My reply to all posts so far so it got long.
Big question on these fixtures would be if you are able to service these fixtures properly without sufficient supervision. I would not recommend taking them apart at all without someone experienced in doing this type of thing to supervise it. The school would probably also feel that way. While not as easy, it might be more cost effective in a legal type of way to hire someone to service them or
send them in for service.
Fixture to
fixture wise, the two are for the most part the same and interchangeable. Slight differences in beam spread noted. Len’s noting of the 65Q reflectors with the little disc in the center are a sample of this interchangeability. Older reflectors often are deeper, could be having to do with the larger
filament, never thought about this, or it could be a slightly different
bench focus requiring the deeper
reflector. Doubt in mixing new with old reflectors you will be able to tell the difference at least in old fixtures getting new reflectors. Might be a factor on new fixtures.
Same lamp as long as the wiring has been upgraded and the lamp
base is in good condition - no matter what
fixture we are talking about. Inspect the bad lamps for damage especially to the center contact each time the lamp is changed. Possible to re-surface bad lamp bases but often best to just buy new ones. Use of a bad lamp
base with a new lamp is a quick way to prematurely kill off the new lamp.
The reflectors should be fine on the old
fixture with a modern lamp, age and wear of the reflective surface will be the main factor in them not being as efficient or even retaining heat and wearing out no matter what lamp was used. Most older
Fresnel reflectors were made of thicker materials which would take heat better, but mind you sometimes the
reflector will need work or replacement on older fixtures due to wear. Sometimes you can silver polish them up and even buff them to a fine luster, other times not so much and you either live with what you get or replace it. Did write up a post a while back on a service
call to many similar Fresnels.
If the paint is in good shape, leave it alone. If not scrape what is coming loose, clean the
fixture and use high temperature paint only.
Aluminum handles on a 65Q I would not think unusual if an earlier version of the
fixture. Not all modern things were available when the
fixture was upgraded - most as with the
reflector changing over the years also changed over the years. Good way as with paint to judge age of the
fixture.
Take a photo of the “
Leko” it will be easier to determine what it is.
Part #06-0371 is the hinge pin - a double sided 6-32 screw with acorn nuts at the bottom of the
lens door which lets it hinge open. Don’t think there has been much of a change to that part over the years other than what people replace them with when they loose one.
Where does the PC
fixture question come up? Am I missing like half the posts in this section?
A PC without a
reflector - I know them so well. Worth it to
wire a
stage pin connector on one in general also as with the above depends upon the condition of the fixtures wiring and condition of the lamp
base. Yes if it is a similar
fixture to the ones I know they still make the lamp. No it was not designed to have a
reflector on it if it is a “box spot” the lamp itself was too inaccurate in seat height and
filament to efficiently reflect it I believe. Yes you can still get a decent beam of light without a
reflector out of it. Did a few posts over the years both on Fresnels and Box spots. The
globe lamp is still available, it is a 400w
incandescent medium screw lamp under the name of 400G/FL and is a G-30 lamp. Decent lamp - the same lamp you would use in a 10"
scoop.
I have three version of the PC box spot, five
in one brand and one of each of the others. Four of the ones that are alike I converted into MR-16 fixtures in still using the
lens. They are now the primary work lights in my garage/workshop. Took a
bit of tweaking to mount the MR-16
lens at the exact focus for the
lens but afterwards the 50w/12v 50 degree MR-16 lamps I’m using are at least as bright as the 400w G-30 lamps without their reflectors.
This all assuming without photos that any of these fixtures we are talking about are what we think they are. I also own three other types of PC
fixture and it’s not even the extent of types available or that I have seen. Even seen some 4.1/2" Major PC fixtures that had reflectors and options of either
Fresnel or PC. Sometimes especially with the better PC
fixture, a
reflector was available as an option. At times such fixtures can be useful but your design intent should have a need for the style of the light they put out. Did one show lit in a scene by PC fixtures, it was great - gave the exact
effect I was looking for. Wouldn’t be bad to have in the active inventory as long as they are in good condition, otherwise as long as they are not rusting away, made into safe condition for storage. IF putting them into storage, it would be best to spray down everything with WD-40, wipe off the excess and either bag the
fixture in a
clear plastic bag or put the
fixture somewhere safe and clean for a future generation to use or not.
Same also with assuming the Fresnels in question are 65 and 65Q. Many versions and brands out there, I have seven versions currently and none are 65Q or 165Q. Six of seven don’t even date to 1970. Many are similar in shape but have differences such as instead of the
lens portion opening, there is a door atop it
etc. Short of photos it is difficult to get into details about the condition of the gear or what it is.
Overall answer to the first question, lamp/care guide... yearly service and cleaning calls where wiring is inspected,
lens,
fixture and
reflector are cleaned (ways of doing these and past discussions on doing so), initially the fixtures are given a service/
safety inspection by a qualified person with them. Than afterwards while using the BLT/BTN series lamp, all bad lamps if not the lamp
base by way of flash light and inspection mirror are inspected for lamp
base issues such as corrosion and arching each time a lamp is changed.
Lightingguy32, your reflectors are much cheaper to replace than the entire
fixture. To the best of my knowledge, the S-4
PARnel is not the same as a
Fresnel - it is a different animal. You would not be doing the school a service by replacing a
Fresnel with anything. Doing a service to the school would be making these Fresnels in good condition and adding to the inventory with the other types of
fixture.
Leaning towards the BTL is the best option. BTN would be for longer
throw distances, a need for more output
etc and only in a
fixture that is in really good condition. Both will work, the 500w lamp will have a
bit less heat which will keep the
fixture in optimum condition longer. There is also a 1Kw version of these lamps. The BTR is the same lamp type designed for the for the most part open faced
beam projector of the same generation. Possible that in the above cracked / melted reflectors that BTR lamps were installed in the fixtures at one
point by mistake (similar to people installing FEL lamps in a
Leko), this as with possibly cleaning the
reflector with something that left a residue which retained heat could cause problems with a
reflector amongst many other things.
Again, I highly recommend a service
call for these and all fixtures by a qualified service person so as to access what needs to be done - it’s not just slapping some new paint on them or changing a
reflector.