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Converting light fixtures


JLEvents

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Suppose my first question is can this be done? The fixtures in question are isolution irock 6b's bought from eBay and advertised as the 150w discharge but when I got them they were 250 elc and just not bright enough. Now before someone asks why I don't just send them back to the seller, I could he's agreed to take them back and refund me but I still think I've got a bargain (2 for £160). so back to my original question, can it be done? If so is it something I could do myself or can you recommend someone around Liverpool / North west that could do it and would it be expensive?

Thanks again!

Lee

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In my personal opinion it's not worth the work even if the parts are available.

lamp cost

igniter cost

ballast cost (magnetic of electronic

replacement reflector

replacement fan

etc etc

 

Is a conversion package available from the distributors?

 

after all that you will still have an old scanner with old motors and bearings. If the firmware isn't set for dong a strike cycle then it may not even work after you do all the work.

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Theoretically, you could change the fixture to accept a HID lamp. Depends on how co operative your Acme wholesaler/ distributer it with parts. (I know my one is very co-operative!), As they will have all the parts for the HID version, even new chips with the firmware on it. But you have to weigh up the costs of all these new parts, and the cost of a brand new HID fixture. (Oh and don't forget to add something for all your effort, it may work out cheaper, but if you have to invest 12hrs of labour, is it truly worth it? !)

 

Jivemaster, I highly doubt there would be a simple conversion kit available, as the IRock line of fixtures is again on of these things made in China by the squillians. If anything you will have to buy all the parts separately, and use a bit of know-how to put it all together. I would expect there will be holes already there to accept new brackets and alike, as they would just use the same basic metal work and casing, but just slightly different internals.

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it can't be that expensive to convert can it?

 

Although it would be an interesting project, I doubt if it would be that cheap - you have to buy ballast, ignitor, capacitor, lamp and lamp housing, wiring harness and probably a new control PCB - well beyond the economic value of the lights, and of course you may have a problem if you later wanted to re-sell them as they would no longer meet their original design spec.

 

And even if you did succeed, the 150HID lamps aren't significantly brighter than the ELC 250W lamps - if you want the bright versions, you need the Irock 7B with the MSD 250/2 discharge lamps.

 

If I were you, I'd be happy with my Ebay bargain, and fit them with the best quality ELC lamps I could get. And remember, filament lamps do have some advantages over HID, such as not having to wait 5 - 10 minutes after a power failure before you can restrike them...

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They are significantly different inside. The fan-cooling arrangements for discharge lamps are very different (and much more important) than for halogens. You might be able to bodge a discharge lamp into the unit but you will be creating something very dodgy and prone to overheating/burning, don't do it!
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I agree with the last poster - an LED conversion would be much more interesting, and if it works should be a lot safer - and more cost-effective in the long term - however, you will still have to spend a fairly significant sum to get a worthwhile result - remember you need a hefty multi-channel constant-current driver for powerful LEDs, so I doubt if you'd have much change out of £100 for 90W LED and suitable driver.
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