First of all, no normal light should be burning a
gel in 20 minutes, no matter what brand they are. I would say there is something abnormal about the
unit in question; lamp burning extra hot, bad
bench focus,
etc. Secondly, and more to your question, it depends on the model of the
instrument. While, yes,
Selecon is now known as
Strand Selecon, this is just a re-branding by Philips (which now owns both
Strand and
Selecon). In everyday use, the names
Strand and
Selecon mean completely different things. Besides that difference, there are also different models within each brand. When you think of the low heat
Selecon, you are probably thinking of the
Pacific Series of ellipsoidals. These units do have very good heat management. So good, in fact, that you can use normal transparencies for gobos.
Both
Strand and
Selecon make quality instruments. The latter not having really made much headway in the American market, yet. Everyone can have their preferences, but I find it hard to say that there is any one manufacturer that is objectively better than the rest among the big honchos.
-Tim