kennethpaulsharp Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Has anybody purchased any of the budget par 64 LED lanterns on used lighting.They look like they should be ok for what I need but have any of you guys used them.Please only give some opinions if youve used these lanterns.Thanks :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baldwin Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I've bought about 20 of these over the last three years. They're good value, and I'd buy them again. The quality is perhaps not up to a long world tour, but it's more than adequate for lighter use. They're now shipping with a Schuko plug fitted to the lantern, and a good quality captive (by 2 screws) moulded Shuko - 15A adaptor. It's a little bit bulkier than a 15A plug would be, but I can't see it causing an practical problems - we've not had any difficulties with our latest batch yet. Cheers, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete LD Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I have had sevral off them and have no complaints. Again not world tour stuff but Im seeing more and more Pro venues with "budget" pars. DTS and the Encore ones that stage lx sell are everywhere and there all the same.I would say there not all that good if you stick a scroller on them as the tilt locks give up after a bit!!Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_the_LD Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 This may be a stupid question pete, but why would you want to stick a scroller on an LED PAR!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete LD Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 This may be a stupid question pete, but why would you want to stick a scroller on an LED PAR!?Yes its a stupid question Tom! Have you never put a scroller on a LED Par!! everyones doing it its the latest craze!. Get with the times!!Ok so I need to learn to read! I was talking about par 64s...... But to reply to the opp I also have some LED pars from Lighting Partners! there very good for the price apart from the blues varies way to much between units and you cant point the unit down with normal XLRs in the back of it! Im off to make a scroll of diffrent frosts NDs and CTs to fit to on my led pars......... Thanks Tom for pointing that out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Need Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 They're now shipping with a Schuko plug fitted to the lantern, and a good quality captive (by 2 screws) moulded Shuko - 15A adaptor. It's a little bit bulkier than a 15A plug would be, but I can't see it causing an practical problems - we've not had any difficulties with our latest batch yet. Cheers, Tom I would wholeheartedly suggest you guys didn;t used the Schuko to 13A moulded adaptor supplied with budget equipment like above - most of the ones we've seen SHOULD NOT BE USED unless it's for a quick test. There is a SEVERE DANGER they will start arcing and may cause a fire. Best advice is to chop off the schuko and fit a UK standard plug. Please - BE CAREFUL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmeh2 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Hi That's a really bold statement, considering that most standard (or 10mm clear) LED Parcans draw a little under 50W, even at full load. You'd need a hell of a lot more current flowing before arcing would be a problem. Personally I think the 15A plug is more of an issue, as there would be the risk of someone sticking them into a dimmed power source rather than hot. My recommendation would be to stick a standard 16A CeeForm on them and make sure they each pass a full Class 2 PAT test. All the bestTimmeh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Need Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Bold indeed - but would you prefer to hear about people who have been hurt using them - or want to shout at someone for being BOLD!? So many of these adaptors we have seen and tested ( 70% have failed a PAT test, mainly due to a bad or non-existant earth and 90% are not CE marked or comply with any BS standard) and one last thing to mention they have ALL come fitted with a 13A fuse. ( how many people have changed them for say a 1A?) As I said above - the best best is to change for a standard UK Plug. 13A, 15A, or 16A. Call me BOLD as often as you like :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDP Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 (takes a deep breath, counts to 10 then posts) That's a really bold statement, considering that most standard (or 10mm clear) LED Parcans draw a little under 50W, even at full load. You'd need a hell of a lot more current flowing before arcing would be a problem. No, anything 'flowing' at 230V or 110V which is on at the time of connection is suseptable to arcing.... Personally I think the 15A plug is more of an issue, as there would be the risk of someone sticking them into a dimmed power source rather than hot.Not really. As ever a well labeled system and people who know what they are doing will not have any problems. Some companies even run their Hot power on 15A!! And what about the companies who have everything both dimmed and hot on 16A, of which there are a LOT. My recommendation would be to stick a standard 16A CeeForm on them and make sure they each pass a full Class 2 PAT test. Errr no. See my comment above regarding the 16A. YOU WOULD NEVER DO A CLASS 2 on an LED Parcan!! Its metal, if you look at how they are wired, they have the earth CONNECTED to the shell. I rest my case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 That's a really bold statement, considering that most standard (or 10mm clear) LED Parcans draw a little under 50W, even at full load. You'd need a hell of a lot more current flowing before arcing would be a problem.Hmmm... ©Actually, the key point is that under normal conditions the LED pars draw very little current. However under fault conditions ANY appliance can draw as much juice as the rated fuse can take (and maybe a little more for a very short while) and with the 13A fuse fitted as 'standard' as paul points out, that's certainly when I'd be concerned about potential arcing on non-standard UK connectors. And if you're worried about them getting plugged into a dimmer outlet with a 15A plug on, then stick a 16A ceeform on (many venue's choice for hard power) or maybe an IEC... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willpower Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I've bought a fair few of these from this company, and they work really well. Don't use them for white light, as the light tends to be very blue-y, but for adding colour and effects to generic rigs they do it well and are a lot easier to maintain than scrollers (though they could never replace...). I would suggest swapping the Schuko plug on them if getting them from Used Lighting, aside from the adaptors supplied not being safe, apparently, they tend to be fairly unreliable as the connection inside isn't great. Easy enough to put a 13A plug on, and well worth it to save the hassle! Will Reason for edit: Me being unclear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tokm Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Hmm while all the points on these dodgy schuko adaptors are valid.. I think people are still a bit confused or talking about the wrong product. The OP was talking about the budget LED parcans that LP (used lighting) sell. But as we saw, some people read his post wrong and thought we were all here to post comments on the budget par 64's.. Well done to Tom for noticing that one and commenting! I doubt LP supply 15a adaptors for the LED cans they sell.. Probably are with they're budget par64s though! Perhaps someone should give them a ring and see what response they give. Maybe they're aware of the problem already and fitting these adaptors was only done for a short time. The problem I've seen with most of these clip on 13a to schuko adaptors is they're really designed for Class 2 devices and only have a plastic earth pin. One could only hope LP aren't supplying these and were at least trying to supply something suitable a commented on above.. I wouldn't know though, I get my cans from somewhere else :P. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willpower Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 The problem I've seen with most of these clip on 13a to schuko adaptors is they're really designed for Class 2 devices and only have a plastic earth pin. One could only hope LP aren't supplying these and were at least trying to supply something suitable a commented on above.. I wouldn't know though, I get my cans from somewhere else :P. These are the exact adaptors Lighting Partners supply. I know for a fact they have a large draw full of them, and one goes out with every LED parcan they sell, and quite possibly other lanterns with schuko plugs on... I have seen dimmers from them with it too. Having said that, the dont fit them for you, but provide them for you to fit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Need Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 The problem I've seen with most of these clip on 13a to schuko adaptors is they're really designed for Class 2 devices and only have a plastic earth pin. One could only hope LP aren't supplying these and were at least trying to supply something suitable a commented on above.. I wouldn't know though, I get my cans from somewhere else :P. These are the exact adaptors Lighting Partners supply. I know for a fact they have a large draw full of them, and one goes out with every LED parcan they sell, and quite possibly other lanterns with schuko plugs on... I have seen dimmers from them with it too. Having said that, the dont fit them for you, but provide them for you to fit... If they use the same people we buy our budget LED Pars from then they shouldn't send them out FULLSTOP!We have a bucket load of them upstairs which come with Showtec equipment for example and we would be FAILING our customers if we sent them out as some of them would assume they were safe and suitable - and I say again - how many people who do not know - would think of changing the 13A fuse for somethineg more suitable for a 8-50w unit? Not many! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biro Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Ive been using the Showtec LED PAR64s for about a year now and never had any gone wrong. Quite a few have had rather bad batterings but have not failed yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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