Arri M18
The Arri M18 is a an HMI light that is known for being the highest wattage HMI able to be plugged into a household circuit.
Uses
The m18 is usually used as a soft or hard push for interior daylight scenes. It can be used for daytime exteriors, but it has a tough time competing with the intensity of the sun. Because it’s a par the shadow quality isn’t great, you end up with multiple shadows, one from the reflector and the other from the globe itself. Because of this it’s usually put through a 4x4 frame or used as a hard hit that doesn’t touch skin.
QC Process
- Clean reflector if necessary (use alcohol wipe)
- Patch both head feeders and turn on until it comes up to full intensity.
- Test Dimmer from low to high
- Test Spot/Flood knob - should be smooth.
- Check safety glass for damage.
Accessories
- 13.5” scrim size and comes with two doubles and a single because it is a par fixture.
- Uses a single ended 1800w globe
- Has a junior pin and is normally used with a 3 rise combo stand or low combo.
- It can also be used with a 1200w globe
Troubleshooting
HMIs are inherently problematic and the m18 has some common issues.
- Check all switches. A common problem is the switch is off at the head.
- The molded head feeder is often a point of failure, more so than other head feeders. You can test for a bad head feeder by plugging the light directly into the ballast and trying to strike it.
- The safety switch located on the head will sometimes stick. You can test this by pushing on the UV glass on the front face on the light or opening and closing it.
Substitutions
There are not many substitutions for this light, but the following lights could be used in place of one if they are willing to take a slightly different fixture.
- S60 Skypanel - Softer, but similar intensity and they get dimming, bi color, and RGB.
- 1200w Par - Not as bright, but similar style unit.
- 1600w Joker - This is k5600s answer to Arris 1800w Par. Very similar brightness even though it is different wattages.