Lighting Instruments:
PARCan

PARCan The PAR Can is designed as a holder and "top hat" for the 8 inch, 1000 watt PAR64 lamp. These rugged and efficient lamps, which gained popularity in the concert field, are typically used backstage for strong washes of down and back light. The size of the pool of light is determined by the throw and which of the four lamps the designer chooses. The VNSP (Very Narrow Spot) produces a strong visible shaft of light which can be used to simulate shafts of sun or moon light or create a Finger of God effect. (Cost of an Altman PARCan with a 1000w PAR64 lamp: $ 113.)

1. What is a PAR lamp?

PAR stands for Parabolic Aluminized Reflector. It is a self contained, sealed-beam lamp which includes a parabolic reflector, a filament, and a lens.

2. What sizes (wattages) of PAR lamps are used in the theatre?

1. 120 watt: PAR38. (Normally found in low budget community theatres.).
2. 300 watt: PAR56.
3. 500 watt: PAR56(Q) and PAR64.
4. 1000 watt: PAR64(Q).
   (The PAR56(Q) and PAR64(Q) are tungsten-halogen (or "quartz") lamps.)

3. What is the shape of the pool of light from a PAR64?

The shape of both the PAR56 and PAR64 is oval. The long axis is approximately twice the length of the short axis.

4. What is the diameter of the "lens" of a PAR64?

8 inches. The diameter of the bulb of an American lamp is specified in 1/8s if an inch. A PAR38 is 4 3/4" in diameter, a PAR56 is 7" and a T20 has a tube shaped bulb which is 2 1/2 inches across.

5. What four beam angles are available in 1000w/PAR64 lamps?

1. VNSP: Very Narrow Spot. (MF= .17 x .42)
2. NSP: Narrow Spot. (MF= .25 x .45)
3. MFL: Medium Flood. (MF= .375 x .8)
4. WFL: Wide Flood. (MF= .6 x .9)

6. Which of these lamps do we use at JFAC? Why?

WFL: Wide Flood. Why? Because the Wide FLood will produce a pool large enough to cover the width (approximately 10 feet) between two on-stage electric pipes.

7. How large a pool of light would be produced by a PAR64/WFL with a 24' throw?

14' -5" x 21' -7".
Math: 24' throw * .6 multiplication factor (short axis) = 14.4' = 14' -5" .
24' throw * .9 multiplication factor (long axis) = 21.6' = 21' -7"

8. In what part of the entertainment industry are PARCans the primary light source?

The PARCan was first used in the 1970's to light the large scale Rock Concerts staged in hockey arenas.

9. Where, and how, are PARCans used in the theatre?

PARCans are normally used back stage to create strong washes of back and down light.

10. What is a Source 4 PAR?

Source4 Par

Both ETC (Source 4 Par) and Altman (StarPar) have developed a 575 watt unit using a parabolic reflector to gather and focus the light. Like the PAR64, these instruments come with four interchangeable lenses -- VNSP (MF=.25), NSP (MF=.3), MFL (MF=.35x.5) and WFL (MF=.55x1). (Cost of an ETC Source 4 Par with a 575w lamp: $ 182)

11. What is an ACL?

ACL stands for Aircraft Landing Light, a 28v, 250 watt, PAR64 with a very short lamp life (about 25 hours) and an extremely narrow beam angle -- 5°, a 30' throw produces a 2' pool of light (MF=.07). Because of the low voltage, four units are traditionally wired in series and circuited into one dimmer. They produce a very intense shaft of light.

    What is a PinSpot?

A PinSpot or RainLight is a PARCan with a built in transformer (120 volt to 6 volt) designed to hold a low voltage 4 1/2" PAR lamp. Typically it uses a 30 watt, 6 volt PAR36 VNSP with a 5° beam angle (a 6v ACL). This lamp produces a 2' diameter, 76 foot-cnadle pool of light with a 24' throw. (Cost of a PinSpot with a 30watt, 6 volt lamp: $ 20.75 at StageTechnology)