Ok, you guys are obviously not reading my posts.
Ah’, but since it’s my own pet speciality in the industry, here we go.
Simply said, stop using the FEL. In a general search short of having model numbers to the fixtures, the lamp probably is rated for both of them in wattage. The reason I would not continue usigng it is the FEL lamp by way of
filament is more like a MFL
par when being used for a spot purpose than a lamp of any directed beam of light. The
filament size is large while the efficiency is fairly low. The FEL is old school in use for times when normal EHD/EHG lamps were not intense enough. It’s also second generation in lamps after
incandescent ones, and we are about into the fourth. The lamp exchanges bulk wattage for
filament “point-source” usefulness in efficiency when used.
This would also be a reason why newer fixtures don’t use this lamp. Better lamps, more refined filaments that also allows for more refined optics on the
fixture.
Beyond this
filament size and efficiency, more modern lamps take advantage of 115v verses 120v operating characteristics on a typical lighting
system where after a
dimmer and long cable run, it’s doubtful you will be still seeing 120v at the
fixture. Given a 120v lamp that will never see this
voltage, why have a lamp rated for it given “amber
shift.?” Amber
shift is what happens when the lamp does not operate at it’s rated full
voltage and thus it’s dimmed down to something less than that even if at full
intensity on the
dimmer. With Amber
shift, since the
filament is not warming up as hot, it than is much more amber in color and
intensity.
The 115v lamp on the other
hand given a
base average of 118v to the
fixture operates over it’s rated
voltage most often. This means that while the lamp life goes down in being more expensive in some conditions to use unless the long life version in balancing this, it’s also operating with a hotter
filament than what it’s specs are rated at in providing much more
intensity and
color temperature. This in addition to a smaller and more efficient
filament that allows the optics of the light to
send out a more efficient and refined beam of light.
Long story short, according to the adds, it’s a 575w. FLK/HX-600 lamp that looks as if it’s a 1,000w lamp in these fixtures. This is in part due to the better optics on the SL and Shakespeare type luminaries they were designed around, but on older fixtures, it’s only putting out about 800w worth of light. Certainly not in say a
Altman 360Q as much as a 1Kw FEL in it. (Note the
360Q was never rated for this wattage of lamp.)
The look of a 800 or 1,000
watt lamp is also because of the higher luminous output of the improved lamp, plus it’s operation at an over-voltaging condition. These in addition to the smaller
filament size meaning more light gets directed out the front of the
instrument.
In comparison for older fixtures you ask about, the 575w. FLK looks in many ways like a 750w EHG, or a 575w. GLA long life lamp given the GLA is a third generation technology smaller
filament size in being more efficient than a FLK much less EHG. They might match up to a FEL lamp somewhat in output, but only because the FEL has a large
filament with much of the light provided trapped by the baffles in the
fixture. At best, let’s say the FEL is worth a 900w lamp in these fixtures that is using up 1,000w in
power and turning that last 100w in heat. Such heat destroys lamp bases, wiring and thin pieces of aluminum like reflectors.
Since such lamp details about specific lamps optically in caparison not on my part scientific study, such lamps compared to each other are estimations on my part with what is going on with the lamp and optically. My intent is to make it understandable this opinion of the FEL I have.
Remember that there is a difference between apparent
intensity most retailers will cite in calling the 575w FLK as bright as a FEL and actual light produced even after
voltage drop considerations they factor in. The 575w lamp simply is not going to be able to produce as much light as a 1,000w. also
halogen lamp in reality. The standard FEL is rated at 120v for 27,500 Lumens. The FLK at 115v is rated for 16,500 Lumens. Again due to the lower
voltage at the
fixture, you will probably never see 120v/27,500 lumens from the lamp. Much less once the larger
filament in the
fixture has it’s light hitting the
reflector, much of the light will be directed into stray directions instead of focused out the front.
On the other
hand, since the FLK is burning hotter and beyond this, it having a more “
point source
filament” in being more efficient, it will by way of a hotter
filament, and the slight over-voltaging on it become a brighter looking beam of light. This is both due to over voltaging and higher efficiency. This color (temperature) appearance when more blue... higher
color temperature while it does not reflect the actual light produced, is still brighter in it’s nature. What is brighter, a
halogen lamp off a
Leko, or a follow spot lamp? Intent with a follow spot - at least those not also using FEL lamps, is to be brighter than the surrounding
stage lighting. The follow spot often is not lighting up the target more, it’s just a brighter beam of light.
Ok, we have a 575w lamp that appears to be doing the job of a 1,000w lamp at least in being more efficient. At least in a
fixture that takes advantage of the refined optics of the smaller
filament. For your fixtures, a standard FLK/HX-600 on paper won’t be exactly as bright as these 1Kw FEL lamps. It’s going to be often close enough however and given the Wiko brand FLK, cost almost half as much as a FEL.
Something mentioned on Stagecraft list a few days ago was the little kernel of knowledge about lighting of yesterday not needing to be as bright as lighting of today. This means that your fixtures will have given
halogen based fixtures been designed to fit a EHD lamp, than go EHG in wattage for brighter lighting. The FEL by yesterdays standards was an over-rating/over-kill of the
fixture for use in stuff that needed to be even brighter than the rest of the
stage. The white light of a
halogen lamp as opposed to that of a
incandescent light was also seeming to be white as opposed to by todays’ standards the dim
incandescent of yesterday in comparison to the FLK.
In other words, the
incandescent lamps of the 40's
thru 60's were pleanty bright for those standards. Fixtures were improved along with lamps to fit a more efficient
halogen lamp these FEL lamps are a part of. Now we have at least a third generation in technology in having a smaller more efficient
filament and a lamp that works at a
voltage closer to what it will be given.
In other words, second generation lighting fixtures in a world that wants to have third and fourth generation lights doing the trick. The FEL lamp has become a sort of standard sort of in forcing more light out of the
fixture that’s really designed to put out a much
dimmer light due to yesterday’s standards. Still, pop later third and fourth generation lamp in a second generation
fixture, and it will often outshine the much higher wattage second generation lamp. Might even outshine a third generation
fixture if you have what I
call a end of third or early forth generation in technology lamp in these second generation fixtures.
This
HPL/FLK series of lamp is third generation. Given today’s standards require higher intensities, just as with the 500w EHD lamp having the 750w EHG as a alternative, the 575w FLK lamp also went 750w in having more punch. These 750w improved lamps now have the punch of a lamp over 1Kw but a little less than 1.2Kw. Given this lamp’s better output, it will in a second generation
fixture you cite, have the same output about as a FEL if not much more due to the refined
filament.
For this
fixture the GLD/HX-754 lamp will be a high output lamp very similar to the FEL only it will have a better
color temperature, smaller
filament area meaning more light will actually get out of the
fixture, thus more luminous
intensity given improvements in technology. The long life GLE/HX-755 than will have, or should have about the same at 750w,
intensity or at least
color temperature adjusted seeming light output as a FEL but last much longer. There is some doubt that there will be the full
intensity, but as with a
stage full of even
incandescent lamps, and the audience used to it’s
intensity, once you have all the luminaries replaced with the long life 750w lamps, you will get used to the
intensity. Given these are long
throw lamps, the 750w range of either long life or high output would probably be best to use. Use the FLK as a minimum for shorter range lamps, and the GLE for the long
throw.
On even better yet lamps than the above, we get into a seeming late third or early fourth generation in lamp improvements over that of a
incandescent stage and studio lamp. The Color Command
fixture for instance as mentioned elsewhere on the forum I think, uses a lamp that’s similar to the GLD, but much better in output. Otherwise at 575w, the Osram HPR lamp has a little piece of metallic
reflector stuck inside the
bulb. While simple and a seeming cheap thing to do, it really improves the efficiency of the lamp by 15 to 20% as advertised. In other words, consider the ellipse shape to a
reflector. Consider that hole in it’s
reflector given the lamp has to get into it somehow. Now consider that internal
reflector in finishing the arc of the
reflector.
Even on a second generation
Altman 360Q series of
fixture these
Colortran and
Strand lights will be similar to, you now have a more efficient lamp both in
filament and finishing the
reflector’s arc to a more perfect ellipse
reflection.
One of my pet projects since I was raised around them is in defending the
Altman 360Q series of
fixture as being more than ancient crap. Good
fixture, once you pop a HPR lamp into one, it in comparison to a
ETC S-4
fixture, the
Altman due to a less efficient optical
system will have a less balanced beam of light, but still you can see the second generation fixtures’ light beam inside that of the third generation S-4 beam of light given the same wattage. The
Altman 360Q in a test kicked the rear on a
ETC S-4
fixture.
Given this new about fourth generation of lamp - the HPR 575/115v, we now just about have a lamp that easily in
color temperature but also in output could no doubt be just as bright as a FEL lamp for only 575w. Don’t know for sure, and have not tried it, but it sounds a reasonable observation.
Beyond this is the 750w Color Command lamp the Philips #6981P, that with it’s small
filament and high efficiency probably will outshine a FEL lamp due to even more output than a GLD and a more efficient
filament than a FEL. Given even it operating hotter, this lower wattage of lamp than will save money and
dimmer space and preserve the adverse effects of heat on the
reflector or
fixture more. Given a Shakespeare verses
ETC S-4 assumed to be the same type of
fixture in general, and the
HPL 750w/C being about the same lamp as the GLD, the Color Command lamp in a Shakespeare
fixture will out class the
ETC fixture in
intensity and output.
ETC thus once realizing that the HX-600 lineage of lamp is no yet dead no doubt will put extra pressure on the lamp manufacturers to improve the
HPL lamp in becoming more efficient.
Unfortunately the patent on the #6981P lamp is held by Philips as a brand and in having a bad experience with rated lamps for fixtures and licences with their removable
heat sink to work with S-4 fixtures,
Leko Lamp GLA/GLC which would work both in a S-4 and Shakespeare both, it was never accepted by
ETC thus they eventually discontinued the lamp. So much for a standardized lamp. Philips recently finally just bought the rights to manufacture a
HPL lamp. They are now producing a 1990ish version of the
HPL lamp, perhaps much better than that given improvements to pinch seals but in being late in the game lacking the
ceramic heat sink. The removable
heat sink GLA was a good lamp, just never accepted.
Given the GLA/GLC Philips at one
point came out with that had a removable
heat sink so you could use it on any
Leko, I took the sink off one and tried a FEL in a S-4
Leko fixture. This is how I can verify that the FEL is just a big wattage huge
filament lamp, but not efficient. A 1Kw FEL in a S-4
fixture next to a 575w
HPL lamp in another S-4
fixture. The
HPL had no problems in outshining the FEL. Could not even get a good beam of light out of the FEL lamped
fixture.
In any case, the FLK is a better in general lamp to the FEL. Better in efficiency, much less you can have four per 2.4Kw
dimmer as opposed to just two. In these long range lights will they produce the same output? No, other than
color temperature it won’t be as bright due to Lumens in light.
If you find it necessary to have as much or more a
intensity as a FEL, I would go #6981P Color Command lamp as a direct replacement. Otherwise I would go with the GE/Thorn GLE/HX-755 lamp in a longer life but hopefully similar output lamp. Hmm, 300 to 375 hours verses 1,500 hours, at some
point you have to balance lamp life with output needs. You can always go Color Command lamp, but first try the long life GLE lamps.
Otherwise one might try the Osram HPR 575w lamp first even before the GLE. If it is not bright enough, you could use these test lamps for your shorter range
Leko specials in providing a cleaner
image on Gobos. Well worth the investment as such lamps are supposed to provide a great
image. Have not tried a
gobo on such a lamp much yet. Only done so once but it was on an opposing side of the
stage to the one with the FLK. The
fixture with the
pattern that was lamped with the HPR did a nice clean
pattern still. Just could not confirm if better than that of the
fixture with the FLK.
Given the HPR is more a start into the fourth generation in lamps, and Osram is working on a long life equivalent that will eventually replace the Philips GLA as the best long life best lamp possible for second, much less third generation fixtures. Osram in their new HPR lamp with complexities in just inserting a
reflector into a lamp is developing a long life equivalent but beyond this is also having problems with inserting the
reflector into a S-4
HPL lamp to date. At this
point there is no expected
HPL lamps with internal reflectors possible.
Osram HPR575w lamps like the Philips #6981P 750w lamps in having highly efficient gas/
filament mixtures. Much less the HPR with that ellipse completing internal
reflector. These lamps are the next and most modern generation in technology up until the
point where
halogen gas even when supplemented by xenon gas becomes some form of liquid filled
incandescent lamp such as used on the most modern of
projector lamps at this date, and will in competition with
LED lamps, be the next generation of
incandescent lamps TBA. For your second generation luminaries, I recommend these two fourth generation lamps to replace the FEL. IF these fairly short life/high output lamps are too short in lamp life to be efficient, than I would either go with a Wiko brand of FLK in something that’s cheap but fairly efficient for another short life lamp, or a Philips GLA lamp for a long life lamp that will have a little less output but 5x the life. Otherwise in 750w, the GE/Thorn GLE.
Directly answering your question also, Osram some time ago came out with the FEL-R, #54582. It’s discontinued but it in having a internal
reflector also, it’s a fore runner to the HPR lamp and would have that 15 to 20% more efficiency as a direct replacement to the FEL lamp. They also had the FEL-HR lamp #54584 which while not discontinued is a IR-heat lamp. Great stuff for doing UV-Light as an option but also something that given it’s a heat lamp will probably fry the
fixture. Other than these two versions of the FEL, there is no other improvements. The FEL like the EHD, EHG and newer FLK in my opinion are dead lamp lines and 10 years from now will no longer be made by many companies. Because no other companies offer improved FEL lamps, Osram it would seem is a leader in FEL lamp technology even if in earlier years and no longer made. Given they discontinued the FEL/R, there is no hope of a upgrade elsewhere.
Review closely these lamps above. Remember the Philips 750w #6981P or Osram 575w HPR lamps for high output and about the same life as the FEL lamp. Otherwise, in possibly closer matching the FEL, go with the GE/Thorn GLE/HX-755 lamp in having about 2/3 the output but a lower
voltage and 5x the life. Too bad Ushio stopped producing the HX-800 lamp, it was better than the Thorn version yet.
Otherwise in second generation lamps, at least there used to be the 1Kw, Osram #54590 at 2,000 hours in life, and while still the next best, still not as much as the FEL. Today as with many other pre-HPR lamps, it’s gone. I seriously doubt there will be any further upgrades. You can go 1.2Kw if absolutely necessary but why bother, it’s not necessary.