Metal halide light setups

I've been looking for these for a while now, but I can't seem to get a clear picture on these at all. Since this is a very general way of lighting, the google search results varied from parking lights to aquarium lighting. I'm curious as to how anyone is using this for detailing. I've seen some of the ones that look like work lights, and it says explosion free which is only a tad worrying, haha. I don't really have $1000 to throw down on some lights though.

How do your setups look? Pictures?

Wattage on the halide lights?

Heat compared to halogens? working under halogen lights for hours to come is a terrible thing!

Price?

Links to some good products?

thanks in advance!

 

DaveKG's and Paul Dalton's are both in housing exactly the same as halogen's. It's all about the bulb/lighting mechanism behind the bulb (IE a ballast in a hid car).

Dunno about other questions.. But I do know they are $$$$$ and that they produce some pretty decent heat.

Edit:

My dad's an engineer.. I'll talk to him about this tonight. I'm pretty sure you can retrofit the housings of the halogen worklight to acompany the MG bulbs and ballasts.

 

I'm keen to know as well...Most of the guys who have these setups seem to remain quite tight lipped when it comes to sharing any info on them :shead:

 

This is what I use. Its a single 400w bulb in an explosion proof housing made by Appelton. Its explosion proof and made for hazardous locations. I cant compare it to a set of halogens but it does put off a good amount of heat. Any decent local industrial electrical shop will carry it. I think I paid around $400 for it.

 

Theyre definitely hotter than halogens.

 

400w is crazy amount of power for what us detailers need. From my 30 mins or so of research this morning, people say the 70w or 150w are more than ample for defect finding.

 

2 x 75w seems to be sufficient but like I said, no idea what most of the other guys are using!

 

I have to disagree with that Aaron. I have 250 watt halogens and 500 watt halogens. The 500s are definitely better for finding defects. Having said that, I like my 200 lumen Fenix more than my 500s . The type of light I think is more important than the power behind it and no none light source works great for all kinds of defects.

 

Dunno....works good for me.

 

Halogen lights and Halide lights are in different leagues. It's like comparing HID xenon lights on cars vs your regular halogen ones.

 

I use metal halite and love them!!!

 

I was talking about 150w Metal Halide lights, not halogens. Yes, the 500w halogens are the best, in that lighting field, for finding defects. But the most popular wattage for metal halide is 70-150 watts. No more is needed.. we aren't trying to light up a construction site here :lol:

I found MH bubls that are the same length as the bulbs in my 500w halogen lamps. I am going to attempt to retrofit some MH lights with the assistance of new ballasts in the coming weeks... we'll see what happens!

Also to add, one 100w metal halide bulb puts out 12,000 lumen compared to my 120 lumen LED light

 

That would probably be the cheapest idea. What I'd your dad say about it working? I would imagine you need more than just the bulbs to do it.

 

I'm looking for a metal halide solution myself but I'm concerned if I did do retrofitting that the casing maybe compromised by the heat that the MH bulb gives off.

DaveKG's MH light looks amazing and I totally want one

 

He said it's worth a shot. After looking at my halogen's that I bought.. they have the same essential things a MH setup does.. ballast, igniter, bulb, housing.

And what's great is the MH bulbs I found online SHOULD fit perfectly in the halogen housing. Won't find out 'till I order it though. Will keep this thread updated when I order. But I'm only going try one housing first and see if it works before buying for both.

 

What's funny--in my research today. I found what looks like the EXACT same light he has.. and it's affordable too! ~$100 (56GBP).

... Bad news is they only ship in the UK. Maybe it's worth calling/emailing..

 

Aaron, make one for me and bring it to Toronto!

I also want you to warranty it for me lol If it blows up on me you owe me a buffet of some sort.

 

Got a link for me?

 

I'll take some if it works!

 

I'm curious but what's the current (I) requirement of MH bulbs? Are they much different than halogens?