HMI lights are a specialist item only for use by experienced 3^rd year students.

Be sure you have read the “Introduction to Light Safety” document and are familiar with the Safe Working Procedure for standard lighting.

HMI lights have extra safety risks and operational procedures compared to standard lighting. 

• Use of HMI lighting equipment is permitted to approved and trained students only.
• Curtin students must work in pairs when operating the HMI light.
• ARRI HMI lights are intended for professional studio and location applications and may only be operated by trained/qualified persons.

HMI  -  Hydrargyrum Medium-arc Iodide Hydrargyrum is Latin for mercury. A HMI lamp uses mercury vapour mixed with metal halides in a quartz glass envelope, with two tungsten electrodes of medium arc separation. HMIs need electrical ballasts which are separated from the head via a header cable, to limit current and supply the proper voltage.

 Safety procedures in transporting and handling lighting equipment

• Protection safety gloves and protective footwear is highly recommended to prevent injuries when working with lights, stands and heavy cases.
• When moving and lifting be aware of the weight of equipment and use correct lifting technique.
• It is recommended that 2 people lift the HMI light onto the stand.
• When laying cables, avoid any danger or damage caused by vehicles or any tripping hazard to personnel, where possible use suitable cable protection covers.
• Ensure all electrical and lighting equipment, the cables and ballast and its electric protection systems have been tested and tagged by the store before every use.
• The HMI light must be operated from a Portable Power Block for your safety.
• Do not use the HMI light in wet or raining conditions, do not use in areas with moisture, condensation or dust.
• Do not switch on the lamp head without a lamp.
• Do not switch on the lamp head without the double protection glass.

Danger of fire, burning or melting

• The HMI light has to be installed a safe distance from all inflammable material.
• Do not cover any ventilation openings of the light, to prevent overheating.
• Avoid people or flammable objects being closer than 5 meters in the light beam.
• Avoid flammable objects with-in 2 meters of the top or sides of the light.
• Lighting equipment will get very hot during use.
• There is a danger of overheating when exceeding the tilt angle of +/- 45 degrees
• Do not point the light directly up or down as heat build-up may occur
• Closing barn doors can lead to overheating of floodlight.
• Note minimum distances when lighting through glass, windows or close to decorative displays, because these materials can melt or burn due to excessive heat.

Avoid tilting the light beyond 45 degrees  up or down as it increases the heat build-up inside the light

Danger caused by UV radiation

• Ultra Violet radiation emitted by HMI floodlights can cause health problems like sunburn.
• Avoid objects or people being closer than 5 meters in the light beam
• There is a radiation risk if exceeding eight hours use per day.
• Never look directly into a floodlight. Blending may reduce any filter functions and may cause Radiation damage.

All lights have to be mounted, secured and supervised correctly.

• Only use the supplied stand for the HMI light, it is safety rated for the weight of the HMI light.
• Avoid any lateral side loads on the floodlight’s light spigot when setting up and in use.
• Always use the stand vertically, it is not safety rated for angled or leaning setup.
• High lateral side load can cause damage and break part of the stand.
• Stands or mounting brackets for transportation or moving floodlights must be set up safely.

Suitable safety measures:

• Weigh down the stand legs with a sand bag.
• Anchoring to walls or components by mechanical brackets or scaffolding clamps.
• Barricade the light stand area.
• Security or safety personnel to limit access to light stand area.

Additional safety measures are necessary if:

• Surrounding grounds do not allow safe positioning eg. Soft sand or sloping lawns
• The desired height of the light is too high for the supplied stand. 
• There is the possibility of strong winds.
• The HMI light should not be used in rain or areas of moisture or dust.

Do not lean the light stand at an angle, such as leaning out a window or over a balcony. The light stand is not safety rated for use at an angle.

Check the complete HMI light for the following possible defects

Attaching Accessories

• Inserting and exchanging accessories must be done from a safe and stable position, standing on a chair, milk crate or equipment box is not approved.
• Switch off the lamp and allow it to cool before touching the lamp or accessories.
• To attach filters or barn doors:  open the top latch, slide in the barn door or filters and reset the latch to securely hold the barn door in place.
• Do not operate the lamp with closed barn doors  -  there is a danger of overheating

Connecting the ARRI Ballast (power supply)

1.       Check all equipment has a current Curtin safety test tag.

 2.       Only use the supplied ARRI ballast power supply

 3.       Ensure the Ballast is switched off before  connecting it

 4.       Insert the connector of the lamphead (male) into the ballast output connector (female)

 5.       Connect the power plug of the ballast to the Portable Power Block

6. Switch on the lamphead by switching the ON/OFF switch to the “ON” position

7. Switch  on the white rocker switch (Main Circuit Breaker 25A) located on the ballast

8.  De-press the round red ‘On/Off Switch’, so that the lamp head illuminates

The switch on the lamp-head is for emergency, 

Use the ballast switch for switching the lamp on and off