on 'location scouting' day, rather than 'shooting day'...

 

[gonzo_entertainment]

By the same token... 2 1K's will be 2K, will overload the 15 Amp circuit... and 2 750's, that is 1.5K may be 'dicy'... so figuring out what plug is on what circuit is needful and needs to be done on 'location scouting' day, rather than 'shooting day'...

Absolutely. First stop when scouting is the breaker box (you hope it's not a fuse box). We generally go around and label the outlets (A 15 amp, B 15 amp, C 20 Amp, etc...) so grips know what outlets are on what circuit. Just have to remember to remove label if the plug later winds up being in frame for some reason.

It's actually really rare for a 1K to come out on a typical household interior (for me). Fighting a window that HAD to be in the shot would be the only time I could even conceive needing something that big in anything but a very large space.

 

[David G. Smith]

By the same token... 2 1K's will be 2K, will overload the 15 Amp circuit... and 2 750's, that is 1.5K may be 'dicy', especially with ballasts and startup... so figuring out what plug is on what circuit is needful and needs to be done on 'location scouting' day, rather than 'shooting day'...

That is definitely a problem. There is also the issue with your electrical distribution. Even if you are running off of a 20 amp circuit you can have some difficulties if you do not have 20 amp rated power strips or cube taps. I just ran into that on a shoot where I kept popping the breakers on my power strips. Luckily I had enough 20 amp circuits to evenly distribute the load (and end up using all the stingers I could get my hands on). I am now shopping around for 20 amp rated power strips, anyone know of some good ones?

 

[Sniper1154]

Hey guys,

These are Colortran 8" Fresnels. Not 100% sure of the exact model. The owner says that they can use the following bulbs:

1000 Watts BVT 3050 Kelvin
1000 Watts BVV 3200 Kelvin
1500 Watts CWZ 3200 Kelvin
2000 Watts BVW 3200 Kelvin


So, essentially they can use 2k bulbs, 1.5k bulbs, and 1k bulbs. I highly doubt more than one would be used as a 2k light. The others would pry just be serving as 1k lights that I could use for larger areas.

The seller has four of these, and I think that's probably overkill for my needs, but he's only wanting $200 for the set of them. I figure it'd be a good cornerstone to build my kit around (willing to hear if that's not such a good idea if I'm being foolish, too)

So, I see Edison adapters and I've tried to find them on Amazon, but it seems like this: http://www.amazon.com/Conntek-Adapt...344634037&sr=8-1&keywords=220v+edison+adapter is the only one I seem to find and it looks like the OPPOSITE of what I need. Anywhere you guys could suggest?

Like I said, I'm just diving into the deep end with lighting and trying to go through all the stickies and what not. I'm figuring a 1k with an assortment of 650w and 250w would be more practical; however I'm concerned this may be too good of a deal to pass up?

Thanks again for all the help guys.

 

[David G. Smith]

Hey guys,

These are Colortran 8" Fresnels. Not 100% sure of the exact model. The owner says that they can use the following bulbs:

1000 Watts BVT 3050 Kelvin
1000 Watts BVV 3200 Kelvin
1500 Watts CWZ 3200 Kelvin
2000 Watts BVW 3200 Kelvin


So, essentially they can use 2k bulbs, 1.5k bulbs, and 1k bulbs. I highly doubt more than one would be used as a 2k light. The others would pry just be serving as 1k lights that I could use for larger areas.

The seller has four of these, and I think that's probably overkill for my needs, but he's only wanting $200 for the set of them. I figure it'd be a good cornerstone to build my kit around (willing to hear if that's not such a good idea if I'm being foolish, too)

So, I see Edison adapters and I've tried to find them on Amazon, but it seems like this: http://www.amazon.com/Conntek-Adapt...344634037&sr=8-1&keywords=220v+edison+adapter is the only one I seem to find and it looks like the OPPOSITE of what I need. Anywhere you guys could suggest?

Like I said, I'm just diving into the deep end with lighting and trying to go through all the stickies and what not. I'm figuring a 1k with an assortment of 650w and 250w would be more practical; however I'm concerned this may be too good of a deal to pass up?

Thanks again for all the help guys.

Yes, for that price it is worth it. You won't regret buying them. Shoot I just bought 4 used 6" 750 watt Fresnels for about that... and I am very happy with them.

 

[David W. Jones]

Just received a 2K off ebay that I'm miffed about. The seller left chunks of wood and nails in with the packing material which caused damage to the light.
I sure hope they step up and do the right thing!

 

[David G. Smith]

David, I am sorry, that sucks. I hope they do step up for you.

I just bought some Altman 6" 750 watt (Max) Fresnels with two sets of 4 way barndoors and they are in great shape. They are designed for stage lighting and I am putting the TVMPs adapters on them this evening. I am very pleased with them.



EDIT:

Not to thread jack, but I have another 6" 750 watt Fresnel with 4 way barndoors that I have had for over 15 years and gotten some great use out of. I have tested the photometrics on that one (Which made me snatch up the 4 new lights) and thought I would share it. To the OP, the lights that you are buying should give you a lot of versatility.

 

[Paul F]

Hey guys,

...

So, I see Edison adapters and I've tried to find them on Amazon, but it seems like this: http://www.amazon.com/Conntek-Adapter-Straight-Female-Connector/dp/B001H9TSEW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344634037&sr=8-1&keywords=220v+edison+adapter is the only one I seem to find and it looks like the OPPOSITE of what I need. Anywhere you guys could suggest?

...

It depends upon how you plan to use the lights. I'd suggest you not use an adapter. It's just another place to drop voltage and lose power. Change the plug from a twist lock to a conventional 120V plug. The twist-lock is of little value when using this light on location in houses. But if you plan to use the lights with stingers with twist-locks, then perhaps the adapter is the way to go. You decide.

If you decide to swap plugs, buy one that is rated for 20 amps at any hardware store.

How to wire it:

Take the twist lock plug off.
There are 3 wires (at least there should be)

Green - Connect the green to ground. Ground is the round or U-shaped blade
White - Neutral - Connect to the silver colored screw.
Black (or red) - Hot - Connect to the gold colored screw.

 

[Moseph]

Looks like Paul beat me to it.

So, I see Edison adapters and I've tried to find them on Amazon, but it seems like this: http://www.amazon.com/Conntek-Adapt...344634037&sr=8-1&keywords=220v+edison+adapter is the only one I seem to find and it looks like the OPPOSITE of what I need. Anywhere you guys could suggest?

The adapter you need can be made for probably $25 with parts from Home Depot or any electrical supply place. All you need is a male edison plug, some 12/3 AC cable (your choice for length), and a female twist lock plug.

With the 12/3 cable, strip the insulation about an inch and a quarter off of the entire cable and half an inch off of the individual wires, on each end (you might need to strip more, but do this just as a starting point.. Twist the wire strands up really tight so that it can be pinched by the screws you'll see in the next step without falling apart. Disassemble the male edison plug and connect the black wire to the smaller contact on the right, the white wire to the larger contact on the left, and the green wire to the ground contact. I'm not sure which contact is which for that particular twist lock plug but if you disassemble one of the ones from the lights, you should see which colored wire is going to which contact. Take note of that and connect your 12/3 in the same way.

OR, you could just throw out the twist lock connectors that are hooked up to the lights all together and put an edison plug on them. Then, if you want to take advantage of a 20 amp twist lock outlet, get the Amazon adapter.

 

[bclighting]

I'm a bit late to this thread but I just wanted to point out that your standard Edison connectors by nature are only rated for 15amps. There is a good chance that if you used a 2k lamp in a fixture with an Edison connector that can plug into any wall outlet you could very well melt the connector. A proper 20amp Edison has the two blades at 90deg to each other.

This is why in the film world Bates 20amp pin connectors, also known as stagepin connectors, are used on 2k fixtures. In the theater world, the stagepin and L5-20's are used on conventional fixtures. The latter is used primarily in schools while the stagepin is used in professional theaters.

 

[Moseph]

I've used plenty of 2k fixtures that had regular edison plugs without the horizontal neutral contact. The extra 1.66 amps has never caused any major problems like that. The plugs could have been rated for 20 amps though, those aren't as common as 15 amp plugs but they do exist in the same shape.

 

[Pickthorne]

The plugs could have been rated for 20 amps though, those aren't as common as 15 amp plugs but they do exist in the same shape.

No they don't.

If you decide to swap plugs, buy one that is rated for 20 amps at any hardware store.

The OP will be looking for quite a long time, if you intend for him to get something he can fit into a household socket on location.

I say that if you are about to post electrical advice, and you find the yourself typing any of the following (nothing personal, just noticing in many posts lately):

"I'm not sure which contact is which"
"You can do it that way, I've never had a problem"
"Just drill extra holes in it for ventilation"
"Dollar Store"


​

...then do not post. Sorry to sound ornery here, but dispensing misinformed electrical advice and burning up time, equipment, location and limb is just the height of rudeness.

 

[David W. Jones]

On my 2K light fixtures I have Edison plugs on the ones I run 1500w lamps in. I keep bates connectors on the units I have lamped at 2K. For what it's worth I have used both 10-3 soow and 12-3 soow with Hubbell Edison connectors on 20 amp circuits with no ill effects.

 

[bclighting]

No they don't.



The OP will be looking for quite a long time, if you intend for him to get something he can fit into a household socket on location.

I say that if you are about to post electrical advice, and you find the yourself typing any of the following (nothing personal, just noticing in many posts lately):

"I'm not sure which contact is which"
"You can do it that way, I've never had a problem"
"Just drill extra holes in it for ventilation"
"Dollar Store"


​

...then do not post. Sorry to sound ornery here, but dispensing misinformed electrical advice and burning up time, equipment, location and limb is just the height of rudeness.

Amen brother! I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way.

 

[Paul F]

The OP will be looking for quite a long time, if you intend for him to get something he can fit into a household socket on location.

Indeed, it was a dumb thing for me to say. Houses in my neck of the woods are more commonly wired for 20 amps. But certainly, that is the exception. Having a light wired with a 20 amp plug would make it quite useless.

Thanks for the clarification.