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Re: Triton Enhancers
>From: eis at alto1_altonet.com (Paul Nicholson)
>Date: Thu, 22 Aug 1996 20:40:12 -0700
>Subject: Re: Triton Enhancers
>
>Geprge Booth said:
>
>>Based on actual intensity measurements of Triton Enhancers vs Plain
>>Old White Shoplight Reflectors using identical bulbs and ballasts,
the
>>Enhancers are 0% better than shoplight reflectors. That's right,
zero
>>percent. They are, however, 250% more expensive.
>>
>>BTW, bulbs with "internal reflectors" are also a rip-off.
>
>Ever noticed that fiberglass sailplanes are white and not silver?
There's a
>reason, white reflects more light than and other color including
silver,
>thereby keeping the structure cooler and prolonging it's life.
>
>White is the best reflector. The only advantage of a mirrored
reflector is
>that it reflects light at the anglular complement of the light
incidence.
>If you have a point source and gotta have the light focused
accurately,
>then the advantage you get from the known reflection angle will be
offset
>by the lowered reflectivity of a silvered surface. This is OK if your
>trying to project a focused beam, say with your headlights,
>
>White reflectors reflect the light in all directions. Try to see the
bulbs
>in your aquarium through the tank. Gotta put your head right up
against the
>bottom of the tank to even see them, right? Most of the light going in
the
>water is bounced off the sides and stays in the tank anyway, and it
does
>not make too much difference that the beam from the light is not
tightly
>focused, say by a parabolic mirrored reflector.
>
>A crude white reflector will work just fine.
>
One thing that you both did not take into consideration is that "plain
old white" fades to yellow -- in both the paint and the plastic.
"Enhancers" remain the same -- only get dirty if you don't clean them!
When clean, they are like new. You would have to repaint the "plain
old reflectors"! (IMHO)
Merrill