TargetTalk

We have an indoor range with inadequate lighting on the targets at 50 feet. Currently, there are small spotlights at each firing point which place some light on each target. But, it is nowhere near the required ISSF minimum.

In the past, I have had success in improving the lighting by placing 500w halogen work lamps on the floor in front of the targets. The lights were placed about 3 meters in front of the targets, turned up to point to the targets, and located between each set of two targets. Using this method, the targets were well lit and the background was also brightened so the contrast was not bad. BTW, this solution was shown to me by the Charlotte R&P Club. Thanks, Eli!

In our range, it is no longer possible to go downrange to place the lights. I am looking for a light solution that can be placed at the firing point. Does anyone know of a solution for this problem?

Thanks,

Stan

Why not permanently mount them on the ceiling?

Pat McCoy wrote:Why not permanently mount them on the ceiling?

Exactly .... we ran EZ-Strut, or whatever it's called, across the ceiling, ran a set of outlet boxs and mounted 300W Halogens at 10' 3meters back from the firing point.
Initially installed 500watters, but they burn up too quick and really suck the juice. we have one 300w lamp for each firing point on two circuits ... 20A for each 5 points.
If you have them positioned well, one can burn out and you'll hardly know it.

The 300W fixtures are about $12-13 each and are quick to replace and we buy the bulbs in the 4-paks.

I know the ceiling mount is the way to go, but this range is used by every yahoo in the club with every conceivable handgun round below a .50 cal. Downrange lights would have to be protected from anti-tank rounds, and that is a bigger fix than what I am looking for.

Stan

If you are talking about a fixed distance I would strongly suggest the new LED spotlights available in the market, I installed one at home and was very pleased with the result.
I would mount them in the range ceiling under protection, they are BRIGHT and expensive for now, and seem to behave like day light (blue light).

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R ... ogId=10053

forgot the link

Stan, you are - as they say - hosed. The inverse square law has not been repealed, and a light source that is adequate at 8 foot distance as it might be with ceiling placement will only be 1/36 as bright at 50 feet.

There are extremely narrow spots, but they are high wattage / high heat / high cost and are designed for theater lighting, etc.

Protecting each ceiling fixtures and hiding them behind a 60˚ sloped plate a foot or so in front of them should do the trick. Better still, hide them behind an almost vertical plate of sufficient hardness so that yahoos' bullets bounce back, hit them in the forehead, and maybe knock some sense into them.

First, You need a Light Meter!

I have and recommend this one - http://www.calright.com/pd_534.aspx

Calright CI-1010 Digital Light Meter: 50000 Lux

Condition: Brand New / Price: $59.00

The model CI-1010 is our most economical digital light meter available. The CI-1010 is compact, light-weight and easy to use.

Features:

Large, easy to read LCD display
Compact, light-weight design
Measuring range from 1 to 50,000 lux
Data-Hold function
Auto zero adjustment


But really any one that will give you readings from 0 - 3,000 will work.

My research shows that 500w halogen bulbs will normally give 1100 lumns at 7' or less, depending on the string of lights on a particular circuit. To get the lighting you're looking for, you will not be able to exceed 7' with a 500w bulb. Less watage bulbs will have to be closer.

Roy McClain
www.OleMillRange.org

IPshooter wrote:I know the ceiling mount is the way to go, but this range is used by every yahoo in the club with every conceivable handgun round below a .50 cal. Downrange lights would have to be protected from anti-tank rounds, and that is a bigger fix than what I am looking for.

Stan

If you want to protect the light you can mount some angled steel plates in front of the ceiling mounts. This is the way some police ranges will do.

Stan: I used to shoot at a local indoor range with the same problem. I found some clamps that went with some small halogen "AC" work lights.

I then found some cheap but very bright LED flashlights and mounted them to the clamps. With a little adjustemnt, I was able to clamp to the overhead target frame (the mobile part above the target) and get some good illumination on the target itself.

Basically, its a home make clamp on flashlight. You might be able to find some already made these days.

While not as bright as the big 300W haolgens on the floor, the proximity to the target (right above it) and the new LED lights make it much better than the standard indoor range lighting. No AC power to worry about and you can take them back home so they will not get shot up by the general public.

I have a couple I can bring to Charlotte to show you if you are going to shoot the NC Indoor match next weekend.


Cecil Rhodes

Has anyone looked at using some of the high intensity LED lamps for these purposes? They make these to go into existing flourescent fixtures, but the bulbs run direct off of 110/60HZ

While I certainly like our current (300W) halogens, across all 10 lanes thats 3KW and uses a lot of power. Bulbs and fixtures are inexpensive, but wonder if an "investment" of a lower power light would be worth it?

Joel,

Fixed point as in electronic target or single bull, Yes. Hanging all 3 x 10 or 3 x 20 No. It's lumns and distance from the target that equal 1100 or greater. I don't see how you're getting even distribution across all individual bulls in all three positions with a 300w bulb. Have you actually used a light meter to check every individual bull in all three positions?

The Only fixtures ($124.00 each without bulbs) we fould that will do this from a hanging position has to be purchased from a commercial lighting outlet.

Roy

jhmartin wrote:Has anyone looked at using some of the high intensity LED lamps for these purposes? They make these to go into existing flourescent fixtures, but the bulbs run direct off of 110/60HZ

While I certainly like our current (300W) halogens, across all 10 lanes thats 3KW and uses a lot of power. Bulbs and fixtures are inexpensive, but wonder if an "investment" of a lower power light would be worth it?

I think it does, they use 80% less energy, cost more, but last much longer and have less maintenance.

GCSInc wrote:Have you actually used a light meter to check every individual bull in all three positions?

Roy, I have not. We have relatively good lighting on the standing targets with the normal building lights. I normally "aim" the center of the halogen beam at the top of the kneeling targets and have "good" light across all.

I'll admit "good" is a relative term, but we're better than what we see in matches ... even at the OTC. Their fixtures are wearing out and builbs for them are hard to find I guess ... they were down to putting halogens on the floor in front of some of the 50m points this past weekend. Next time you're there, take your meter, don't know if they even have one. Gary T would know.

"Guest" (one above) .. thanks for the link, cost made me uneasy, but for the power they run I could hang multiples and still be way under our circuit limits.

What is the rule regarding light on targets?
How many Foot Candles or Lumens?
I picked up a light meter on ebay, just because I started to realize that I did better every time I showed up an hour earlier to the matches, don't know if it is all about iris adjustment, but some of it is.
Plan to evaluate light at targets on all ranges I compete at, and try to train at that luminosity to see if that is a variable of significance.