Comments for Cerebral Gibberish http://www.cerebralgibberish.com What's on my mind, might just blow yours. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:29:51 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by heymoe http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-156 heymoe Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:29:51 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-156 I used a 2-wire replacement cord though you could use a 3-wire cord if need and connect the ground cable to the switch which should have a spot to connect a ground to. The article has pictures of all the materials I used including the 2-wire cord. The bulbs I'm using are 27W CFL (100W Incandescent Equivalent): 1300 Lumens, 5500K Color Temp.. In the article towards the bottom in the UPDATES section I have links to alternative CFL bulbs such as a 42W CFL (150W Incandescent) and a 80W CFL (400W Incandescent). Based on reports from others who have built their own DIY: Spiderlite, these larger bulbs have larger bases that won't screw into the lamp holders so you either need to cut off some of the lamp holder or get socket extenders. I did build a large soft-box and have picture of the setup at the very bottom of the article. An explanation of how the 3 switches operate to get the different lighting options is listed in the article as well right above the UPDATES section. There are actually 6 modes (off, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 bulbs on) The screw for the mount is metal on metal. -Gary I used a 2-wire replacement cord though you could use a 3-wire cord if need and connect the ground cable to the switch which should have a spot to connect a ground to. The article has pictures of all the materials I used including the 2-wire cord.

The bulbs I’m using are 27W CFL (100W Incandescent Equivalent): 1300 Lumens, 5500K Color Temp.. In the article towards the bottom in the UPDATES section I have links to alternative CFL bulbs such as a 42W CFL (150W Incandescent) and a 80W CFL (400W Incandescent).

Based on reports from others who have built their own DIY: Spiderlite, these larger bulbs have larger bases that won’t screw into the lamp holders so you either need to cut off some of the lamp holder or get socket extenders.

I did build a large soft-box and have picture of the setup at the very bottom of the article.

An explanation of how the 3 switches operate to get the different lighting options is listed in the article as well right above the UPDATES section. There are actually 6 modes (off, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 bulbs on)

The screw for the mount is metal on metal.

-Gary

]]> Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by heymoe http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-155 heymoe Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:19:50 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-155 Glad to hear everything worked out with your build. I like the idea of using the socket extenders as well as sandwiching the bit of plywood between the housing and the switch box to be used for mounting a light box or what not to it. -Gary Glad to hear everything worked out with your build. I like the idea of using the socket extenders as well as sandwiching the bit of plywood between the housing and the switch box to be used for mounting a light box or what not to it.

-Gary

]]> Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by Composite1 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-150 Composite1 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:55:23 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-150 I was pointed to your blog from another VM Member and this is a nice looking rig! Now is this a 2 or 3-wire setup? You didn't show the wall plug so I couldn't be sure. Are those housings plastic or painted metal? Also, what size watt equivalent bulbs are those? They look like 300w's but I saw you mentioned 400w's. If they are 400's where on earth did you get them? I also think you'll get more benefit from a softbox than an umbrella. If you could find a 'Tin Cup' type reflector large enough, that would go a long way toward directing the unit's light output. I saw the configuration on how the lights were lit, but you didn't show how you got 4 configurations with 3 switches. Oh and I took a look at your mounting setup and it looked fairly stable. Is there any 'braking material' on the screw or is it metal on metal? Great job, I'll be seriously looking at this design for my next light build. I was pointed to your blog from another VM Member and this is a nice looking rig! Now is this a 2 or 3-wire setup? You didn’t show the wall plug so I couldn’t be sure. Are those housings plastic or painted metal? Also, what size watt equivalent bulbs are those? They look like 300w’s but I saw you mentioned 400w’s. If they are 400’s where on earth did you get them? I also think you’ll get more benefit from a softbox than an umbrella. If you could find a ‘Tin Cup’ type reflector large enough, that would go a long way toward directing the unit’s light output. I saw the configuration on how the lights were lit, but you didn’t show how you got 4 configurations with 3 switches. Oh and I took a look at your mounting setup and it looked fairly stable. Is there any ‘braking material’ on the screw or is it metal on metal?

Great job, I’ll be seriously looking at this design for my next light build.

]]> Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by Destination Wedding Photographer http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-143 Destination Wedding Photographer Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:37:56 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-143 Very nice tutorial w/ great pix all along the way. I was able to build this after looking yours over in just a few hours - I made a mistake by leaving the wires much to short and had to redo them, that and the bulbs didn't fit down into the deep sockets - so I had to shell out another $23 for socket extenders... that aside, I added two 3/4" pieces of ply wood cut to about 8" x 8" - stacked, glued, fastened together... drilled a hole... mounted the switch box to a 2" long 1/2" threaded piece that went thru the plywood into the light housing - so I ended up with a sandwiched bit of plywood which I intend on building into a softbox or justing using it as a mounting surface for brackets - etc. (yes, I considered sawing off the lamp holders to make the bulbs fit better, but didn't have time this time around) Very nice tutorial w/ great pix all along the way. I was able to build this after looking yours over in just a few hours – I made a mistake by leaving the wires much to short and had to redo them, that and the bulbs didn’t fit down into the deep sockets – so I had to shell out another $23 for socket extenders… that aside, I added two 3/4″ pieces of ply wood cut to about 8″ x 8″ – stacked, glued, fastened together… drilled a hole… mounted the switch box to a 2″ long 1/2″ threaded piece that went thru the plywood into the light housing – so I ended up with a sandwiched bit of plywood which I intend on building into a softbox or justing using it as a mounting surface for brackets – etc. (yes, I considered sawing off the lamp holders to make the bulbs fit better, but didn’t have time this time around)

]]> Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by Alex http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-109 Alex Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:22:13 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-109 Hi Gary The only change I made was accidental but rather convenient. I couldn't find a single hole lamp holder cover so I went for one with 3 holes. My power cord therefore feeds into the switchbox from underneath. Very vague explanation but you'll get the gist Alex Hi Gary

The only change I made was accidental but rather convenient. I couldn’t find a single hole lamp holder cover so I went for one with 3 holes. My power cord therefore feeds into the switchbox from underneath. Very vague explanation but you’ll get the gist

Alex

]]> Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by heymoe http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-108 heymoe Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:04:50 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-108 They look great! Did you run into any problems following my write up or have any tweaks / updates / recommendations that you would like to share? -Gary They look great!

Did you run into any problems following my write up or have any tweaks / updates / recommendations that you would like to share?

-Gary

]]> Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by Alex http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-107 Alex Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:19:17 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-107 Thanks for the hint! My bulbs arrived today so I'll check them out when I get back from work. I tried to post images without success. Here are the urls http://www.gtaband.la/spide1.jpg http://www.gtaband.la/spide2.jpg Thanks again Thanks for the hint! My bulbs arrived today so I’ll check them out when I get back from work.

I tried to post images without success. Here are the urls

http://www.gtaband.la/spide1.jpg

http://www.gtaband.la/spide2.jpg

Thanks again

]]> Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by heymoe http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-106 heymoe Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:47:12 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-106 Hi Alex, You're very welcome. I'm just glad others are finding this project helpful. Just as a FYI, I've heard reports that the bases of some CFL bulbs are a little bigger then the lamp holders will allow so you might have to modify your lamp holders to make them fit. Happy Shooting! -Gary Hi Alex,

You’re very welcome. I’m just glad others are finding this project helpful.

Just as a FYI, I’ve heard reports that the bases of some CFL bulbs are a little bigger then the lamp holders will allow so you might have to modify your lamp holders to make them fit.

Happy Shooting!

-Gary

]]> Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by Alex Smith http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-105 Alex Smith Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:15:17 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-105 Gary I owe you the biggest thank you for this blog! I'm making my first steps into photography and you just saved me close to a grand on my first lights! I can't wait to get the bulbs I've ordered to get to business! Highly recommendable and enjoyable project!! Gary I owe you the biggest thank you for this blog!

I’m making my first steps into photography and you just saved me close to a grand on my first lights!

I can’t wait to get the bulbs I’ve ordered to get to business!

Highly recommendable and enjoyable project!!

]]> Comment on DIY: Spiderlite by heymoe http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/2008/06/15/diy-spiderlite/comment-page-1#comment-100 heymoe Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:01:57 +0000 http://www.cerebralgibberish.com/?p=179#comment-100 Hi Brenda, I was initially looking at using the metal boxes but the store I was at didn't have matching metal boxes. You do have to punch out the holes in the plastic boxes but it's pretty easy to do with a screw-driver. I have not built one with the metal boxes but I'm sure they will work just as well. I'm using the 3/8" tip on my stand to mount the light to. The offset connector is bigger then the tip so it's not the most secure setup but works for now. I hope this answers your questions. Let me know if you have any others. -Gary Hi Brenda,

I was initially looking at using the metal boxes but the store I was at didn’t have matching metal boxes. You do have to punch out the holes in the plastic boxes but it’s pretty easy to do with a screw-driver. I have not built one with the metal boxes but I’m sure they will work just as well.

I’m using the 3/8″ tip on my stand to mount the light to. The offset connector is bigger then the tip so it’s not the most secure setup but works for now.

I hope this answers your questions. Let me know if you have any others.

-Gary

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