[SML] Illuminating a 5ft inflatable earth (Joe)

[info wjsstudios.com]

Joe,

I have been lighting vinyl inflatables for 20+ years. The ones we use have about a 5" diameter neck for inflation. If this is the case with your's, you can put in an "A" shape bulb in a plastic safety cage. I have done incandescent, fluorescent and LED. The power cord just exits through the neck. The neck is twisted closed, folded over and tie wrapped.  If you need more info DM me.

Bill

Bill Schaffell
WJS Studios
714-808-9506
https://www.wjsstudios.com/
www.AeroPoleSystem.com<http://www.AeroPoleSystem.com>

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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2023 17:55:05 +0000 (UTC)
From: Joe <jdunfee12 at yahoo.com>
To: "stagecraft at theatrical.net" <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
Subject: [SML] Illuminating a 5ft inflatable earth
Message-ID: <411426897.2071679.1691949305275 at mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I have a project where we plan to use a 5' dia, vinyl, inflatable earth.? It has a provision to illuminate it with a battery powered LED, that gets inserted into a clear tube that runs through it.? However, a reviewer comments that they wish it were brighter. So, I have significant doubts that it will be bright enough for our needs.
I imagine I would want at least 1,000 lumens of light. Ideally, it would be dimmable. I just looked at what was available for under cabinet LEDs, and found ones that would fit in that tube (I would put two back-to-back), and have the lumens I want.? But, none of the 120vAC ones are dimmable, and probably wouldn't dim nicely at the low end if they did. I have a DMX to LED dimmer system that will work 5 to 24 DC. So I decided to check out the car work lights, that are hard-wired into the car. But, I have doubts they will fit into the tube.
I am also a bit concerned about heat.? Being installed in the inflatable, sealed with a vinyl tube around it, is going to reduce its cooling.? So, perhaps bare LED strips are the way to go. If needed, I could perhaps wrap the LED strip around some metal tubing. That will both act as a heat sink, and I can get airflow through it, if I can find some old metal vacuum cleaner tubing.

Another related concept is to make my own inflatable shapes. But, use the fan-inflated type that uses nylon fabric. Then, airbrush with some transparent paint to add images and color. But, I have never attempted this.? I see all kinds of paints advertised as transparent.? But, will it stick to nylon?
Any advice on the above?

-Joe
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