Does aputure light run hot? at DVinfo.net

Peter Wu · May 4th, 2022, 01:54 PM

I have an aputure 200x that seems to generates a lot of heat at max output.

I have another light, jinbei 150D that seems to generates a lot less heat. Yes this light is 50W less but the heat that comes out of the aputure seems to be several times put out by this jinbei.

This is subjective feel or course because I don't have a means to measure heat output. But is anyone else noticing this?

Paul R Johnson · May 12th, 2022, 11:41 PM

200w is a lot of heat to dissipate. Pretty much everything over 100w will have heat sinks or fans or both.

John Nantz · May 13th, 2022, 08:40 PM

In order to get a better hadle on what the temperature is doing, there are some fairly inexpensive infrared (IR) thermometers or temperature sensors available in the $20 > $30/40 range. They should be good enough to just do comparisons with.

For comparison purposes, accuracy isn’t necessarily needed. For accuracy they typcially need a correction factor that is a function of the surface. Even a cheap one is a very handy gadget to have available.

To approach this more scientifically, (with more effort), one might try using the cam as a light meter and the fact that light intensity varies as the inverse square of the distance. Move the two light sources back and fourth to get the same cam reading then measure the light source temperatures.

This would be good for one data-point.

Peter Wu · June 26th, 2022, 05:14 PM

Measuring the temperature of the light would favor lights with stronger fans.

I would put the light in a box with a glass lid for the light (energy) to escape but trap all the heat in the box. Pujt a fan in the box to make sure all the heat comes out of the light and is evenly distributed inside the box. Then measure the temperature rise over time inside the box.

The box can be calibrated with a hair dryer or space heater with known wattage.

I am hoping some youtube reviewers would do the job for me, haha.

Until this is done, no video light makers would pay attention to light efficiency.

Pete Cofrancesco · June 26th, 2022, 07:41 PM

Mono lights run hot even LEDs. So what's the issue?

May 4th, 2022, 01:54 PM	#1
Peter Wu Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 43	Does aputure light run hot? I have an aputure 200x that seems to generates a lot of heat at max output. I have another light, jinbei 150D that seems to generates a lot less heat. Yes this light is 50W less but the heat that comes out of the aputure seems to be several times put out by this jinbei. This is subjective feel or course because I don't have a means to measure heat output. But is anyone else noticing this?

May 12th, 2022, 11:41 PM	#2
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,016	Re: Does aputure light run hot? 200w is a lot of heat to dissipate. Pretty much everything over 100w will have heat sinks or fans or both.

May 13th, 2022, 08:40 PM	#3
John Nantz Trustee Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,252	Re: Does aputure light run hot? In order to get a better hadle on what the temperature is doing, there are some fairly inexpensive infrared (IR) thermometers or temperature sensors available in the $20 > $30/40 range. They should be good enough to just do comparisons with. For comparison purposes, accuracy isn’t necessarily needed. For accuracy they typcially need a correction factor that is a function of the surface. Even a cheap one is a very handy gadget to have available. To approach this more scientifically, (with more effort), one might try using the cam as a light meter and the fact that light intensity varies as the inverse square of the distance. Move the two light sources back and fourth to get the same cam reading then measure the light source temperatures. This would be good for one data-point.

June 26th, 2022, 05:14 PM	#4
Peter Wu Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 43	Re: Does aputure light run hot? Measuring the temperature of the light would favor lights with stronger fans. I would put the light in a box with a glass lid for the light (energy) to escape but trap all the heat in the box. Pujt a fan in the box to make sure all the heat comes out of the light and is evenly distributed inside the box. Then measure the temperature rise over time inside the box. The box can be calibrated with a hair dryer or space heater with known wattage. I am hoping some youtube reviewers would do the job for me, haha. Until this is done, no video light makers would pay attention to light efficiency.

June 26th, 2022, 07:41 PM	#5
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 2,995	Re: Does aputure light run hot? Mono lights run hot even LEDs. So what's the issue?