A use of a
fixture other than for its intended purpose and any modification to it defeats the UL listing of the lighting
fixture. On
foot lights - they are more specials in not really being used for good normal illumination - more for
effect and perhaps outside such as in your situation a
bit of
wash in compensating for fairly
flat angle if not high top rear lighting otherwise available. Do you need
foot lights as per a design or help from them so as to illuminate the
stage and perhaps correct for some
beam angle problem? What specific type/product of
fixture is intended to be used - this would help much in understanding what you intend to do.
Ordinary lawn
fixture means many different types of things these days other than a classic exterior Bell type lamp housing for a
PAR 38 lamp with a steak in it’s bottom. Can you refine what specific
fixture type is intended if not this type housing? After this, further refine the tin can
reflector - this assuming that the standard Bell type
ground steak
fixture doesn’t have one thus any
reflector added to it by theory won’t do anything. Instead, it’s a
fixture that relies on say a
PAR 38 lamp’s internal
reflector to do the reflecting. Is such a concept more a
top hat to catch
spill and more focus the light or reflect the beam of light in which case one needs to know what specific
fixture it is and how the tin can is expected to act as a
reflector.
On stands.
You state the poles 1" dia. With a tri-pod
base 6' in dia. of some form say of collapsible stand that’s hopefully sand bagged or staked down than barricaded around to prevent the audience from tipping them over if they get rambunctious. Nothing of the height that the stand reaches to or extends to for
fixture height given you have given the height of the
stage but not
throw distance or
throw angle. Two separate concepts of discussion, 1" pipe with a 6'
base of unknown height, verses 2' or less
stage with unknown
throw distance, angle and height. One is the design part, the other mechanical part.
How can you protect them from rain? You cannot. No matter the
fixture, either it’s exterior or you are using one suitable to get wet as a temporary or not so bad exposure type of thing. A classic
PAR can can get drizzled upon, if the rain gets too bad or the exposure too long, I would not want to touch it but it most likely if serviceable in a safe way would work fine in a storm. Grounding being a separate issue than protection of the
instrument and it’s ability to safely function while wet. A
PAR can wont’ work safely in a pool of water but potentially could work just fine during a storm as long as you are not focusing it. The
ground is path of least resitance to you getting electrocuted from it - it has little to do with ability to work while wet or the concept of some hot/
neutral/
ground shorting by way of water.
Most outdoor lighting is either weather proof or has a
scaffold tent about it to for the most part protect it from rain as much as possible. At times also, say a indoor use follow spot would tend to have a dropcloth over it while not in use. No real such say Technobeam condoms for a simple say spot or flood light. Could put your fixtures in rain domes such as Eco Domes used for many modern moving lights but such a concept is probably cost prohibitive. Have a plan for shutting down if it gets beyond a drizzle or the rain/drizzle lasts too long.
After the show, rain or shine, clean the fixtures and give them a good service
call. This even if only a
PAR can. Electrical
contactor clean the lamp and it’s lamp
base after the show at least if not wipe it down, blow it dry and oil it. Dependant upon wetness, sure if the show is stopped drape the fixtures in plastic or
strike them and service them so as to prevent rust. After that, plastic melts readily - ever see what happens to a folded bunch of
visqueen that gets layed above a 400A
feeder cable run at capacity by mistake? Not pretty.... this much less it run across and around a
Leko say.
Should be fine to use up until the show gets cancelled by way of bad weather. Nothing really to note other than all connections to your cable - the plugs need to be kept off the
ground and taped and or bagged. A few years ago I was the un-lucky one that had to repair all the
multi-cable that got blown up really good by way of a concert in Central
Park by
Sting. Something about lots of mud and water penetrating the water resistant
Soco type
plug. We had liquid solder once the innitial short started and it was followed by total melt down inside the
plug of all phases. Yep, definately don’t want to be pulling your connectors out of the mud and water. Rule of thumb code or not from what I’m aware of in practice is to electrical tape solid all plugs so as to keep water out, than even beyond this, a plastic bag around the
plug is used. This in additon to even if cable tying to a short 2x4 piece of lumber, the cable and especially the
connector is kept out of the water. Very important that no matter the type you keep the plugs off the
ground and protected. A
fixture up in the air is often less to worry about than a
plug under water.
Again, a more question of the show must go on no matter how now under
ground the plugs are and how wet the fixtures get verses what stopping
point and comfort
level you get to before you
power down the
system and
call it a night in having that plan of striking what's essential verses what can survive a night of getting wet. Ever deal with the after effects of a lighting rig that got left up during a hurricane? Yep... been there... lighting
system in essential gear was struck but at some
point what was left hanging if not even packed in sealed
road boxes that got filled to the brim with water was not fun to replace. A
PAR can is an amazing thing, it works when raining sufficiently. All parts on it tend to rust afterwards but it works. A
DMX line will work but get corroded later while drying. After care being a concern.
This much less a specific noting and permission to use and maintain the gear after the show by the administration. It is their
call to use gear that's indoor rated or light exposure at best rated on a show by way of
safety and balancing value of the gear and show verses the importance of the show.
Safety of the people attending the shows is fairly nominal as long as grounded and the gear is kept out of direct exposure to extended use under water. Even water resistant cable is only water resistant with an exposure
rating. This being a say type SOOW cable as opposed to SO which is not water resistant.
Admin checks off on the gear and you protect it by way of other than direct rain by way of under water, protect the
plug connections from sitting under water by way of at least say 1.1/2" above the
ground pavement or grass and all for the most part is fine if the show gets stopped before it gets beyond the mud pit
stage of gear under water.
An amazing thing in a cool way to see rain drops boil off the top of a say
PAR can. Not gonna hurt any gear in an un-safe way if light rain but something to watch.
