UV Cannons?

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rickryan.com

rickryan.com

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
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Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
I need to breakdown and get blacklight capable. Have been looking at the $200, 400-watt UV cannon from ADJ and then ran across another 400-watt unit at cheaplights.com for $147 (http://www.cheaplights.com/cart/page19.html) 118-Prestige. Wondering if there's any appreciable difference between these or if you guys have a better suggestion.

I mainly want them/it for school dances but my wife also wants one for use in her elementary school programs (she's a music teacher). She'll probably have 75-100 kids on a 30X50 stage.
 
rickryan.com said:
I need to breakdown and get blacklight capable. Have been looking at the $200, 400-watt UV cannon from ADJ and then ran across another 400-watt unit at cheaplights.com for $147 (http://www.cheaplights.com/cart/page19.html) 118-Prestige. Wondering if there's any appreciable difference between these or if you guys have a better suggestion.

I mainly want them/it for school dances but my wife also wants one for use in her elementary school programs (she's a music teacher). She'll probably have 75-100 kids on a 30X50 stage.
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Hey Ryan,
Be careful what you buy from these companies. I bought a few things from them and was happy with some and not too happy with a few. If you want me to go and see a demo of that light in question for you I'll be more than happy to do so and report back to you. They have a huge showroom about 30 miles away from me (That is nothing in Texas, a drive around the corner). I might be making a trip up there very soon to pick up something. Let me know what you want me to check.
 
ahoustondj said:
Hey Ryan,
Be careful what you buy from these companies. I bought a few things from them and was happy with some and not too happy with a few. If you want me to go and see a demo of that light in question for you I'll be more than happy to do so and report back to you. They have a huge showroom about 30 miles away from me (That is nothing in Texas, a drive around the corner). I might be making a trip up there very soon to pick up something. Let me know what you want me to check.
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That'd be great. I've ordered a fair amount of stuff from them and been pretty satisfied. If you could offer an opinion on that 400-watt unit, that'd be great.

Thank you.
 
I'd be concerned with the weight spec on the $147 Cannon, because I think they're lying. The comparable Chauvet version weighs 30 pounds, and Chauvet's not lying. I own one. It's heavy, as in you can't put this on a tripod and not worry about it. If you have trussing and two O-clamps, it's okay. But it's still ridiculously heavy for what it is.

I'm surprised that you didn't include the Elation UV Wash on your list of options. It delivers very good output at a decent price, and having 2, 3 or even 4 of these will give you a better spread than a single cannon.

Price all over the net seems to be $149, but you can usually get them cheaper by calling an Elation dealer.
 
B-Sharp said:
I'd be concerned with the weight spec on the $147 Cannon, because I think they're lying. The comparable Chauvet version weighs 30 pounds, and Chauvet's not lying. I own one. It's heavy, as in you can't put this on a tripod and not worry about it. If you have trussing and two O-clamps, it's okay. But it's still ridiculously heavy for what it is.

I'm surprised that you didn't include the Elation UV Wash on your list of options. It delivers very good output at a decent price, and having 2, 3 or even 4 of these will give you a better spread than a single cannon.

Price all over the net seems to be $149, but you can usually get them cheaper by calling an Elation dealer.
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That's the unit with flourescent bulbs? I looked at those last year but for some reason didn't think they had anywhere near the throw of the cannons. I normally setup 2 t-bar, each side of me, usually about 20 ft to the edge of the dance floor. If I mounted 1 to each T, and turned them on/off with a DMX box, do you think they'd cover the dance floor enough? Typically 150 person events.
 
rickryan.com said:
That's the unit with flourescent bulbs? I looked at those last year but for some reason didn't think they had anywhere near the throw of the cannons. I normally setup 2 t-bar, each side of me, usually about 20 ft to the edge of the dance floor. If I mounted 1 to each T, and turned them on/off with a DMX box, do you think they'd cover the dance floor enough? Typically 150 person events.
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From what I've read, the Elation UV Wash covers a 20x30' area just fine. So, two of them would give you plenty of coverage. The advantage to the fluorescent UV fixture is that it's lighter and smaller, and it doesn't have any warm-up time.

Chauvet claims that the 400w Black Shadow will cover 60x70' but I don't buy it. The only way I could see that happening is if you had it mounted up very high in the air. No matter which fixture you choose, the effect will only go as far as the person standing in the light.

If you like the cannon-style effect better than UV, check out the Chauvet Shadow 125, which is a 125-watt cannon. Two of those would do a nice job.
 
B-Sharp said:
From what I've read, the Elation UV Wash covers a 20x30' area just fine. So, two of them would give you plenty of coverage. The advantage to the fluorescent UV fixture is that it's lighter and smaller, and it doesn't have any warm-up time.

Chauvet claims that the 400w Black Shadow will cover 60x70' but I don't buy it. The only way I could see that happening is if you had it mounted up very high in the air. No matter which fixture you choose, the effect will only go as far as the person standing in the light.

If you like the cannon-style effect better than UV, check out the Chauvet Shadow 125, which is a 125-watt cannon. Two of those would do a nice job.
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Well, I really like the size/weight of the Elation a LOT better but just wasn't sure about how well it'd do the job. I may go ahead and spring for a couple.
 
Here's where the rubber really hits the road for the HID cannons... the lamp. Any cannon under $200 should not be considered unless you plan on spending another $150 on a lamp. The cheap HID lamps just don't work, plain and simple. The UV effect is terrible and the output is anemic. We sell them all the time (because people are attracted to the price) and when they complain we send them a $200 lamp to try and they are in love. I guess it's a great way to sell lamps. LOL.

We have some new 1W LED fixtures that are MUCH brighter than the cannons, but the coverage is much smaller, so lots of tradeoffs. Overall though bang for buck, the cannon with a good lamp around $300 is still the best way to go IMHO.

Ben
 
I do blacklights...
I have 1 Elation UV wash and 4 Chauvet UV LED Shadows. Typically I use the Elation and 2 LED panels for a blacklight party. Actually have one on Saturday.
In the beginning I just used 3 of the LED Panels but the Elation does make a big difference. I never tried the canon so I can't comment on that, I just know from what I read and researched at the time the Elation is the best bang and coverage for your buck. If I get a big enough party I'm buying another.

I like the LED panels because they throw off a purple light as well, so it isn't pitch dark if using just blacklights. Also they're DMX and sound active wheras the Elation is just a plug it in and thats it.
 
I have 2 Chauvet LED Shadows that I am trying this weekend. I will probably get a Elation UV Wash as well to help the effect. We aren't doing large enough events to have a 400watt UV cannon.
 
Okay, so now I'm confused. My dance floors typically have 20-40 people. I'd prefer the lighter weight, and lighter power requirement Elation. Will the Elation cover this size dance floor or do I need to go with a 400-watt cannon (requiring it's own lighting stand)?

And, does anybody else here take white gloves with them on gigs (enough for the people on the dance floor)?
 
 
B-Sharp said:
I'd be concerned with the weight spec on the $147 Cannon, because I think they're lying. The comparable Chauvet version weighs 30 pounds, and Chauvet's not lying. I own one. It's heavy, as in you can't put this on a tripod and not worry about it. If you have trussing and two O-clamps, it's okay. But it's still ridiculously heavy for what it is.

I'm surprised that you didn't include the Elation UV Wash on your list of options. It delivers very good output at a decent price, and having 2, 3 or even 4 of these will give you a better spread than a single cannon.

Price all over the net seems to be $149, but you can usually get them cheaper by calling an Elation dealer.
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No they were not lying. It is indeed about 11 lbs. I checked it out in person today. The lamp however is made in China so it does not have the throw or maybe the power isn't really 400 watts.
 
I'll chime in here. I've got a pair of the 400W UV cannons built by Omnisistem (I know not the same manufacturer, but still may offer some insight). Yes they do have a very nice throw distance, but they trade off on that in weight, size and power consumption. That being said, I like mine, they don't get used that often, but not too many weddings (primarly all we do anymore) call for them. As for placing them on a t-bar...never ever. Mine are either set on the floor with the hanging brackets angling them up or are suspended by two large O clamps from a truss.

As for the gloves and masks, I've never even thought about that, so I can't help you there.
 

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