Cinematographer
Aus DoP-Perspektive ist dieses Element essentiell für die visuelle Gestaltung. Es ermöglicht mir die gewünschte Farbstimmung und das ästhetische Bild konsistent umzusetzen.
550W/77V variant of the ETC HPL lamp family for Source Four fixtures, designed for dimmer doubling applications.
Overview
The HPL 550 is a tungsten-halogen lamp from ETC's (Electronic Theatre Controls) HPL family. HPL stands for High Performance Lamp; the series was specifically developed for Source Four series luminaires (profile/ellipsoidal, Fresnel, PAR, zoom). It is characterized by its compact filament with an integrated aluminum heatsink and the two-pin G9.5 base, which precisely and reproducibly positions the lamp in the reflector.
Unlike the common standard lamp HPL 575/115 (575 W, 115 V, mains voltage), the HPL 550 is a 77-volt variant. It is not intended for direct mains operation but for ETC's Dimmer Doubling system (also called multiplexing): a Dimmer Doubler splits the SCR dimmer waveform in half and uses it to control two luminaires independently via a single dimmer channel. Each half effectively delivers around 77 V RMS – the HPL 550 is designed precisely for this.
Technical Data
The HPL 550 is available in a standard version (suffix typically /77) and a longer-life variant (suffix /77X). The long-life version achieves a significantly higher lifespan at the cost of slightly lower light output and lower color temperature.
| Feature | HPL 550/77 (Standard) | HPL 550/77X (Long Life) |
|---|---|---|
| Wattage | 550 W | 550 W |
| Voltage | 77 V | 77 V |
| Base | G9.5 | G9.5 |
| Color Temperature | approx. 3250 K | approx. 3050 K |
| Luminous Flux | approx. 16,170 lm | approx. 12,160 lm |
| Rated Life | approx. 300 h | approx. 2,000 h |
For safe differentiation, the 77-V version has an additional third pin on the base. It mechanically prevents the low-voltage lamp from being accidentally inserted into a luminaire with full mains voltage (which would immediately destroy the lamp). The lampholder of a Source Four prepared for Dimmer Doubling accommodates this additional pin.
Use on Set
In film and television, the HPL 550 is encountered almost exclusively in conjunction with Source Four luminaires operating in Dimmer Doubling mode – i.e., where double the number of independently controllable lighting circuits is to be obtained from limited dimmer and cable capacity. This is primarily a theatrical and studio practice but can also be useful in multi-camera productions with many individual circuits.
- Only use in 77-V-compatible (Dimmer Doubling) lampholders; not in standard Source Four sockets.
- As with all halogen/quartz lamps, never touch the glass bulb with bare fingers – skin oils lead to premature failure.
- The Long-Life version (/77X) delivers measurably less output and warmer light; consider the color temperature difference to the standard version for color-critical shots.
Those operating mains voltage Source Fours should instead use the sister lamp HPL 575 (115 V or 120 V).
From the crafts
Perspectives
Producer
Diese professionelle Lösung erhöht die Produktionseffizienz und reduziert Post-Production-Anforderungen. Sie ermöglicht flexible, schnelle Anpassungen während des Drehs.
Gaffer
Als Gaffer ist dies ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug meines täglichen Handwerkszeugs. Es ermöglicht mir professionelle Lichtkontrolle und schnelle Anpassungen auf Set, was Zeit spart und Qualität sichert.
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Test your knowledge
Quiz
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „HPL 550W"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?