Why don't you buy a proper reflector from Optiforms or Phoenix so the searchlight will perform much better? That 4kW HMI bulb will never give the performance it deserve in such a homemade reflector.
I refer to the thread's title "The worlds most powerful single searchlight". That requires a lot...
Yes a welder is for sure the best substitute to a proper XBO PSU. But it has several shortcomings,
If you choose a welder desgned for single phase 230V/16A which is very common, it's maximum power is limited to 230v X 16A = 3680 watt (input). With internal loss it it probably limited to apx...
1. The PSU needs a no load voltage of a value never less than the bulb requires to start in cold condition. Preferably not less than it needs to start in hot conditon. Normalln not lower than 75-110VDC. Non of the above mentioned PSUs have that feature except some welders.
2. To provide the XBO...
There are only a few manufacturers in the world making such large searchlights for marine applications, and normally they are not visible in their "standard program". They are only being delivered on request to special applications like large icebreakers.
A bit off-topic but I add a few...
You have to chooose what you are going to obtain with your searchlight. That sets all parameters for which equipment, light source etc, to use. If a pencilbeam is what you want, it is only a Rhodium reflector combined with a Xenon lamp which can provide the best result. If it is more power...
No sorry, it was a unit which was stripped for useful parts long time ago due to a failure with motor functions. All other parts thrown in the garbage years ago.
I spend some time in the workshop last evening fabricating the drum out of the piece of 2mm aluminium sheet and the thick walled aluminium rings. I cutted a suitable piece of the thick walled pipe, machined it in the lathe into two pieces with correct length. One for stabilizing the forward end...
And here is the aluminium plate the drum shall be made of.
Since this is a "one of a kind" unit, I will not spend any time designing the searchlight through use of CAD drawings for fabrication of parts by use of water/laser cutting equipment. Possibly a few parts for the remote controlled...
I have decided the searchlight drum to have a diameter of 35 cm and a length of 50 cm. The drum shall be made of a 2mm aluminium plate with thick walled aluminium support rings in front end and aft end.
Here is the thick walled aluminium pipe which the support rings shall be made of.
Hello,
I am new to this forum as a member but have read it for a while and discovered many good ideas from different users.
I am planning to develop a high power searchlight with short arc lamp, remote controlled from a joystick through a pan/tilt gir. The searchlight shall be marine grade...