Been using HX-600 lamps in Altman 3.5Q5 fixtures since Robert Altman sent me a care package including one that was Pre-market along with some other stuff due to a letter of complaint I sent Altman in while in college and needing some parts for a store front theater show’s lights I was attempting to fix at the same time as the Shakespeare was coming to market. Big rush at Altman to get the fixture out in time for that year’s LDI (or was it USITT) thus some small theater’s need for parts to fix a Leko or two fell to the wayside until LDI was over. Robert Altman personally called me in my dorm room in finally getting me between classes to apologize thanks to my snail mail letter. Needed these parts to get one more Leko up and running, they didn’t come thru. I was but a in college punk kid still in comparison to the owner of a lighting company that had won the Widget of the year for the lamp he just finished all effort in designing. Yet the guy still took the time to apologize personally, make rights the best he could and help this college kid understand the concept of such new third geneation Lekos he was in part a key in bringing to market. The theater is a small world and works both ways. Never step on toes but fully expect or try for the world at all times.
No, I never went fishing with the Altmans, and I heard later about some train wreck of Kliel gear that was bought and stamped with the Altman name so as to start the company, yet as a college kid, I was life long impressed that this person might call my dorm room and chat with me more than just a few minutes about theater tech. Speak what you want about the gear - any gear, but person to person, this industry is very small and all in it are as one when it gets down to it. This no matter if owner of multi-million dollar company or college kid between classes talking with him on the phone by way of apology call.
He sent me extra lenses and parts for the fixtures and a original Thorn HX-600 lamp to tinker with. I given this lamp was almost as cool as the guy I went to school with who had a medical grade laser of his own in his dorm room. This was in the days where ISU had put on order like 10 or the original S-4 fixtures but were on a 6 month waiting list for them. Such a HX-600 lamp was totally killer for both show and tell at school and in projecting light out of my dorm room window by way of me taking fixtures home at night from the out of school theater so as to fix and re-wire them. This was what... 1992? Been using the 575w/115v lamp in the 3.5Q5 in them since without any problems. Such lamps will tend to with time burn up your low/normal temperature lamp bases over that of a 500w/120v lamp. Easy enough to replace once it goes bad and standardized in going the more modern high temperature lamp base. Never had a instance over the last what 13 years that a reflector has reacted badly to the lamp or any other parts have problems with it.
This said, the fixture is rated for a 500w lamp. It is UL listed for a 500w lamp - normally a EHD or EHC. Your liability insurance might demand that you use only lamps rated for the fixture. Also on the FLK lamp while I have never had a problem no matter the brand, others I respect won’t buy some brands and in general have found on this lamp all it takes is a good bump and the lamp’s filament breaks. The HP-600 or HX-600/FLK isn’t a very rugged lamp, kind of just high output in being first or following (history is confusing who did what first) the HPL lamp. These are third generation halogen lamps - I would not buy the HX-600/FLK these days. Fourth generation Leko lamps are out there to use instead.
I have never had a problem with HX-600 lamps in this specific fixture now ANSI designated as a FLK lamp. Yes over the years and especially in the past year one by one given the fixtures are at least 15 years old I did replace lamp bases in going high temperature modern ones. I consider that proper maintenance and life of a fixture not overall heat damage to it.
A few years ago, Osram came out with the HPR 575/115v lamp, (it’s a sleeper of a lamp in being one not many use and might some day become discontinued.) I was sent a free play test one by way of filling out a internet survey at the time they were introduced so as to play test it. This is a lamp based off the HX-600 lamp but with a internal reflector that sort of completes the ellipse of the reflector in adding 15 to 20% more light output. Popped it into a 3.5Q5 fixture and have never gone back to any FLK lamps or other types other than when I went HX-400 and HX-401 for the fixtures in a lesser output need for fighting amber shift.
The HPR lamp in a 3.5Q5 right next to a 50 degree S-4 Leko will have a beam of light you can see inside the beam of the S-4. The HPR lamp kicks the butt over that of a HPL. Have not put a “heat sink adaptor” on a HPR and tried it in a S-4 Leko but overall it’s a much more output lamp. The HPR lamp for high output use does away with the famous “Altman dark spot” normal at times to the center of any 360Q based fixture center of the beam. (The 3.5Q series is for all intensive purposes a 360Q series fixture.) Just a totally flat field of very intense light by way of output and a much flatter field of light one can see inside the beam of a S-4 Leko. Did a show where I compared a 3.5Q6 to a 36 degree, while perhaps not correct on beam angle, the punch at 60' out of the 3.5Q6 for a wash topped that of the S-4 Leko also given the same wattage of lamp.
It also did a better job of pattern projection but that’s suspect to more study. If you have the money for a 300hr high output lamp, that’s the lamp of choice for such a fixture. Just had my local theater buy up my old 3.5Q5 fixtures. They when lamped with the HPR outclass or at very least equal the output of the more modern third generation Shakesphere with GLA lamp installed.
The GLA series of lamp is the once HX-602 and HX-603 or was that HP-601, HP-600, HX-604 or HX-605? Depends upon what source you buy such lamps from in what they converted once HX or HP series to the new GLA and GLC standard of upgraded HX-600 lamp. Some of this HX series was once the 230/240v lamps - just hard to lock down which they were. Granted also that Phillips (possibly the best of this lamp type) say they invented the GLA/GLC and are a unique design and not based of any experimental GE/Thorn HX/HP lamp code. (Even once bought some 120v HX-603 lamps which are no longer on the market. Good lamp about equal to that of a Phillips GLA.)
Note. Any lamp starting with a “H” no matter if HX, HP, HPR (reflector), HPL or what ever is not a ANSI recognized lamp. ANSI standards dictate that for any one lamp that’s industry standardized and compliant while there is a range of compliance will have certain common features. This especially wattage/voltage. A HPL lamp can never be a ANSI lamp proper given the variations in wattage, lamp life, and voltage under the same letter code. The ANSI system to the best of my knowledge also stops at the letter “G” at this point and will probably skip over “H,” “I”, and “J” (J given the “Japan Code” a separate topic. Expect future ANSI lamps no doubt to start with “K” in the three letter nomenclature.
The GLC lamp is the high output lamp that’s got a much smaller filament size than that of the HX-600. It’s also a more rugged filament. This is the lamp dejure of the non ETC based light fixture. Small compact lamp filament somewhat similar to that of the HPL and will do pattern projection well due to it’s small size. For pattern projection, one is probably best using a GLC over a HPR due to the more point sized filament. Otherwise I would stick with the HPR for more basic high output work at 575w/115v.
The GLA lamp (especially from Phillips by way of at least a few years ago published lamp specs on the output as being the best - all no doubt similar by now, but GE/Osram/Ushio also make it) is the king of the 575w/115v long life lamps for any modern G-9.5 medium bi-pin lamps these days for long life cost effective use. Let me say this again, the GLA lamp is the best use for all uses by way of balancing output and lamp life. All schools should be using it for the base of light where not special or pattern in a Leko or modern non-ETC based fixture from L&E “Runt” to even HES Color Command can work with this lamp. This no matter if 360Q, 3.5Q, S-6 Shakespeare, SL from Strand, or even most color mixing type PAR fixtures. Very universal lamp type when not paying ETC for use of the HPL series lamp. Had a request the other day for some HX-401 lamps or by way of American DJ S-4 clone PAR speak, what once was listed as a HPL 375/115 lamp by way of them is now more accurately not able by way of patient infringement - not using any HPL lamps. The HX-400/HX-401 (Thorn/GE and Ushio) is also a very good lamp type and just as efficient.
Good and rugged stable high output lamp. Years ago I tested one Phillips GLA with a (discontinued) Thorn HX-603 575w/120v against some EHG lamps. No difference perceivable in testing. (This given those doing the play test for me were not as observant as I will have hoped.) They did start converting their HX-600 based 360Q inventory to GLA lamp on the other hand and have never gone back even with Wiko/Eiko HX-600 lamps being dirt cheap on the market. Wiko as I still call it, now Eiko should have no dogma associated with the brand name, they are quickly joining the club of Premium brand in lamp supplier. For now, often lower prices in lamp is something to consider in say going FLK/HX-600 if much cheaper as opposed to say FLK proper or perhaps GLC proper, or even HPR for high output. FLK/LL as not a proper ANSI designation but advertised as such or more proper HX-601 which would be a long life 575w/115v 1500 hour at 115v version of this lamp could work fine as opposed to a GLA proper HX-603 lamp. It’s a second generation 360Q based light fixture in the case of a 3.5Q type, it’s very possible in going long life third or fourth generation lamp that you won’t notice the difference in type in all being more efficient than that of a EHD.
For the 3.5Q series of fixture, even with more modern high temperature lamp bases and if it’s using the same lamp cap as that of a 750w rated 360Q fixture, I would not go over 575w/115v on a lamp for it. Sure, I know of some 1.2Kw lamps that one could pop in the fixture and there still might be the internal reflector based 1Kw FEL on the market from Osram still, but it’s a small light fixture and will no doubt not have the cooling cubic space sufficient to work with over a 575w lamp. Never tried it, never no doubt will unless in a situation where the light only needs to be on say under a minute in duration. At that point, the amount of heat generated by the lamp in going up to full and really warming up will be of question in what works could work.
In the end, the Osram HPR 575/115v internal reflector lamp should be considered the best high output base of light lamp available on the market for such fixtures. The GLC lamp than after that should be considered in play testing with the above for pattern projection as potentially better for this due to it’s smaller filament. In long life 1500 hour lamps (by way of specification rated for 1500 hours at 115v) the GLA lamp is the best lamp to go for. I’m prone to the Phillips version but have not updated my notes on other brands becoming as efficient recently. AT some point also efficiency in better output is price based. If you can get a lamp for say $12.00 and it dies before it’s time, as opposed to say a $18.00 lamp that might or might not live as long or much longer, perhaps the cheaper lamp could be more cost effective.
Overall, you have a choice in going 300hr verses 1500 hour at 115v for a long life verses high output lamp. Will you note the difference in lamp life given it’s a lamp that normally will live under the control of a dimmer and at best only spend minutes of it’s life at full output?
That’s the balance in high output verses long life most stages have to consider. Many designers raised in the high output world will desire or demand high output lamps and for such shows they design will be sufficient in profit to eat the cost of were one to track the lamps, such lamps taking a spill before that of a long life lamp which loses some in color temperature and output in exchange for lamp life.
Many designers when not offered both in one lighting rig will never notice the difference. Come in from the bright sunny sky and the stage is dark. Sit in a theater with a bunch of incandescent lights when not compared to that of halogen ones and it’s also bright. Put a long life lamp next to a high output one and yep, it’s dimmer. Same as with 115v verses 120v lamps. It’s at times a wonder that the guys in the 1960's and 1970's were able to see their way in the dark much less design huge improved for output shows given the incandescent to halogen upgrade lamps they were using. Was no doubt much similar to that if not even more so than that of the 360Q series to S-4 upgrade importance in color temperature and output but overall magic has been made on stage in lights being bright no matter the efficiency over the years.
For your 3.5Q fixtures, I would say start with the GLA, and only use the HPR as needed but available. Don’t get spoiled in what’s brighter but not as cost effective. A GLA lamp will last 5x as long as a HPR or GLC. On the other hand, be ready that they will not as a lamp live as long as the EHD designed as a lamp type around the fixture. Yep, the lamps will be brighter now but you will exchange lamp life on a more bright and slightly more frequent repairs to the fixture and lamp changes to balance out what the fixture was designed around. The EHD 500w/120v lamp is fine for some classroom base of light use of a 3.5Q fixture. The HX-400 or better yet HX-401 is also a good lamp. In maxing it out, go GLA and save the HPR and GLC for where it’s needed or where such fixtures will be needed in a balanced main stage inventory so as to complete with that of third generation modern fixtures - and even best them at that. The 3.5Q fixture is often best as a short throw fixture. More light out of it is often not necessary. Very nice to do but a EHD lamp is often suitable as long as it’s not attempting to compete with a more modern fixture.
Hope such info or opinion is sufficient. If not ask more = 3.5Q Altman fixtures are kind of my pet fixtures as with pet lamp style. Once one makes magic with a fixture, it tends to grow on one so give me a break in bitching about a long post. Yep, the 3.5Q series is my favorite type of Leko. We are talking about years upon years of experience with them as stuff I own and where ever possible tend to use.
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