Mole-Richardson 6 kW Molequartz Spacelite (Type 7291)

Last Updated 58 minutes ago

Overview

Mole-Richardson 6 kW Spacelite Type 7291 with its full black skirt and chain hanger

The Type 7291 puts six 1 kW tungsten lamps over a 36¼-inch silk target. With the black skirt fitted, one head delivers 28 fc at 15 ft and its field is 21 ft wide. The six circuits give the board operator a way to step down output while keeping the active globes at full voltage.

Key specifications

SpecificationType 7291
Full lamp load6 × 1,000 W with FCM lamps
Rated supply120/240 V AC or DC, with lamps matched to the supply
Combined current50 A with a full set of 120 V FCMs
Circuit arrangementSix 1 kW circuits on a panel-mounted male Socapex
Head diameter27¾ in.
Weight16 lb bare head, 34 lb with black skirt, silk and target
Mounting and reflectorAttached chain hanger, Alzak aluminium reflector

Replacement lamps

The head takes double-ended T-3 quartz lamps with recessed single contacts and a 4 11/16-inch overall length. Mole specifies horizontal operation within 4°. The ratings below are per lamp. Look up the FCM lamp code.

LampPowerVoltageRated colourFinishRated life
FCM1,000 W120 V3,200 KClear300 h
FHM1,000 W120 V3,200 KFrosted300 h
EME800 W240 V3,200 KClear250 h
EMF800 W240 V3,200 KFrosted250 h
EMD750 W120 V3,200 KFrosted400 h
EJG750 W120 V3,200 KClear400 h
FDF500 W120 V3,200 KClear400 h
FDN500 W120 V3,200 KFrosted400 h
FCL500 W120 V3,000 KClear2,600 h
EHM300 W120 V2,950 KClear2,000 h
EHZ300 W120 V2,950 KFrosted2,000 h

Strengths and limitations

  • The full skirt keeps much of the spill off nearby walls. With the outer skirt removed, the glowing white cylinder can act as a broad source for both the subject and background.
  • The full black skirt hangs 43 inches below its attachment. Allow for the fabric as well as the head when planning a low ceiling or a wide shot.

Practical uses

Over a standing set, the black skirt can keep the tops of the walls dark while the bottom target lights the action. For a broader wash, expose the silk cylinder. When laying out a grid, the 27 ft field at a 20 ft throw marks roughly half the centre intensity at its edge. Check the overlap where the actors travel.

Output and photometrics

Mole tested the head with 1,000 W, 120 V FCM globes rated at 3,200 K. The lux figures are converted from the published foot-candles and rounded.

Black skirt, white silk and bottom target

Throw is measured down from the fixture. Field width is the diameter at about half the centre intensity.

Throw below headCentre (fc)Centre (lx)Field diameter
10 ft6570014 ft
15 ft2830121 ft
20 ft1617227 ft
25 ft1010835 ft
30 ft77541 ft

White silk and bottom target, outer black skirt removed

Mole labels its open-silk diagram by diameter. Choose the diameter marked on the diagram when looking up an intensity. The skirted table uses vertical throw below the head.

Chart diameterIlluminance (fc)Illuminance (lx)
10 ft65700
15 ft28301
20 ft16172
25 ft10108
30 ft775

Exposure at a measured setup

Select a measured position. Set the ISO, frame rate and shutter angle to estimate the incident-meter aperture.

Chart reading and exposure

Illuminance…lux
Foot-candles…fc
Approximate f-stop…nearest 1/3 stop

Select a configuration to calculate.

The chart uses 1,000 W FCM lamps at 120 V. Different fabrics, lamps and dimmer levels change the output. Mole-Richardson photometric sheet.

Power and controls

Six independently accessible 1 kW circuits feed the head through its Socapex connector. At 120 V, six FCMs draw about 8.3 A each and 50 A in total. Mole lists adapters that group circuits, so the cable package determines how many groups reach the dimmer.

Skirts, target and mounting

The white skirt diffuses the light around the sides. The target stretches across the bottom. The outer black skirt cuts the side light while leaving the bottom opening. Mole specifies these parts for the Type 7291.

AccessoryMole partDimensions
Full black skirt729-3538½ in. diameter × 43 in. long
White silk skirt729-3633½ in. diameter × 36 in. long
Silk target729-3736¼ in. diameter

Comparable fixture

At a 20 ft throw with the full black skirt, the 12 kW model gives 36 fc and this 6 kW gives 16 fc. The larger head takes a 54¼-inch target. 12 kW Spacelite (Type 7281).

Field coverage

MPS lists the Type 7291 with six FCM lamps and quotes the same 28 fc at 15 ft as Mole. Red Star’s 6K rental description also specifies diffusion and a spill skirt. MPS Type 7291 listing. Red Star’s 6 kW package.

Spacelights on a music-video set

Adorama Rental points to the overhead rig in Kimbra’s “Cameo Lover” shoot as an example of several Spacelites working together. The behind-the-scenes footage shows the arrangement. The exact head sizes are unconfirmed. Adorama Rental’s breakdown.

Rental and used-fixture checks

Confirm how the rental breakout groups the six circuits, and label the console channels accordingly. Test the lamp banks against the actual silk before choosing which banks to switch out.

Documentation

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