Thread: Promotional Search Light?

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I know the promotional hollywood type search light in the sky is expensive. I was wondering if anyone has built there own or knows wattage of light etc. to build one? I live in NY Westchester and most places want approx 525 for 3 hrs a night. Thanks

Are you looking to make a functional searchlight, or just a prop?
The actual lights use pretty intense sources of illumination (xenon arc lamp - and just the bulbs seem pretty expensive, not including the hardware needed to power them and keep them cool enough not to explode).

If it's simply a prop you want, to accentuate the look of your haunt, you could probably make one with a halogen shop lamp as the light source - perhaps cut a plastic water barrel in half, line the inside with mirrored window film, and put together a framework to hold the lamp away from the sides, pointing in, so the light is reflected out.

We bought two of them from overseas (cheaper) and they were $10,000 each. The bulbs had two filaments and were about $750 each. You could see them for 2-3 miles when they were focused properly. There are some lower-intensity ones out there for as low as $4000-$6000. Anything cheaper than that, and you probably don't want it. We bought ours, but I would look into renting if I were you. Be aware you are gonna need some power for this. These are not cheap to run...these take 220v minimum.

I have read some sights not using Xenon anymore and wanted to know what are they using? Renting they want 525 for 3 hrs a night thats costly for 8 weekends.

I have a High Intesity 99-01 Acura TL Xenon HID Headlight Inverter Assm. I put the whole assm on ebay for $250.00
If you have intrest in it, I would let it go for $200.00, these components sell for over $700.00.
All you need is 12vdc to make it work.
If you want to try it.
MM

Depending on how far away you want it to be seen and how low the clouds are, you might also look at buying (2) 10 - 15 million candle power flashlights and rigging them to mimic the oscillating motion of the Hollywood lights. These flashlights go as cheep as $20-$50 (at least under $100) and are brutally bright.