Cleaning Lights

[OllieJames]

Hi all,

I've done a search for this but can't find a clear answer...

I'm going to clean all my lights (lenses & mirrors) but before I go taking the casings off, what's the best thing to use on the lenses and mirrors? Also - do any of you get rid of the dust from inside the cases? If so - what do you use?

Thanks a lot,
Ollie

[bangbang]

use the high pressure air at your local garage .just be careful works a treat

[Danieleastwood.com]

A common garden glass cleaner for your lenses and mirrors. Be carefull on internal lenses and gobo dichroic flags as the heat from the lamps over time can cause the glue to become brittle and things can fall off. (Depending on the adhesive used)

With regards the casing... use a soft, long bristled paint-brush (unused and preferably expensive as the bristles come off the cheaper ones) and an air-line. You can also get spray cans of air from RS or Maplins.

Lights love cool airflow so make sure you remove the debris and fluff from all the fan casing and vents. Where there is more dust in certain areas on the casing, this points out to an increased airflow, and really should be cleared.

One thing to be slightly carefull of, is static charge, as this can be detrimental to DMX and Driver chips. Simple steps like an earthing strap on your wrist can help though it depends on the individual.

Lastly, while cleaning the fan... Unplug it from the board or hold the splines in place to prevent it from spinning when blowing air through it. The fan can act as a little electricity generator and can also disturb the driver chips.

Hope that helps.

[OllieJames]

A common garden glass cleaner for your lenses and mirrors. Be carefull on internal lenses and gobo dichroic flags as the heat from the lamps over time can cause the glue to become brittle and things can fall off. (Depending on the adhesive used)

With regards the casing... use a soft, long bristled paint-brush (unused and preferably expensive as the bristles come off the cheaper ones) and an air-line. You can also get spray cans of air from RS or Maplins.

Lights love cool airflow so make sure you remove the debris and fluff from all the fan casing and vents. Where there is more dust in certain areas on the casing, this points out to an increased airflow, and really should be cleared.

One thing to be slightly carefull of, is static charge, as this can be detrimental to DMX and Driver chips. Simple steps like an earthing strap on your wrist can help though it depends on the individual.

Lastly, while cleaning the fan... Unplug it from the board or hold the splines in place to prevent it from spinning when blowing air through it. The fan can act as a little electricity generator and can also disturb the driver chips.

Hope that helps.

Fantastic advice - Thanks a lot! :)

[Penfold42]

use the high pressure air at your local garage .just be careful works a treat

You cannot be serious...taking gear to garage and blasting it out, you would look a right charlie....:D

You can buy compressed air in a tin - then look a right charlie in the comfort of your own home...:sj:

[nisfo]

Cans of compressed air are much safer than using an airline. Surface mounted chips can be blown straight off the board, of which are a fiddly job to solder back on.

I use a can of air and a long soft bristled paint brush on internal parts and fans. In extremely dusty cases I recommend working over newspaper or a bin.

As for the lenses brush away excess dust, then clean with a microfiber cloth, if the cloth doesn't do the trick, then a small amount of glass cleaner sprayed onto a lint free cloth. Never spray directly onto lenses ;)

[Totally Plucked]

Heat ? forgot what that is ?

Go LED ..... No Heat !! lol

[OllieJames]

Thanks for your feedback.

Nisfo, are the cans of compressed air safe enough to use so that I don't do any damage to the tiny resistors/other components? Also - where do I get them from?

Thanks!

[Penfold42]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-400ML-COMPRESSED-AIR-DUSTER-IN-A-CAN-SPRAY-CLEANER_W0QQitemZ170425599860QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH _DefaultDomain_3?hash=item27ae284774

[nisfo]

Short blasts but not too close ;), like spray painting. Cans cost £2 upwards.

As Totally Plucked said LED all the way.....lol
Only really need to clean lenses.

I only have 2 lights with halogen bulbs now, they are the last to be packed away. The rest are LED, you just switch them off then box them up.

[rob1963]

You can buy compressed air in a tin

Wouldn't the air escape when you got the tin opener on it?

:p

[Penfold42]

Wouldn't the air escape when you got the tin opener on it?

:p

:lol:

[bangbang]

You cannot be serious...taking gear to garage and blasting it out, you would look a right charlie....:D

You can buy compressed air in a tin - then look a right charlie in the comfort of your own home...:sj:

well it worked for me .and it done what i wanted it to do .what people thought i couldnt give a monkeys :)