Conversion of Showtec lightboxes to LED

[Imagine]

OK - here's a poser.

I'm the proud owner of a pair of Showtec lightscreens which I've owned from new at the end of the 1980's.
I love them to bits (they're just soooooo retro), and I use them to front up kids parties 'cos they're heavy buggers and they can't pull them over

Here's the problem(s) through.....

They work on Bulgin connectors (which I can get signed off on a PAT test because my tester knows I'm not silly enough to poke my fingers where they shouldn't be)...they also (and more importantly) cost a fortune in 35 watt bulbs (plus taking the plastic screen off to replace them). Plus, the controllers are bloody unreliable and tend to blow fuses every couple of minutes (when they work in the first place). Note....the lightscreens have been completely re-wired this year so there's no wiring problems causing the fuse blows and the total rating of the bulbs is far less than the controllers ratings).

30 years ago....hey ho...not a problem. However, with my adult rig now 100% LED.....it's got me thinking....

I'd like to convert the ShowTecs to LED. In the long term it's going to save a small fortune in bulbs, plus they're going to be a lot lighter (and cooler....any idea what 64x35watt feels like in a village hall?)

I'm not worried about DMX capability - they're only used for kids shows these days so they just need to flash to the beat of the music.
I built my own lightbox out of Maplin sound active PAR's a year ago (basically stripped the LED panels from the PARS, re-soldered them and bang!)....and it works (and yes...it also contains tin foil and bubble wrap....looks quite good as well). However, to replace the bulbs in the Showtecs I need 64 LED panels (ouch).

Anyone got any idea of someone who could provide this number of panels at a "reasonable" i.e. cheap cost which are sound active?

[DJ Jules]

Anyone got any idea of someone who could provide this number of panels at a "reasonable" i.e. cheap cost which are sound active?

Why don't you just switch the lamps for LED equivalents (I'm assuming the lamps are white and all of the colour comes from the screen?) Ok, so you wouldn't get rid of the controller, but if you bought 3w LED lamps in bulk you'd probably get the cost down around a £1 a go. I'd expect the controller to be a lot happier with a tenth of the load on it? Obviously you'd need to be able to get the right lamps to fit the bases in the boxes?

Just a thought, but because of the sheer number of lamps involved, it might end up being cheaper to junk the screens and controller and go for the all LED equivalent? I'm never a fan of throwing stuff away, but sometimes the economics dictate the decisions

Julian

[funktions]

agree with jules on the led lamps, got a box of cheapy ones from the good old ebay direct fit for the fittings we had. not as cheap as normal lamps but a lot more robust. we had an idea tried it and were not overly happy at the results so are refining it slightly.
I would think with a diffuser on the ends of the lamps would spread the colour nicely like normal bulbs. or a quick blast of some aerosol paint over the ends to change from white to what ever colour.

[dicky]

How many channels on these Showtec screens? I assume 4 channel is that right?

Get some single colour 5m LED strips of the appropriate colours for each segment of the screen.

for example
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3528-5M-Wh...item3ce62617c0


Remove the bulbs and cut the LED strips so you can put a length into each segment of the display. if it is not too expansive mount the strip all the way around around the sides of each segment, near to the back so the LEDs are pointing inwards not forwards - this will diffuse the light properly

Get a 12V power supply of sufficient ampage for your LED strips - or connect a separate 12V PSU to each strip if it is cheaper. In this case connect the positive (V+) from each PSU to one channel of LED strips each and connect all the negatives (V-) together at the controller (see below)

Get one of these controllers and connect the four channels of your display to the R B G and W outputs
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DMX512-Dec...item27f3ca3405

or alternatively one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DMX512-Dec...item418319be3b

You now have DMX control over the panels - use a DMX controller to run whatever sequences you want or use the bult in 'Fun' option for standalone solution

If you need more detailed wiring instructions just ask
Rich

[Imagine]

How many channels on these Showtec screens? I assume 4 channel is that right?

Get some single colour 5m LED strips of the appropriate colours for each segment of the screen.

for example
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3528-5M-Wh...item3ce62617c0


Remove the bulbs and cut the LED strips so you can put a length into each segment of the display. if it is not too expansive mount the strip all the way around around the sides of each segment, near to the back so the LEDs are pointing inwards not forwards - this will diffuse the light properly

Get a 12V power supply of sufficient ampage for your LED strips - or connect a separate 12V PSU to each strip if it is cheaper. In this case connect the positive (V+) from each PSU to one channel of LED strips each and connect all the negatives (V-) together at the controller (see below)

Get one of these controllers and connect the four channels of your display to the R B G and W outputs
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DMX512-Dec...item27f3ca3405

or alternatively one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DMX512-Dec...item418319be3b

You now have DMX control over the panels - use a DMX controller to run whatever sequences you want or use the bult in 'Fun' option for standalone solution

If you need more detailed wiring instructions just ask
Rich

Thanks for that one Rich - it might just solve the problem.

All they need to do as I said earlier is flash to the music (they're only used on kids parties), plus the LED strips should make them a LOT lighter

[dicky]

You are welcome mate

If you need any help with the wiring let me know

Rich