Strobe tube failure protection

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Archive 2010 · Strobe tube failure protection

Mark Peters
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p.1 #1 · Strobe tube failure protection

Ive seen many threads about safety cables, marker cones, etc. However, I haven't seen anything about protecting again possible tube or capacitor failure.

When I mount strobes, I am just clamping them to a balcony railing above the lower stands. Having a small explosion would be bad enough from the noise perspective, but if a tube were to go, I'm concerned that hot shards of glass would broadcast into the stands. If a capacitor goes, I presume it's dripping molten insulation and oil out of the case.

I'm more concerned about the tube failure as no one should be directly below the light if it were to drip something, but there could be a lot of people in front if a tube were to blow.

Are any of you taking any specific steps (beyond carrying a couple million in liability) to protect against either of these events? Would there be serious heat buildup issues if I were to fashion a plexiglass shield which was zip tied to the reflector? My other thought was to form a shield from window screen, but figured the loss of light would be pretty steep.

Feb 07, 2010 at 06:21 PM

Derek Cecil
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p.1 #2 · Strobe tube failure protection

Get a piece of Lexan (high-end plexiglass) from Lowe's and drill some small holes in it for ventilation.

See this article for reference:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/81

Not sure what to do for a blown capacitor, but to have one actually open up and leak oil would be highly unlikely. I work on air conditioning units and the only time you get a cap that actually blows open is when the unit is struck by lightning or you have a massive power surge, and those are huge caps. They usually just expand and bulge. They have very thick metal shells. If you get that kind of power surge, every light in the gym will probably pop.

Feb 07, 2010 at 11:29 PM

Mark Peters
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p.1 #3 · Strobe tube failure protection

Thanks for the link. I did find that later in the day, I'm trying to figure our how thin I can go and still have it effective - and how best to cut it without it splintering. I've tried cutting plexi before with less than acceptable results.

Feb 08, 2010 at 12:31 AM

Derek Cecil
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p.1 #4 · Strobe tube failure protection

The thinnest stuff they have should be plenty strong. There isn't much mass in glass shards like that, so it isn't going to go through it in a blow-out.

You may be able to get them to cut it for you. I know what you mean about plexi-glass being very hard to cut decently. The thinner stuff is a little easier, but you still get a ton of chipping without the right tools.

Feb 08, 2010 at 12:47 AM

msauk
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p.1 #5 · Strobe tube failure protection

Man I did that last year, it was without a doubt not as easy as I thought it would be lol

I went through 2 plexiglass panels because I broke it while cutting. Just be careful as that stuff is sharp

Feb 08, 2010 at 03:45 AM

Derek Cecil
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p.1 #6 · Strobe tube failure protection

It honestly wouldn't hurt anything to leave the sheet square. They had pre-cut squares last time I was there that would be pretty close to what you'd need for a reflector.

You may also want to check a glass shop. They might have some scraps they could sell you and be able to cut them to size, if Lowe's won't cut it.

Feb 08, 2010 at 05:05 AM

glort
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p.1 #7 · Strobe tube failure protection

I have never heard of a flash tube actually exploding and can't think of a mechanism that would cause it to happen.

I did have some Mono heads that used to blow capacitors on the first shoot you used them after they came back from repair. I finally pulled the things apart myself and uprated the caps and then they were fine.

They will pop but there is nothing to cause anything to exit the flash casing nothing to worry about on that front.

Feb 08, 2010 at 05:58 AM

dmwierz
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p.1 #8 · Strobe tube failure protection

Believe it or not, flash tubes do explode.

I think one of our members (Romeo Guzman from Orlando) uses thin "Lexan" (not sure if this is real Lexan or just clear plastic - thin enough to bend, and thin enough to be cut or drilled with hand tools) to protect his strobes. I believe he bought it at a camera store. Romeo, you around?

Feb 09, 2010 at 02:29 AM

Romeo Guzman
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p.1 #9 · Strobe tube failure protection

Dennis, you are correct, I picked up 4 clear plastic sheets from my local hobby store. The sheets were 17"x 17" thickness is .030, you can get them thinner but the next thickness down was just to thin.

I laid the 11" reflectors on top of the sheets to make the out line, cut with scissors and a hole punch, 1/4" drill bit to do holes on reflector and I put 3 1 inch holes towards the top part of the plastic for ventilation, zip tie to reflector and you are done. Lexan does sell the same sheets but they only sold it by 4x6 foot sheets in my area.

Stay warm
Romeo

Feb 09, 2010 at 02:26 PM

msauk
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p.1 #10 · Strobe tube failure protection

Romeo,

Would love to see images of this, also any online you could post of the actual product you used?

Feb 09, 2010 at 03:17 PM

Mark Peters
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p.1 #11 · Strobe tube failure protection

I bought a 12 x 24 sheet of lexan (3/16 approx) for $11 at Home Depot. Im going to try cutting with a fine hacksaw blade in a jig saw.....wish me luck.

Feb 09, 2010 at 06:22 PM

Romeo Guzman
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p.1 #12 · Strobe tube failure protection

Matt, I will try and find my pics of the reflectors with the covers on, here is a link the problem I was having trying to find a 12x12 inch sheets, a lot of places carried 9x12 or you can order from a plastics place but the ones local would only sell 4x6 foot sheets they would cut, but price ranged from 125-200 bucks per sheet. Colonial Photo and Hobby in Orlando was the only place I found that carried in 17x17 inch sheets and they don't stock many sheets. Anyways if you have a large hobby shop that has all those remote control planes and cars that would be your best bet http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/k+s/k+s1306.htm?source=frooglewould

Mark, that was my first attempt, trying to cut the plexi glass in a round shape was tough, one wrong slip and the glass shattered, the next problem was drilling the holes near the edge to be able to zip tie to reflectors that kept cracking (was using a Dremmel), last problem was drilling the 1/2" holes for ventilation same thing one wrong slip and you had cracks. The link above was the best solution I was able to find and the easiest. I was able to put 1" holes for ventilation and not cracking.

Good Luck

Romeo

Feb 09, 2010 at 08:30 PM

msauk
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p.1 #13 · Strobe tube failure protection

Romeo,

when I did mine I just moved the cut in an inch for the ties (between plex and reflector to tie them together)

Feb 09, 2010 at 11:50 PM

Mark Peters
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p.1 #14 · Strobe tube failure protection

Romeo,

That sounds like my prior experience trying to cut plexi - which also has the nasty habit of melting back together behind the cut. I'm hoping that the lexan will give better results. I talked with the local glass shop - a band saw would work best, (but I don't have one), but a fine tooth hacksaw blade in a jigsaw is supposed to do a good job as well. I also plan on covering both sides with masking tape (over the protective film) to cut down on chipping.

Feb 10, 2010 at 01:10 AM


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