Need to cool my Mitras a little more....

Gribbliest · Dec 31, 2019

So I was doing some upgrades on my GHL equipment yesterday, and noticed that my Mitras LX7206 were brighter after being off for a minute or two...

Turns out they are clearly throttling based on temperature. (Happy about this... it's a good thing!).

So I got a big room fan and pointed it at one of my fixtures....

I saw the current usage (on Powerbar) go from 1.05A to 1.45A in a few minutes - around 35% increase. My PAR meter is on loan, but I will measure the impact of that as soon as I get it back later this week.

So, I need to add some additional airflow around the fixtures and wondered if anyone has come up with a solution for this already. In the first instance I think I'll try a ceiling fan in the room as it might move enough to make a difference, but interested in other options too!

Vinny@GHLUSA · Jan 2, 2020

The max allowed limit for the LX7 is 65°C.

If the fixture temperature goes above this, the LEDs will automatically dim themselves to prevent further heat build-up. Optimal cooling for the fixture is when the fans are set to 100% and kept in a room between 66 - 68°F.

Gribbliest · Jan 2, 2020

Vinny@GHLUSA said:
The max allowed limit for the LX7 is 65°C.

If the fixture temperature goes above this, the LEDs will automatically dim themselves to prevent further heat build-up. Optimal cooling for the fixture is when the fans are set to 100% and kept in a room between 66 - 68°F.

Thanks Vinny - that's the conclusion I'd come to. Going to attempt a bit more airflow around the fixtures and see if I can't get a bit more output

Conor_K · Jan 2, 2020

I’m in the same boat.
@Vinny@GHLUSA, can the Breeze fans be programmed to react to mitras temps through the controller/P4??

Gribbliest · Jan 2, 2020

I'll let @Vinny@GHLUSA reply, but I don't believe you can get the temps from the Profilux. Given I know when the temp is going to be higher based on the light profile, I figure I can just run some fans at the appropriate time of day!

Gribbliest · Jan 3, 2020

So I put a ceiling fan in the room and within 5 minutes saw the power consumption up by ~16% at peak output.

Will see what that equates to in PAR once I get my PAR meter back.

I think I can achieve more with dedicated cooling over the light fixtures...

Vinny@GHLUSA · Jan 3, 2020

The breeze fans would not know the internal temperature of the LX7 fixtures. If you choose to use the fans, they can be programmed through the ProfiLux to run on a TIMER using the same schedule as the lights.

Gribbliest · Jan 3, 2020

Do you know what noise level they run at sir? I was considering 120mm computer fans, but like the design of the breeze fans...

What’s the MTBF on those?

also, can I have the Mitras connected to WiFi at the same time as being controlled by my P4?

Gribbliest · Jan 4, 2020

Bodge a test!!!

guess which light has my custom cooling!!

Gribbliest · Jan 6, 2020

OK, So I've mounted a 120mm fan above each of my 4 Mitras, and now I am seeing them pull 1.45 to 1.5A at peak, with temperature sitting at 45-49C.

Expecting to get my PAR meter back in the next day or two and will update with the impact to PAR output.