2.18.2016

Buying And Installing Moving Head Lights

By Walter Robinson


Most bars and night clubs will at some point install colored lighting on stages and dance floors. A relatively cheap and impressive way to improve a light set up is to buy and fit moving head lights. The range of colors and rotation options make these units very flexible and appealing to many owners.

There are many different types of moving head units available on the market with a varying number of lenses and rotation options. Although these light units can be sound activated most users will connect them to a DMX controller to allow them to be programmed. By doing this the colors, brightness and direction can be controlled by the user manually or pre sequenced.

With so many variations on the market it is worth taking some time to think about what effects are needed. Many different combinations of lenses are used from 1 through to 16 and these can be simple one color beams or complex patterns. It is also possible to customize lighting with club logos or text to be projected onto a surface.

The cost of lighting can vary greatly depending on the size and materials used in construction. For as little as 200 dollars a light can be purchased and ready to use straight out of the box. A DMX unit will start from about 120 dollars and this gives the user more flexibility and control options.

At the higher end of the scale the more professional units start at around 2000 dollars and the control unit for these will be approximately 500. Also on top of this special connectors and cable will need to be purchased by the meter depending on how far it has to be run. This cable can be fairly expensive and it is important to factor this into the final cost.

Another option for those with a smaller budget is to source pre owned lights and accessories. This can be a very cost effective way of owning a lighting rig but it is essential to have them checked out before buying to ensure they meet safety standards. Thousands of these can be found advertised for sale online for as little as 50 dollars including cables and plugs.

If buying brand new equipment the best place to go is to a reputable retailer who specializes in stage lighting and accessories. A large stock of lights, controllers and cables can be found in these stores and they will be happy to offer advice on the best gear to buy. When choosing to buy from a store the owner also gets the peace of mind that all equipment is covered by a guarantee and after sales service is also on offer.

When installing moving units it is always a good idea to use a professional lighting technician or electrical engineer. Some of these units can be quite difficult to install and if there are multiple lights to be fitted it is safer to have an expert carry out the installation and programming. It is also advisable after fitting to maintain the units at regular intervals by cleaning lenses and connections and replacing bulbs when necessary.




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