Mega Double System

The first thing to note about the Mega Double System is that it consists of four components: Mega Double Fixture
(fig. 1), Mounting Plate (fig. 2), Ballast (fig. 3) and Extension Cable (fig. 4). It was designed in this manner to allow the greatest flexibility when working on film production where the gaffer and DP are constantly being challenged to light unique locations and problem solve at a moments notice.

Sometimes size does matter, so Kino Flo introduced a larger version of its popular 2ft and 4ft Select Double lighting systems. The new line is called Mega, as opposed to Select, and uses 6ft and 8ft T-12 bi-pin Lamps. The Mega series gives broader coverage to large areas, especially when using silks, backlighting photographic panels or building soft boxes to light automobiles or other large objects.

Even though it is a large source, the Mega Double 8ft system only draws 3.8 Amps at 120vac and can plug into any
wall socket on location. With its narrow profile, the Mega Double can approximate the quality of light from bounced sources and a tremendous amount of "wrap".

The Harness wiring is color-coded. The same color-code must match at each end of the lamp for proper operation.

Red Yellow

Fixture can be used in several configurations:

1) Complete fixture with all components combined
2) "Harness only" — The wiring harness is removed from the fixture so the user can build a softbox,
    hide behind Plexiglass or rig into tight locations. The wiring harness uses Kino Flo designed lamp connectors
    that grab the lamp pins so lamps can be operated independently of the fixture.
3) "Harness + Reflector" — Same as above, but may want to use the reflector to give more punch and direction
    to the light.
4) Can use Louver to give direction to the light or remove Louver to give broad coverage over an area - such as     lighting over a car, motorcycle or other large objects.

The fixtures can take a variety of lamps. They can be used as a daylight source by using Kino Flo KF55 lamps or
a tungsten source using Kino Flo KF32 or KF29 lamps. A variety of visual effects for blue and green screen as well
as designer colors are available.

Kino Flo lamps are color correct and safety-sleeved. The lamps are safety sleeved because they can operate inside the fixture or independently with only the wiring harness. Additionally, on a production set the lamps are often changed out. The safety-sleeving offers protection during lamp changes for the user as well as the talent on the set.

    Double BatWing
       (BAT-W2)

             MTP-KM                                    
           

                                                      Mega Double Ballast (Controls View)

There is no delay when switching lamps: the ballast operates the lights on/off instantly. There is also a special
Select switch designated as HO/Std (High-Output/Standard Output) to raise or drop the wattage in the tubes
for light output and color control. Keeping the ballast remote from the fixture and lamps makes the controls more accessible to lighting crews who might need to rig the fixtures into set designs or high up in a lighting grid, but
switch them easily from a convenient location on the stage floor.

The Kino Flo Mega Double Ballast accomplishes all this and still out-performs tungsten lighting instruments 10 to 1 when it comes to energy efficiency. In other words, the Mega Double uses 1/10th as much power to produce the same amount of soft light as incandescents. The Mega ballast works reliably under most normal conditions, but it's also trustworthy in more harsh conditions, such as extreme cold: The Mega ballast series is designed to operate at temperatures from 14F to 122F (-10C to +50C).

In extremely cold temperatures, the ballast may not strike the lamp(s) initially because the lamp may need to
warm up. Switch the ballast to Off, wait seven seconds and try again. If the ballast does not strike after two
or three attempts, turn off the ballast, check that the extension and harness connections are secure and re-strike. Once operating for a few minutes, the lamps should re-strike instantly.

     
  
                X09-25M                                    X09-A7M                                  X09-A19M

Up to 75 feet (3 x 25ft) of extension cable can be used between the fixture and the ballast. The Mega 4Bank,
Mega Double & Mega Single family are electrically compatible. A splitter can be used at the Ballast or on the end
of an extension cable to split a Mega Double ballast into two Mega Single fixtures. In addition, a combiner can connect a number of smaller ballasts to a larger fixture. For example, two Mega Double ballasts can be combined to a Mega 4Bank extension or fixture. This allows for a lot of rigging flexibility.

Traditionally 6ft and 8ft high output lamps come with a Recessed Double Cathode. In order to use the 6ft and 8ft lamps with Kino Flo's Locking Lamp Connector, Kino Flo's lamps have a standard bi-pin configuration. If the lamps
are to be used for swapping out existing fixtures on location, a removable adapater can be used.

           EXP-RDC

A discussion of the various lamps available for use in the Mega Double System in the Lamp Section provides more
information on the types of lamps available from Kino Flo. It's important to know that the True Match daylight
and tungsten 6ft tubes and 8ft tubes common on sets around the world are unique to Kino Flo because they
display broad, even color correct light that cinematographers have come to depend on. These are the only high color rendering fluorescent lamps made for the professional film and video production.

All True Match lamps used in the Mega Double Fixture are available safety-coated. Safety coating protects the user from glass if the tube breaks. The lamps can operate independent of the fixture allowing them to be built into sets or custom soft boxes or hand-held.