Re: Budget lighting part 2 - are Teatro PC lanterns any good?


andybroom@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Duncanwood wrote:
> > On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 11:30:38 +0100, charles

>
> I dunno about the PAT testing comment - I assume that they are made to
> CE standards so you maybe being to stringent with your earth testing.
> Not that I've ever had to PAT test a teatro, but you'd have to hunt
> around most new lanterns (and many other appliances too) to find a
> point where the earth test isn't hindered by paint. One of the problems
> with the theory of PAT testing, I'm afraid.

Not with the theory of PAT, but with the manufacturer's testing.

PAT is to check that things are safe in use. The earth test is carried
out at low voltage (around 6V), and high current, usually 25A. An
impedance of 0.2 ohms is the fail point, although for stage lanterns
0.5 ohms is acceptable.

There are two solutions. One is to use a small hand tool, rather like
an end mill, to remove the paint. The other is to use the very spiky
locking washers on the earth anchor, whic will penetrate the paint. It
is, of course, always necessary to use high temperature wire. I have
measured temperatures up to 200C inside a simple Redhead. Other
lanterns may run hotter.

>
> However, Teatro stuff is cheap and nasty, I entirely agree. If the
> village hall concerned uses them once or twice a year it might be a
> cheaper option than buying a decent lantern - they might last long
> enough (especially if looked after carefully) to make the saving worth
> the candle.
>
> I don't think they are really repairable - if you are going to buy
> something like that then expect to throw them away when they go wrong.
>
> Minuettes aren't that much better. If you want to buy second hand buy
> either Prelude F's or even Patt 123's. You might have to do a bit of
> work on a Patt 123's but that really is normally only cleaning,
> rewiring (maybe replacing the lampholder) and maybe giving them a coat
> of black paint to tidy them up.
>
> They go around the £40 -£60 mark and (done up with a tungsten halogen
> lamp) will out perform most other 500/650W fresnels, even new ones.
> Check e-bay.
>
> Also decently done up they'd probably last another 20 years!!
>
> Andy

.

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