A
PAR can is a bad replacement for a
Fresnel. It's a good supplement but bad replacement.
I disagree with any student replacing the whips. students should not be anywhere near the
fixture while being re-wired.
The fixtures should if possible be saved by way of sending it to a service company willing to do so if you can find one, or at very least the
whip cut off and put into storage for a later day. In doing so, the
plug on the
fixture should not be attempt to be saved, one snip and all of it right into the trash bag.
The interior wiring should be left in place without touching. At such a
point it might get re-wired, a analysis of the condition of the lamp
base will need to be done to see if such a lamp
base is cost effective to attempt to save verses like with the
plug easiest to just
throw away once removed. They once the
whip is cut off and
fixture put into storage with perhaps even a caution sign on them, should not be touched further. Not worth the time nor money verses the health risk in saving the
plug. Otherwise should your instructor wish to
tackle the problem that is his or her business and simple enough once the
fixture is cleaned from stray fibers inside te
fixture.
By far different liability and pre-exposure
level to such
insulation already in an adults life than that of a student. Given this is a 20 or 30 year old problem, there is no reason for students not even a twinkle in the eye to be exposed to it by way of servicing the equipment. Difference being that the instructors are adults and will be making their own choice and likely have been living with such problems a while now or making adult and legal choices on personal exposure. As a student - no matter college or high school, or even employee in being told to but not instructed how out of a direct
safety program, you are other than correct in doing so.
Were I an instructor I might given lots of study on the subject. In my past days I was even re-wiring bad
asbestos with new
asbestos heat
wire - who will have thunk it? Now I do at times service equipment with
asbestos. This after a lot of study into it and only by way of work asking me if I will before they accept any such job. You will not find many places that will re-wire gear with
asbestos whips that also know what they are doing.
Given this, perhaps an
asbestos abatement company will be willing to remove the whips and clean the fixtures for you in providing you equipment that is ready to re-wire. This is probably the most reasonable and feasible cost effective choice. One might contact and inquire with such a company in getting a estimate. Should you need, contact me off
line and I will furnish a list of steps they would need to do in giving you a bid. This method should you wish to save the fixtures I recommend.
In past posts, it on a
fresnel was possibly - no matter how antique the value more cost effective to dispose of the equipment and buy new. You can buy a used
Fresnel for about the same if not less money as you can pay someone to remove it from the
fixture.
Finally, while in contact with the
asbestos removal company, inquire in general their thoughts about cleaning the theater by way of rough estimate. Think about it. One is worried about breathing in the stuff you have in use. What about those particles that you don't breathe in? What happens to the
asbestos dust that has piled up for the last what 30 or 40 years off even these whips?
While not attempting to scare, in reality, the theater itself and especially it's catwalks might be just as dangerous if not more so as the fixtures by way of past fallen off now dust you stir up every time you move about.
Have a nice day!.....
This is a serious problem in theaters beyond just replacing the fixtures, and one that's doubtful how many places have considered solving.