LiteRibbon

Can I cut LiteRibbon anywhere I want?

Pretty much.  Literibbon has cut points every 3 LEDs where an incision can be made.

What is the minimum voltage I can run LiteRibbon?

Any voltage above 8V will fire LiteRibbon but normal operating voltage is 12V.

What is approximate Kelvin rating?

LiteRibbon cool is around 6000K, LiteRibbon warm is 3000K.  Hybrid LiteRibbon is adjustable from 3000K to 6000K

I know LiteRibbon is bendable, but can I curve it in the other direction?

Yes you can curve it in the other direction but it can only be done at certain radii.

Can I power from a running vehicle?

Yes.  Using the cigarette lighter adapter you can power it off of the automotive 12V outlets BUT it can overload the vehicle.  Most 12V auto electrical systems are not designed to handle 8A of continuous draw.  We strongly suggest using the Litegear Powermonitor so you don’t damage the electrical system.

How is wiring RGB and Hybrid LiteRibbon different that single color?

Does LiteRibbon flicker?

No if used with Litegear dimmers and control equipment.  It has been tested up to 1000fps.

Can I reuse LiteRibbon?

Yes!  That’s one of it’s attractive qualities!

Does LiteRibbon need a heat sink?

Generally speaking, no.  But depending on ventilation and the surrounding environment, it may need a heat sink.

How can I make a panel light of LiteRibbon?

It’s very easy. We’ll have an instructional video up on that soon but for now Please check out “How to Make a Pizza Box Light” in the Litegear U section of our site. It will give you an idea of how it’s done.

Can I use any type of Power Supply?

Yes. But it needs to put out 12VDC and is rated for the capacity of the LiteRibbon you are going to attach to it. Check out our power supply page.

How long will LiteRibbon operate on AA batteries?

That really depends on what kind of LiteRibbon (VHO,HO or SO) and also how long the run of LiteRibbon you are needing to power. 8 AA Alkiline batteries is roughly 2Ahr. That means you can power 1 full roll of SO LiteRibbon (2A draw) for 1 hour. 1 Roll of VHO LiteRibbon is 8A, so you 8AA would last less than 15 minutes. Please test that and let us know how it goes! We usually recommend Lithium A123 batteries for the longest life.

LED Controls

How low can I dim LED’s and still be flicker free?

You can dim them all the way! 100% to 1%. They won’t flicker.

What is the maximum length I can run on a dimmer?

Dimmer capacity is measured by total amperage not length. LiteDimmer Single can run an entire 5m roll of VHO Literibbon. That’s 8A max. A 5m roll of Standard Output is roughly 2A, so in theory you could have 4 5m rolls powering off of 1 LiteDimmer Single. Litegear Labs hasn’t tried that one out though so you are on your own.

Will LiteDimmer Single work with Rosco LitePad?

Yep! All of our power supplies, distribution and dimming are compatible with Rosco Litepad.

How much LiteRibbon can be powered by LiteDimmer 32?

LiteDimmer 32 is 32 channels. It can either power 32 channels of single color LiteRibbon, 10 channels of RGB LiteRibbon or 16 channels of Hybrid LiteRibbon.

Is LiteDimmer AC only?

No it can be powered by a deep cell 12V DC battery. See “On The Job” VW for an example.

Does LiteDimmer 32 have wireless DMX ability?

Yep! It has an onboard wireless system which is compatible with the WDMX protocol.

xFlo

What kind of dimmer can be used to control xFlo?

Pretty much any kind. Variac, Hand Dimmer (triac), and SCR (which is pretty much the industry standard for 1.2K or 2.4K racks or pack)

What is the maximum length for xFlo head feeders?

There isn’t one but line loss is a consideration. The max we sell is 12′ but let us know how long you go!

Can I run just 1 tube?

Yes. just plug it into the 1 tube output on the powerpole out.

What different types of lamps can the xFlo power?

Lots of them! In T8 diameter:18″,2′,3′,4′ and 54″. xFlo can also power Linear T5 Biax tubes. T12 size tubes can also be powered.

Will the xFlo damage standard lamps?

Litegear Labs has discovered that over long periods standard lamps will be damaged by using xflo. Standard tubes will be overdriven thus shortening their life and boosting the green spike. Litegear recommends using the Powrflo 32 ballasts instead to power standard lamps.

What about Ghost Loads?

With some type of dimmers a ghost load is necessary when dimming below 30%. Usually adding a ghost load of 25w causes the problem to go away. Please test xFlo with your dimming system to confirm low dimming capability.

Can xFlo turn on instantly?

No. It takes a second or so. It’s called program start which means the ballast uses a mechanism to protect itself from faulty bulbs which could potentially damage the ballast.

Powrflo

Do I need to have an understanding of basic electricity to use Powrflo?

As a rule, a knowledge of basic electricity is good when messing around with power BUT Powrflo is pretty easy to use. You will need to be able to identify your power source leads to connect to the ballast.

Can I use any type of lampholder?

No. Only standard lampholders or sockets will do. Shunted sockets or lampholders will damage the ballasts.

Does the unit turn on instantly?

No. Like it’s big brother xFlo, Powrflo ballasts take a second or so to fire the tubes. This is due to a process called program start which means the ballast uses a mechanism to protect itself from faulty bulbs which could potentially cause damage.

If I use the high-output version, will it damage standard lamps?

Litegear Labs has discovered that over long periods standard lamps will be damaged by using Powrflo 55. Standard tubes will be overdriven thus shortening their life and boosting the green spike. Litegear recommends using the Powrflo 32 ballast instead to power standard lamps.

xStrip

Can I use medium base socket adapters?

Yes.

What is the maximum wattage of lamp that can be used?

In medium base, 500w in Mogul base, 1000w.

Are there switches for each socket?

No. Each xStrip is fed with industry standard soco feed. This allows the user to control the each channel individual as they see fit.

Can I position the fixture on a stand?

xStrip is intended to be a hung fixture. It is currently fitted with Pipe couplers.

LiteGear

Where are you guys located?

We are located in beautiful Burbank, CA in the greater Los Angeles area.

Can you do custom work?

Yes! LiteGear has done custom work for many feature films,TV shows, commercials, Art installs and architectural projects. Give us a call and let’s talk.

Who are some of your clients?

Our products have been in the following projects: Star Trek, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Bones, Sex and the City 2, Bedtime Stories, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen, The Mentalist, Couples Retreat, and many, many more.