Halogens won't blacken when dimmed for the most part necessary for discussion. 45 and 50
Watt Halogen PAR 38's could work dependant on wattage and
candlepower needs if still available - lots of
PAR and R lamps off the market. It's an interesting question on fronting the cost of
LED dimmable
LED. Removal of the Roundell probably won't be a problem and in fact might be a good thing to leave in use. Don't think I would worry about cooling on such lights. While a specified beam spread, the beam is still a
bit more narrow as it comes out of the
LED lamp than that of a
filament lamp. This beam is coming out of a few narrow center sources and within the first few inches is more intense than that of a
filament /
halogen part. Could burn
thru gel faster in going
LED over sticking with the
roundel. Given
LED's are more of a pure color, gelling colored versions won't have good results, and in general it's possible that even in a white light version you will suffer from
intensity some.
Drop off and dimming in general on dimmable
LED's will cause problems dependant on brand in needing some R&D but it's a good concept in the above strip light solution. You will probably need a dummy
ghost light load on the dimmers of about 75 watts to make the dimmers preform properly, and even than long term use on dimmers could show problems in lamp life. Old school analog dimmers as a thought if you have them might have really good results.
Your thoughts are not old school or going cheap... you are cutting
edge in making gear you have work again as per design of them in your situation. After all, anyone can do used
mini-strip MR-16 or micro strip MR-11 and lamp them down to 12v/35w or even used
LED cyc - there is lots of older
LED gear that would be bright enough for your needs. But Strips, wish I still had some (were I still doing shows) made magic with them. AT work instead for a work table light I have a 5-lite Mole Richardson
PAR 36
audience blinder I retrofitted for
LED. Works great and on its swivel arm, when ever someone at the
Leko prep dpt. shines their lights towards my department, I just turn it on, pull it out and swivel it back to them. They get the idea in a
LED audience blinder now shining back at them.
A technical concern about wiring,
asbestos and lamp
socket condition of what you have in strip light. Charred lamp sockets can be fixed or replaced,
asbestos wiring inside it is a large problem if there, and if sending the
fixture off to be re-wired you can go four
circuit if wanted for fourth color as easy enough to do when wiring but it will spread the beams apart more. Strip lights are very flexible in what you are going to do with them but often what you find available will need work. If bad lamp sockets especially - while fixable, a bad lamp
socket will easily destroy a perfectly good lamp quickly.