Altspot 1000

[jwl868]

I have at Altman ALTSPOT 1000 follow spot (which appears to be identical to a 1000Q) that is about 20 to 25 years old, and it gets used occasionally (like maybe once a year). It still works despite the neglect/ lack of use. A couple basic questions:

1. The plug on the power cord was replaced before my time, but the job can charitably be described as half-assed. I need to purchase a new plug and replace it. Any recommendations on the type of plug? And does it matter which wire goes to which plug prong? (I mean other than the ground…) [The spotlight has a fan.] (Though I suppose I can just pay attention and make a note when I disassemble it.)

2. For some unknown reason, the color changers have been taped together on the inside of the spot light, so they are no longer functional. Any idea why this would have been done (like storage or transport)?

3. Any specific preventative maintenance for this spot light? [I searched CB and found a good general answer by Mayhem and ship already for a similar post.]

[I downloaded what I could from the Altman website about the 1000Q including an obsolete brochure about the Altspot 2100 (circa 1957), which strongly resembles the spotlight I have, though the 2100 has a few more features.]

Thanks

Joe

[avkid]

Originally Posted by jwl868

1. The plug on the power cord was replaced before my time, but the job can charitably be described as half-assed. I need to purchase a new plug and replace it. Any recommendations on the type of plug? And does it matter which wire goes to which plug prong? (I mean other than the ground…) [The spotlight has a fan.] (Though I suppose I can just pay attention and make a note when I disassemble it.)

You could use almost any 3 prong 15 amp plug, depending on what kind of receptacles you have available.
Edison, Twist-Lok etc..
Take a picture, and put everything back exactly where it was.

[JD]

Q1000's will probably outlive us all! My guess is it uses a FEL lamp? (bipin, mounted Horz from the back) If so, the draw is about 10 amps when you throw in the blower. Almost any plug will do. White should go to the silver blade or (wider of the two nowadays) and black to the smaller brass colored blade. It will work both ways, but in theory the white is neutral and should be used as such. As for general maintenance, The iris is probably working fine. If it needs lube, use graphite powder. Most common problems on those were people stripping out the handle on the iris by twisting it too hard. Other than keeping it clean and making sure you airflow is good, its a real workhorse. I have no idea about the color boom. The 1000's used a friction boom as compared to a self canceling unit. You have to play with the tension on those a bit until you get the feel you want. (There's a spring and nut at the one end.) Good luck!

[ship]

As with the above, do a total service call to the fixture. Check the wiring (have someone help supervise that has experience with wiring) check all parts of it for rust and damage. Stuff like broken castings or stripped set screws.

A note, before you move or remove anything on them focus rods - if it has them, take a metal scribe and mark the origional location that item was at and take notes of what you remove and where it goes.

Why taped together, who knows unless to prevent moving perhaps if broken. Been a few years since I ripped apart a Q1000, they are fun fixtures to get bench focused. Potentially possible to upgrade them to a 1.2Kw fixture - there is a lamp available that should work with more output. By the descripton however, I have no basis of knowledge about it. Take photos, I have some fairly old Altman dealer catalogs and perhaps it's listed with the various specs to work from.

On the what wire goes to where, if working on gear, you are now responsible to know what you are doing especially electrically with it. Responsibility is a huge thing beyond black to gold and white to silver screw terminals. You need to know electricity and optics and wiring standards. Time to start learning wiring. Start with two books, first on stage lighting - a book that goes into details about lighting fixtures more so than lighting design, and a book on basic electrical wiring. Read both cover to cover with perhaps only speed reading thru sections like motors or other similar things not needed at this moment but sufficient in need that you got an idea in quickly reading about while not completly studying.

Two types of book to read before you start tinkering with the gear. It's very necessary as with supervision. White lithium grease also for the slide rails and moving parts if not TriFlo will after that become a good friend.