Lighting kits on home electricity

C

Captshiznit

Member
Hi guys, quick question really, I live in the UK and was going to be buying 2 arri 650w fresnels and an 800w open face halogen light. Is it possible to runs these at home? I'll be doing work at home with them mostly, I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't be a problem. I don't think it will at least i've seen guys on youtube running 3 800w redheads off UK home circuitry but wanted to make sure, thanks!
 
That should be fine if you have a 16A circuit and turn off all your appliances except the fridge.

P=VI
total watts = volts x current (amps)
total watts = 240V x amp rating on the breaker

for a 16A circuit = 3840W total (16A is a standard breaker here, pretty sure it's the same there but check your breaker to be sure, it's written on it)

Bear in mind fridges, aircon, appliances on standby etc will be on the same circuit so you have to take that into account. If you have multiple power circuits you're laughing. Although there's no easy way to work out which power point belongs to which circuit. Sometimes the washing machine power point will have it's own circuit.

Rule of thumb, 3x 800W redheads is probably the most you would want to go. I've been known to throw an extension cord over the fence to use neighbours power for a couple of extra lights (with permission of course! And be extra careful not to overload their circuit if you ever want to do it again). You probably don't want much more than that just on the grounds of heat. Your 2x650W and 1x800W will probably generate more heat in a room than central heating. I just got a pair of 4x55W biax to supplement my fresnels. The most I've used off the house circuit is 2x650W fresnels + 2x220W biax + 3x150W fresnels for 2190W. That's a lot more light and a lot more control than my 2x 800W redheads (which I don't use anymore). I bought the redheads initially because they were cheap but I pretty much haven't used them since I got the fresnels.
 
divide the wattage of the lamp by the supplied voltage = amps

800 watt redhead divided by 240 volt line power = 3.3 amps
 
Consider these:

http://coollights.biz/metal-halide-hmi-c-29.html

You'll never have to gel a window to match them as they are daylight balanced

The 150 puts out same amount of light as a 650 but uses one third the power. You can run all 3 on one circuit with room to spare

They put out a fraction of the heat so are more comfortable on the talent.

You can get a bulb to match incandescent light




Downside: 5 minute restrike time
 
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