Flickering Wall Lights

[Mort2376]

Not sure if this should be here or in Lighting, but here goes.

 

We are doing Blythe Spirit in June and the set is now up and decorated.

 

Am going for 3 fixed wooden wall lights and a central wooden chandalier ( which is going to drop and the lamps explode at the end )

 

I am looking to make the lamps in the wall lights and central light flicker as the house is being attacked by the ghosts.

 

Anyone got any ideas on how to make this happen. I am a qualified electrician, so flickering lights is something I try to remove ! ** laughs out loud **

 

I have seen a video on the net about using flourescent fitting starters, but some thing about that doesnt sit right and while I am more than happy to trip the fuses in my house testing it I am just seeing if anyone has any ideas before I go down that route.

 

Cheers in advance

[Jivemaster]

Yes selected starters in series with the load will cause flashing -BUT always flashing and erratically. Better that you look at programming the flickering into a chase on your lighting desk if it supports things like this.

[Don Allen]

Running the wall lights from the desk and dimmers is better as you can have the wall lights on normally for earlier cues and then have them flicker when desired. Program a cyclic chase with different timing steps or use a flash button if your desk has them and get your operators to do their own timing.

[paulears]

In the old fader days, you could have the lights on a fader for full on, normal level, and a flash button for the same channel, then you could flicker the flash button, and lower the fader which brought on the flickering gradually, and the fader at, say, 50% prevented them going out which looked better - adjust the fader to taste and you are away. If you programme in the appropriate fade to the the flicker level, and do the button stabbing manually, it works nicely. If you have the spare dimmers, then multiple circuits and button per finger makes the effect more random looking, and you can even produce sequential flicker if your fingers are good!

[Mort2376]

Cheers for the replies. The desk is a basic 12 channel manual desk with no programs. I like the idea of them being on the desk but the hall has no spare capacity. May have to be creative with a push to break switch in line with the main wall light switch !

 

[alistermorton]

You can still do as Paul suggested as long as the desk has flash buttons. If not, you might be able to flick the fader up and down really quickly?

[Don Allen]

If you have the skills and are competent, or have a friend that can build it safely, you can build a box with a flickering flouro starter effect for the moody bits and use a single channel dimmer or a domestic lighting dimmer for the conventional control. Use a double pole double throw break before make switch to feed the wall lights from the dimmer or the flicker circuit.