Cheap lighting setup

[drapeama]

Updates:
It's complete, exception of the tripod quick release, which i'll do tomorow. It's working like a charm. I had only some 13w colored and 9w bulbs when i tried it. I'll post pics with the complete 1200watt later this week.
Total cost:
White Box : 2$ at the local dollorama
Black Box : 4.99$
Sockets : .99¢ x6
Switches : 1.99$ x3
Wire : 4.99$ for 25' x2 = 1x black & 1x white
Screws : .14¢ x 10 (6x the sockets + 4x to hold the boxes)
DC connector : 1.99$
DC wire : 2.49$
Total : 39.98$ including taxes
Here's a couple of pictures:

[drapeama]

I had the time to try my setup earlier this week. Indoor, with 100watt bulb x6, it's enough to light my kitchen without ambiant lights.
Haven't been able to get 200watt lights (14$ each) but as far as it goes, i probably won't need it except for outdoor use at night.
Next project i'll shoot with my setup, i'll post some b-t-s pics.

[Shigeta]

Lookin' great, Drapes. Mind posting some pics, when you get around to it, of just the colored lights in action? Thanks for the info!

Keep it up!

[drapeama]

No prob Shig!
Aactually i did a test with a single socket using only the blue one on the left, and the sunlight through the curtains of the door on the right. Nice look & effect.
I'll try to shoot something this weekend using the setup with different lights/colors in different situation. I'll let you know.

[Playing]

... I was thinking just work lights and defusing them with tracing paper but I know they run really hot...

I've sandblasted the glass of my worklights.

[drapeama]

Good idea Playing! simple but i'm sure it works pretty well for the price.

[Shigeta]

That, or grinding it like a GG in an adapter???

[drapeama]

...or grinding it like a GG in an adapter???

I guess it's pretty much the same thing...the GG is more fine grinded, that's all.

[drapeama]

Here's the pics of the Complete & Finished setup: CFL Lighting Kit Album
I'm still working on removable white & colored difusers.

[Jack Frost]

pretty cool drapeama,

too bad u don't have pictures of that black box ( the inside ) or any of the actual light sockets, I can't see in my head how you did this.

that black box is custom ? ... so you added those switches in there... is that correct ?

it looks store-bought ! .. it's that good looking !

I'm super impressed !

Work Still in Progress: It's partially finished, i'll solder the wires thursday on my day off.

I will probably attach my quick release for my tripod on the back box, as it's the most sturdy one. The White box is just hold in 'sandwich' between the black box and the plate as it serves only as the reflector. I'll probably paint the exterior black to fit the rest of the setup. (Pic 1)
The back part is pretty simple, the box with the three switches and the DC connector, taken from an old power supply. (Pic 2)
The sockets will be screwed on the little holes on the black plate of the "interior" (Pic 3)

[drapeama]

too bad u don't have pictures of that black box ( the inside ) that black box is custom ?
it looks store-bought ! .. it's that good looking!

I can try to draw you something, as i had some hard times fitting all the wires inside that small box.
Basically, there's two wires from the DC connector, Black & white. the black wire goes to the bottom terminal of all switch AND connects to the center of the socket. The white wire goes to tue upper terminal of the sockets ANd to the outer of the socket. Could be more simple to see it, because i'm not pretty good to explain things.
It's pretty simple to do, it allows up to 125V - 5A per switches, and up to 650W per sockets: Calculated, with 200Watt CFL bulbs (60watt consuming power) you're running at 3amps for 1200watt of light.
I'll try to draw something, like a diagram to wire everything up.

[Jack Frost]

Hi , that sounds good, don't go out of your way though drapeama,
I was just more curious about if that was custom made. It's really cool looking, I thought it was something you bought as a unit,- it's THAT good .

I am really interested in how you got those lights inside the lightbox though, - what kind of sockets they are.. maybe you can take a picture without the lights in the box to show us ? I don't understand what type of socket they are, and how you got so many of them in such a small space, and how you attached them.

you did a bang up job, so impressive

I can try to draw you something, as i had some hard times fitting all the wires inside that small box.
Basically, there's two wires from the DC connector, Black & white. the black wire goes to the bottom terminal of all switch AND connects to the center of the socket. The white wire goes to tue upper terminal of the sockets ANd to the outer of the socket. Could be more simple to see it, because i'm not pretty good to explain things.
It's pretty simple to do, it allows up to 125V - 5A per switches, and up to 650W per sockets: Calculated, with 200Watt CFL bulbs (60watt consuming power) you're running at 3amps for 1200watt of light.
I'll try to draw something, like a diagram to wire everything up.

[drapeama]

I'm probably going to build another one soon, i'll buy all the materials and take some pics...or i could make a tutorial on how building it.
Pretty simple...all right you're going to say it took me 3hours last time but i was doing it for the first time and i've been very carefull not to blow a breaker while doing it!
At least i'll post pics of the inside of the black box.

[Jack Frost]

oh that DOES sound cool !

A nice video tut on Youtube would be awesome .

thanks drapeama

I'm probably going to build another one soon, i'll buy all the materials and take some pics...or i could make a tutorial on how building it.
Pretty simple...all right you're going to say it took me 3hours last time but i was doing it for the first time and i've been very carefull not to blow a breaker while doing it!
At least i'll post pics of the inside of the black box.

[drapeama]

I am really interested in how you got those lights inside the lightbox though

I'll list the parts from the store itself
Sockets (no exactly the same, but this one has wires already connected.)
Switche
DC connector
ABS plastic box Big & Small
AC cord
Schematic :

Hope i'm not alone to understand...i'll try to take some pictures when i'll build another one, because it was a real pain in the @$$ getting all those wires in such a little box so...
Hope it'll help people!

[Steve_Karl]

Very slick!

I don't (technically) understand why you're using R,G,B color lights also.
Can you give some info. or point me to a tutorial?

Thanks!

[drapeama]

Very slick!
I don't (technically) understand why you're using R,G,B color lights also.

1) Thanks a lot!
2) Because it was the only lights i got at home when i took the pictures. Now i'm using 23w CFL (equivalent: 100w) and i can go up to 200w equivalent for a total of 1200w.

[Blandyman]

2) Because it was the only lights i got at home when i took the pictures. Now i'm using 23w CFL (equivalent: 100w) and i can go up to 200w equivalent for a total of 1200w.

Hey drapeama:

Amazing work, I'm definitely taking this information and using it to build my own :-D The box you linked is actually no longer available, but under the Hardware section, there's other boxes, for anyone else who was looking.

I'll build one in the next couple of weeks, and I'll go ahead and post a detailed video. I'll also draw up some very specific schematics (measurements and the like). Your diagram is very helpful (I'm limited when it comes to wiring up electrical stuff) but it's not a difficult job. Again, thanks

[charlie_tango]

Amazing work, I'm definitely taking this information and using it to build my own

When you think how easy it can be done (with the schematics) and especially for the price, it is really cool. He did a great job because even if it's a DIY job, it still looks quite cool.

[drapeama]

Thanks for linking theses pictures!

[Almohada]

Brings a whole new meaning to softBOX! I bet if you point the back end or side of the box on the subject, it will have a diffused light. No need for umbrella, it's an all-in-one-true-soft-BOX!

[drapeama]

You can always use waxed paper and tape it on the box to soften it, as CFLs don't produce much heat so it's not as dangerous as halogen bulbs.
I think i'll try to paint the interior with an aluminium paint to deflect the light to the outside even more. If i do it, i'll post some pictures in an upcoming post. I may as well build another one, with more bulbs and with a fuse box this time, to avoid potential problems.

[Almohada]

Do you think, if I make a frame from aluminum and put a few sheets of wax paper in there it would make a nice scrim/ diffuser? I was also thinking to make DIY flags out of aluminum frame or PVC and slide over some black fabric

[drapeama]

Uh, probably. you mean doing something more like a Redhead light model? It would probably work.
I would use a sanded plexiglass instead of waxed paper in this case, as it will hold a little bit better on the aluminium case.
Why don't you just paint it instead of using a 'slip over' black fabric? Sand it and put some black primer paint on it. You'll get a nice black matte finish!

[Almohada]

Good ideas. Maybe I can just use white fabric too for a scrim