Question for Lumenarc Owners

[sphelps]

I use 250W lumenmax 3 reflectors, they are very similar to the lumenarc mini but use DE bulbs. They have glass shields and have no issues with heat.

[dbdavid]

Originally Posted by sphelps

I use 250W lumenmax 3 reflectors, they are very similar to the lumenarc mini but use DE bulbs. They have glass shields and have no issues with heat.

Thanks everyone, I had the glass cut but was afraid the heat build-up inside the reflector would cause issues. I would rather clean glass than try to keep the aluminium polished.

I have designed the rack so that I can just lift out each refector making cleaning easier.

Dave

[sphelps]

Did you have the glass tempered? It's pretty important if you use thin glass like 3mm. If you used 5 or 6mm you should be ok with non-tempered.

[dbdavid]

No It is not tempered. It is pretty thin, I beleive it is 3mm. Does tempering add strength or does it just cut down on the large shards if it breaks? Do glass shops normally offer this service or should I have ordered it tempered?

Dave

[JDigital]

I thought Lumenarcs and Lumenmax reflectors came with the UV glass??... I know my Lumenmax's did.

[sphelps]

3mm glass should be tempered to increase its strength. If it's not tempered it could crack from the heat and/or water splash. Thinner glass is better so less light is filtered but if thinner glass is used it needs to be tempered. Glass supplied with reflectors is always tempered, as far as I know.

Most halide reflectors that come with shields such as the lumenmax 3 use low-emissivity glass. This is because such reflectors use DE bulbs which require a UV shield. SE bulbs do not require a UV shield so any glass can be used.

Tempering is not always offered by glass shops. Most glass shops will have to cut the glass and then send it out for tempering or order the tempered glass pre-cut. You cannot cut or drill glass once tempered. If you did not ask for tempered glass, you didn't get tempered glass. I would recommend either ordering new glass which is either thicker or tempered.

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by JDigital

I thought Lumenarcs and Lumenmax reflectors came with the UV glass??... I know my Lumenmax's did.

They probably do if you get the DE model, mine were SE so glass was "optional" I guess.

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by christyf5

They probably do if you get the DE model, mine were SE so glass was "optional" I guess.

Yea, I suppose that would make sense..

I was just looking at Sunlight Supplies website, and you are right.. The Lumenmax Elite HQI's come with glass, the Lumenmax Elite Mogul's don't mention it being included in the description.

[chevyjaxon]

Originally Posted by dbdavid

No It is not tempered. It is pretty thin, I beleive it is 3mm. Does tempering add strength or does it just cut down on the large shards if it breaks? Do glass shops normally offer this service or should I have ordered it tempered?

Dave

tempering makes the glass harder and more brittle but the upside is yes it is stronger but will still turn into big shards if broken, safety glass is the glass that turns into cubes if it is shattered it is simply laminated, it was invented by auto manufacturers to make windshields more safe for you to fly through if you hit a pole

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by chevyjaxon

tempering makes the glass harder and more brittle but the upside is yes it is stronger but will still turn into big shards if broken, safety glass is the glass that turns into cubes if it is shattered it is simply laminated, it was invented by auto manufacturers to make windshields more safe for you to fly through if you hit a pole

Actually this is not correct. Tempered glass will always shatter into small oval pebbles when broken. Tempered glass is often referred to as safety glass because of this reason.

When it comes to automotive glass all glass except the windshield is regular tempered glass. This however would not work for the windshield, instead it is made of laminated glass which is two pieces of glass sandwiched around a piece of plastic. Windshields are not tempered.