Thread: Best light solution for thunder effect

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So I've been curious to know what type of light most of you use for simulating your lightning effect.

I've always used 2 floodlights, but I'm seeing more and more people suggesting strobes.

So which looks best?

Strobes have pre-set on/off rates. Lightning doesn't look like a strobe light, with very regular bursts of light. Floodlight bulbs can give you a sort of "yellowish" color particularly at lower wattages, when the thunder sounds are tapering off. Try using photoflood bulbs, available at camera stores for a few bucks. They are extremely bright and do not have the low wattage issue. Don't let the "3 hour bulb life" thing bother you - I've been using the same set of one white/one blue for three years and they still look great. You won't be disappointed.

It can be done very effectively with strobe lights, but you need very bright ones and more than one. It can get pricey, but here's what mine looked like last year:



Four 1000 watt strobes which I set at slightly different flash rates. Then I would put them on for several short bursts just a hair before the thunder sound hit. The bursts were not uniform lengths and the slightly different flash rates between the strobes gave a very convincing effect.

To me, it looked much more 'electrical' than flashing a spotlight.

I kept the power to all the strobes on at all times and turned them on and off using a relays. This way I could even have a couple come on and then the other two facing a slightly different direction.

Gave the effect of chaos and a very busy storm with light from multiple lightning strikes all around.

Add to that thunder sounds played from a second story window at 600 watts, and you have a very authentic looking and sounding storm.

My strobes were set about 25 feet off the ground and were behind where all the people would gather. The people had their backs to the strobes, so when they flashed, the scene in front of them would light up, but they would not see the source.

And if it rained....?

I had 4 clear tupperwear containers large enough to hold one strobe light each ready to go.

I planned on sealing them inside the containers and sealing all around the lids with silicone.

All wires would enter from the bottom, so rain would not enter there, and I would add a hole or two on the bottom to prevent overheating. Shouldn't be an issue, however, since they are not on continuously.

It would be a real bummer if it rained, and there would be several things I would not have been able to use outdoors, but I did have a plan for these. I even bought the containers and was ready to go.

Nice! Four 1000W strobes would certainly give you one hecka lightning storm. I never thought of multiple strobes set at different rates. I'd love to see that in action - any video?

Sorry, I didn't get any video, and that was part of the stuff I sold last year when I moved.

I just bought one new strobe light again now, however. Slowly building back up.

Got a 750 Watt strobe on ebay for $55.00. Pretty good deal. About $10.00 for shipping.

Go with Halloween Bobs suggestion and use the photo flood lights, I goy some from Hobby Lobby they look like regualr light bulbs but are brighter and have a whiter light. Also get some of those metal reflectors from the hardware store, get the kind with the ceramic base, they also come with a clamp.. As Bob said for the price there hard to beat. If you're using them outside don't even try the cheap mini strobe lights that most stores sell around halloween just not enough power, however they would work fine indoors.

That would be Otaku's suggestion, mine was to use strobe lights....Big Bright ones.

I used the method that BigScreamtv came up with & it works great!
Much more realistic lightning than just using strobes.
Need the following:
2 normal strobe lights
1 night light
1 extension cord
1 flicker plug

Plug the flicker plug into the male end of the extension cord. Plug in the night light, then plug in the strobes. Finally plug in the cord to power it up. Turn on the night light. The current will heat up the flicker plug in a few minutes. Adjust the strobes to alter flickering between the two. When the flicker plug is heated up, it will draw power from the light night dimming it as the strobes go off. But, the strobes will actually flicker & look more realistic!

Check out the video to see it for yourself.
YouTube - Halloween Home Haunt