Halogen PAR/Gel Questions

[Worshipastor]

Hey All,

This site has been a great resource for our church! Time to stop lurking and get in the mix here.

We have just installed commercial track PAR 38 lights above our stage. These are not the theater type PARs as they do not have the built in gel frames. It wasn't my decision to do this, I pushed for the theatre lights but....So here I am wanting to add gels.

We have 8 floods and 6 spots on a 25 foot wide stage (approx. 10 ft deep). The coverage is not bad. I have the spots on the musicians and the floods just washing light (screaming for gels). These are 90w halogen bulbs. I have a thought of using the FRP gel frames attached to 4 metal spring steel clips which, in theory will fit into the PAR cans.

How far away from 90w halogens do I need to be with the gels? The lights are recessed about 4" from the outer rim of the can. I want a sealed can, so I want the gel as close as possible to the can. Or....should I just be happy with colored halogen bulbs...with limited colors.

Thanks for the replies in advance. Does anyone have experience attaching gels to non-theater/stage lights?

[Esoteric]

At least 8".

Mike

[Worshipastor]

Thanks Mike...It would be easier to do the colored bulbs then.

[jthtiger]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

At least 8".

Mike

8" really? With just 90W bulbs, I'll bet you could get away with 4". They put gels 8" from 1k pars, don't they?

[EmilBarnabas]

Try it at 4" and see what happens. You should be fine, or you might have to replace the gels more often.

[D.R.HADDOCK]

I put gels 4 inchs in front of 500w lights.
I dont think 8 inchs is required especially for low wattage par 38 lamps.
you can also use 150w lamps if your dimmers are up to it.
with dark colors 150w might be needed.
try 4 inchs and see how it goes.

[Esoteric]

I only use PAR64's. I would just never put a gel less than 6" from a non LED source, any non LED source.

But I prefer to be safe rather than sorry.

Mike

[D.R.HADDOCK]

Yes if it is a par 64, 8 inchs would be required.
but he was talking about par 38s.
even at 8 inchs gels dont last very long on par 64s,
especially darker colors like blue.
does any one know which gels last longest ?

[Worshipastor]

I still need to make the clips for the gel frames...down my priority list at the moment. I will try @ 4" and post how it worked when I get around to it. Thanks for the replies!

[Esoteric]

Originally Posted by D.R.HADDOCK

Yes if it is a par 64, 8 inchs would be required.
but he was talking about par 38s.
even at 8 inchs gels dont last very long on par 64s,
especially darker colors like blue.
does any one know which gels last longest ?

Tinted gels will always last longer than saturate colors.

I know he is using PAR38's but I still will not put a gel less than 8" from the source without a lens between the source and the gel.

Mike