Lights and Sound: Old Lights (Leko and Frenel)

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Old Lights (Leko and Frenel)

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Lights and Sound
Forum Discription: Technical discussion
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5396
Printed Date: 4/30/24 at 8:41pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Old Lights (Leko and Frenel)

Posted By: Chrispy555
Subject: Old Lights (Leko and Frenel)
Date Posted: 11/01/12 at 8:29am

Hello all:

I just found this website and I love it. The topics and suggestions are great.

I volunteer at a theatre in my hometown. WE have about 30 Leko's and 10 Frenels that were serviced (basically cleaned) by a local lighting and sounds theatrical shop.

He said that basically that 3/4 of them are too old and should be replaced. Although I am having a hard time accepting this statement as these lights were in use before he cleaned them

Just wondering since these lights are available anywhere, can they be refurbished, or is it just better to replace. He'd like the theatre to replace them all with LED's.......but we don't have the budget.

Just as a side note, he "refurbished' or 48 dimmers for about $14,000, a decision I did not know about till I joined the executive board. I thought this was a lot of money as well.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Chris

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Chris

Replies:

Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 11/01/12 at 9:45am

That is almost $300 per dimmer. I would not pay that much to service 48 dimmers.

Yes, LEDs are expensive. They are a hard sell in your venue. LEDs may take many decades to pay for themselves just on power and gel savings. They do make sense in a new installation or in a full retrofit of an older venue. You don't use them enough it to pay. They don't need the individual power lines to each light (most use standard wall outlets), a dimmer rack, or a huge power source.

Some of the older lights can be fixed to be as good as new. You mostly clean them up and replace the socket,lamp, and power cord. They will the need to be tuned to get the best light out of them. In the case of ellipsoidals, you will want to replace the shutters too.

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David M