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Fitting the lamp (also known as bulb or globe)
Before your PhotonBeam can be used a lamp must be fitted.
The voltage of the lamp must match the voltage of the electrical supply you are using.
1) Make sure that the mains plug is disconnected from the electrical supply.
2) Press the accessory lock release trigger (A) to open the accessory lock (B).
3) Release the safety screen retaining screw (C), which will remain captive in the safety screen (D).
4) Carefully rotate the safety screen a small amount to free the retaining screw from its mating bracket,
then lift the screen free. It may be necessary to flex the screen a little to achieve this
5) Insert one end of the tubular lamp onto one of the lampholder contacts, which are spring loaded to
allow the other end of the lamp to be fitted onto the other contact.
NOTE: If the quartz envelope is touched with bare fingers it will be indelibly marked when the lamp is next burned.
Always place a pacer wrapper around the quartz part of the lamp when handling it, and remove it when the lamp is in
place.
6) Replace the safety screen as a reverse of removal and retighten the screw
Using your PhotonBeam
MAKE SURE THE SAFETY SCREEN (D) IS ALWAYS FITTED.
Tungsten halogen lamps are pressurized and can sometimes explode projecting particles of hot quartz.
The safety screen will ensure these particles are retained within the PhotonBeam.
Your PhotonBeam has ‘anti-surge’ which protects the lamp and switch contacts from the high surge of current when
the lamphead is switched on. This surge, which can be 17 times the normal running current, occurs because a
tungsten filament lamp has no resistance when cold; ‘anti-surge’ reduces this surge to a safe level and helps to
prolong lamp life. Its action is completely automatic, and does not affect the colour temperature of the lamp.
Your PhotonBeam is fitted with the international standard 5/8” (16mm) hollow fitting, so it will fit most types of
industry lighting mounts. Always ensure that the mount you are using is of appropriate strength and stability.
If your PhotonBeam is hanging from an overhead mount fit a safety bond to prevent the lamphead falling if the mount
clamp screw (G) is accidentally loosened.
When using your PhotonBeam do not cover the cooling vents. If using diffusers or colour effect filters make sure they
are of a heat resisting type.
You may use your PhotonBeam outdoors, but remember that it is not weatherproof. DO NOT USE IN RAIN OR
SPRAY CONDITIONS. On no account should moisture be allowed to contact glass filters, lamps or any electrical
part.
All tungsten lights get hot in use; when making adjustments of pan, tilt or focus always use the heat resistant handles
to avoid discomfort.
Take care when using your PhotonBeam close to inflammable or heat sensitive things, as the beam projects heat as
well as light.
Take care with the mains cable. Route it carefully so that people will not trip or push wheeled equipment over it.
Never release the plug from a mains socket by tugging the cable, you will only damage it.
After use allow the lamphead to cool for a few minutes before packing away.
Permitted burning angles
In order to prevent overheating of the PhotonBeam and its lamp there are limitations on the angle at which the unit
may be used, as shown below
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Maintenance
BEFORE CARRYING OUT ANY MAINTENANCE DISCONNECT THE PHOTONBEAM FROM THE MAINS SUPPLY BY
REMOVING THE MAINS PLUG FROM THE SOCKET.
Your PhotonBeam should be inspected regularly for deterioration of the electrical parts. The mains cable should be free from
damage, and the lamp holder contacts should be clean. Blackened or pitted contacts will require new lamp holders to be
fitted. These are available as a spare part. All electrical repairs should be carried out by a competent electrician.
Glass filters and the aluminium reflector may be cleaned with a damp cloth when cool. Do not use cleaning agents, which may
damage the delicate surfaces.
Under the UK Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 it is recommended that portable electrical appliances are tested for
electrical safety from time to time. It is the practice in many institutions to use an ordinary Portable Appliance Tester (PAT) for
this. It should be noted that many of the simpler PATs will give a ‘fail’ result for the following reasons:
1) Earth Continuity Test.
Because the mains cable of a studio light is much longer than most portable appliances its resistance is higher. Most
PATs have a fail level of 0.1 or 0.2 ohms using a test current of 20 amps at 6 volts, where as the actual resistance of a
studio light cable may be from 0.2 to 0.3 ohms. The more sophisticated PATs have a trip level adjustable from 0.1 to 0.5
ohm
2) Phase/Neutral (Short Circuit) Test.
The tungsten filament of a studio light has a very low resistance when cold, typically seventeen tines less resistance
than when running. This means that there is a current surge when the lamp is switched on of approximately seventeen
times the running current. For a 1000 watt lamp at 240v this current is a massive 70 amps for a fraction of a second. All
PATs read this as a short circuit and fail the appliance. The lamp should be removed prior to the test and the switch set
to the “ON” position. The PAT will then test for short circuit up to and including the lampholder and give a genuine result.
Accessories for your PhotonBeam
There are a number of accessories available for your PhotonBeam, which add to its versatility.
A102 Barndoors - these provide a means of shaping the light beam, and have the added advantage of spring clips to hold
diffusers, colour correction and effect filters.
A103 Daylight Dichroic Filter - a mounted coated glass filter which converts the output of the PhotonBeam from 3200K
(Tungsten) to 5000K (Daylight).
A104 Scrim Set - a set of four wire mesh screens to reduce light output without changing colour temperature. Single scrim
reduces light by one f-stop, Double scrim reduces light by two f-stops. Each is supplied as a full circle and a half circle.
A105 Fresnel Lens - a borosilicate glass lens which intensifies the light beam and reduces light spread when used with the
PhotonBeam in spot mode.
A106 Snoot - a conical funnel which restricts the light beam to a tight circle for spotlighting effects and close-up work.
Fitting Accessories
1) Press the accessory lock release trigger (A) to open the accessory lock (B)
2) Insert the accessory into the slots. The scrims, fresnel lens and daylight filter fit into the rear slot. The slot will hold a
maximum of two accessories. The snoot or barndoor fit into the front slot.
3) Close the accessory lock (B) by pushing down until it locks.
Service & Spare Parts
We operate a full repair service at our factory. We can also supply spare parts for people wishing to carry out their own
repairs. When ordering spare parts please quote the Serial No. shown on the rating plate.
