Hey,

I'm considering buying a couple of these fellas but was wondering if anyone who currently uses them would have any advice. I've got a couple of questions...

• Is 500w too high or just about right?
  
• What's really the difference between a 110V and 240V lamp in terms of performance?
  
• Has anyone successfully made/attached barndoors to these at all? If not, do you think it would be possible?
  
• Any experiences of these lights from anyone?
  

Of course; I realise this a very low budget stuff but for the time being I think it could do the job.

Anyway, look forward to hearing from you guys. Happy shooting.

The voltage has to do with how the electricity in your home (or wherever you're using it) is wired. In the US, outlets are wired for up to 120V so you would get the 110V bulbs. Europe (as I understand it) is wired up to 240V, so you would get the 240V bulbs. That's at least how I understand it to be. I don't know if you would be able to use the 110V bulbs, but I would suggest you use the 240V because they'll draw less amperage for the same amount of watts.
500W is a good size, I suppose. You might consider getting lower wattage bulbs that you could switch out if you really didn't need the large amount of light or heat was an issue.

I have never used these lights, but from the looks of them, you would be better off buying a roll of black wrap (cinefoil) and just keeping it handy to wrap around the lights or fasten rather than making barndoors because it could end up being more versatile anyway. But it doesn't seem that there would be anything keeping you from being able to fashion some sort of barndoors to fit on these instruments if that's the route you want to go.

Good luck!

Yaeh they good enough for indie. Some camera's have a function just for halogen.

I've heard of guys that have made barn doors for them... You should look around for redheads. They already come with barn doors.

yeah red heads are dope

This music video was shot completely with those halogen worklights. Buy 500w dimmers to go with them.