Dressing Room Mirror Lights

[Ynot]

OK - not really a stage lighting issue, but here goes.

 

We need to replace the existing lights around our mirrors, preferably with a low voltage option. There was, I'm sure, mention a while back of someone who'd used a certain product, but I can't find it...

 

Any ideas? Or can anyone point at the old thread I can't see?

 

Cheers

Tony

[Jamtastic3]

what about the ones you can get in Ikea - I know they do batten style lights for bathrooms. Or just the bulb fittings and wire them up together?

[Ynot]

what about the ones you can get in Ikea - I know they do batten style lights for bathrooms. Or just the bulb fittings and wire them up together?

Now I'm a little more awake, a bit more detail.

We handle a LOT of dance schools and 2 or 3 dance festivals plus 3 pantomimes. This means there are a LOT of kids regularly in the dressing rooms. Any system which has removable bulbs (as we have now)potentially exposes live connections to prying fingers. The setup we currently have is nearing 20 years old, and was installed when few children were expected, and quite honestly is well past a state of good repair.

 

I've also had comments from adults who, while they want the light, don't want the heat generated by lots of bulbs in a small space.

 

They also need to be a non-fluorescent source, as it's preferred to have a light that approximates the colour temp of theatre kit.

 

I've looked at the Ikea battens (silver tubes with your normal shaped domestic style lamps) but they are easily removable and thus undesirable. Looked at the catalog for the local elec wholesalers and there are a couple of possibilities, but always open to ideas.

 

CheersTony

[Andrew C]

Two thoughts.

 

Use standard holders, but with a sensitive RCD (10mA - 10ms). I've used the "stab-in" holder system in the past. Rubber clad, steel cored twin cable, with holders you place anywhere along the length that have insulation piercing pins on them.

 

Better yet you can get batten holders that are "switched". No lamp - no volts. More work to install though.

[Ynot]

Use standard holders, but with a sensitive RCD (10mA - 10ms).

Even with sensitive trips, any prying fingers would get a belt, and no matter how small that would be, it'd cause dance-mom to have a fit! Also RCD's wouldn't be much protection against a finger across both pins!

I've used the "stab-in" holder system in the past. Rubber clad, steel cored twin cable, with holders you place anywhere along the length that have insulation piercing pins on them.

Yup - used those many times - festoon lighting - same problem as above, though.

Better yet you can get batten holders that are "switched". No lamp - no volts. More work to install though.

Not sure what you mean here - the whole circuit would be switched anyway, but even if each holder were switched, it's still possible to be switched on with no bulb..... maybe you mean something different?

[Pete]

I read that as when theres no lamp in, there's no voltage accross the holder.

That correct Andrew?

Although I'm not sure Ive ever seen such lamp holders.

[Andrew C]

Not sure what you mean here - the whole circuit would be switched anyway, but even if each holder were switched, it's still possible to be switched on with no bulb..... maybe you mean something different?

RS Stock no. 361-0335 Just in case the link to RS doesn't work, that's Stock no. 361-0335. As Pete says, no lamp, no power on the pins, the rest stay lit.

 

The point with the RCD is that while they may get a belt, they don't die. They may also learn a valuable "Life Lesson"!

 

I've thought a bit more about low energy, and can't see a way forward; Compact PL is the wrong colour, LV halogen are going to be painful on the eyes around a mirror.

[Ynot]

As Pete says, no lamp, no power on the pins, the rest stay lit.

Aha! That makes more sense. Still got the heat problem when lit, tho... (Actors - they do moan so....!)

The point with the RCD is that while they may get a belt, they don't die. They may also learn a valuable "Life Lesson"!

Hmmmm... Fancy explaining the niceties of that theory to a kid's mom after said child has just wailed through the green room rather loudly??

Don't think so!! :blink:

I've thought a bit more about low energy, and can't see a way forward; Compact PL is the wrong colour, LV halogen are going to be painful on the eyes around a mirror.

Yup - I know - hence the problem.........................

[Renny]

You could always get a nice big 24v transformer and step the whole thing down. 24v GLS lamps are easily got as they are standard on barges etc. But as I said it should be a big transformer depending on how large the dressing rooms are.

[Bryson]

Ours are custom made from conduit and standard lampholders at a spacing to our direct specification. They're the best one's I've ever seen.

 

But they are 240v, so maybe not what you want.

[MarkPAman]

Something like this may do the job. Probably not: would be expensive, and may not give off that much light. :blink:

[p.k.roberts]

They also need to be a non-fluorescent source, as it's preferred to have a light that approximates the colour temp of theatre kit.

 

Accurate colour temperature florries are available and are used increasingly in TV lighting, but obviously there is a price premium.

[Pete]

As Pete says, no lamp, no power on the pins, the rest stay lit.

Aha! That makes more sense. Still got the heat problem when lit, tho... (Actors - they do moan so....!)

 

In that case may I suggest http://www.show-communication.de/products/thomas/blinder_8_lite_DWE.JPG?

 

Offer them the lamps round the mirror or that behind they're head!

 

EDIT:Damn my spelling

[David A]

in West Australia we make a 'U' shaped perspex cover and fit this over the lights, this is not my original idea, just what we usually do, and it works fine.

[landy]

RS Stock no. 361-0335 Just in case the link to RS doesn't work, that's Stock no. 361-0335. As Pete says, no lamp, no power on the pins, the rest stay lit.

 

I have used them in the past. They do break easily when used as a 60W coat hook and can break to expose the live bits. On balance a good thing. RS did have a stock availability problem a while back (they were discontinued for months on end) As for actors and the heat they will complain regardless in my experience! :blink: