MBI 150 ARC Discharge Or 250 Halogens

[Starlight]

Hi there.

Which is the brightest - MBI 150 ARC Discharge Or 250 Halogens?

Thanks in advance.

Mendoza.

[BrightLights]

I'm not sure about the brightness (and I'll be interested in the answer if anyone else knows), but I can tell you the discharge lamps are a LOT more expensive to buy.

[Vibrant Sounds]

Usually 150 watt discharge are brighter with better colours, but it really depends on the optics and the effects. I have seen (and gotMartin EFX500s ) some very bright 250 watt halogen lights, and have seen some poor 150 watt discharge powered effects. In fact the ACME Dynamo scan uses a 100watt Halogen lamp and they easily compare to the majority of 250watt powered halogens due to their good optical path.

I would say that normally the brightest and most vivid would be in the following order: Assuming similar optical paths!

250 watt discharge
200 watt discharge
150 watt discharge
250 watt halogen
150 watt halogen
100 watt halogen

I have 2 pairs of similar type effects that I use at my gigs. For small venues I use a pair of 250 watt Halogen powered Martin EFX500s and for the larger venues I use a pair of 250 watt Discharge powered Martin Wizard Extremes (very much brighter and with more options). But if I was buying again, I would just buy a pair of EFX600's (150 watt discharge) and use them for all my venues.

I would highly recommend the Martin EFX500s and 600s.

[Vibrant Sounds]

I'm not sure about the brightness (and I'll be interested in the answer if anyone else knows), but I can tell you the discharge lamps are a LOT more expensive to buy.

Yes they are, but they typically have lives in the many thousands of hours, the colour temperature is very very much higher than a halogen lamp so the colours are much brighter and more vivid and the white is almost pure whte, not a orange tinged white.

Typically a good 500hr branded 250 watt ELC lamp will cost about £10 -£15

A 150watt discharge lamp with anything from 2000hrs - 6000hrs can cost between £30 and £60.The one to fit the Martin EFX600 costs £40 and lasts 6000 hrs.

I would have discharge over halogen every day of the week.

I will have some 250 watt Discharge effects on DJ Bids after Xmas.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I would highly recommend the Martin EFX500s and 600s.

I have an EFX500 and although it's a nice effect, I don't think it's very bright at all to be honest.
I used it with the Impossibleds last night and it looked positively dull next to them.

Don't get me wrong, I like the effect, but compared to other barrels I've had it is fairly dim.

[BrightLights]

Yes they are, but they typically have lives in the many thousands of hours, the colour temperature is very very much higher than a halogen lamp so the colours are much brighter and more vivid and the white is almost pure whte, not a orange tinged white.

All good points. I was just pointing out the initial cost difference in case the OP wasn't aware. Also, most halogen effects seem to come with a lamp included whereas discharge ones don't, so the cost difference becomes quite significant if you're buying, for example, a set of four scanners/moving heads.

Discharge lamps also can't be dimmed electronically, so it's mechanical shutters/irises only.

Having said all that, I've had both and if cost wasn't a factor I'd still pick discharge lamps over halogens for the reasons Eddie mentioned above.

[BrightLights]

I have an EFX500 and although it's a nice effect, I don't think it's very bright at all to be honest.
I used it with the Impossibleds last night and it looked positively dull next to them.

Don't get me wrong, I like the effect, but compared to other barrels I've had it is fairly dim.

I've got two Acrobats (previous incarnation of the EFX500) and find the same. They're good units but just don't seem all that bright.

[TONYTIGER]

In terms of brightness and good optical projection the HTI 150 Type is best,and i agree the martin efx range with the 150w discharge is very poor for light output.

[Starlight]

Very good read up, thanks to everyone so far who's contributed their 2 pennies worth! I will obviously go for discharge, may have to ask santa for a sub :Laugh:

Iv never seen 250W discharge lamps, I take it they don't manufacture them?

Mendoza.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Very good read up, thanks to everyone so far who's contributed their 2 pennies worth! I will obviously go for discharge, may have to ask santa for a sub :Laugh:

Iv never seen 250W discharge lamps, I take it they don't manufacture them?

Mendoza.

They do exist.

[TONYTIGER]

COMMON TYPES OF DISCHARGE LAMPS

CDM-SA/T150
MBI150 Arcstream
MSD 250/2
HMI575DE
HMI1200DE
So in fact they start at 150w and go up to 1200w

[Vibrant Sounds]

Iv never seen 250W discharge lamps, I take it they don't manufacture them?
Mendoza.

Martin Wizard Extremes use 250watt MSD Discharge lamps as do Futurelight CF200 Moonflowers (may have 3 on DJ Bids after Xmas) and many of the EVL lights (may also have an EVL K-SCope (250 watt discharge) on DJ bIds as well after Xmas). These all actually use the same lamps MSD250.