Searchlights are amplified by the geometric shape of the reflector behind them.
The parabolic reflector in a searchlight is a reflective panel that increases the amount of light given off by a searchlight. Without a reflector, all the light given off by the lighting element would be lost in the searchlight itself. If reflector panels are damaged, the searchlight can lose significant amounts of its lighting ability. Repairing the damage depends upon the damage and the strength of the light itself, as klieg lamps can burn some repair work.
Instructions
1. Turn searchlight off, then unplug the light from either the outlet, generator or battery pack that supplies it. Open the front of the searchlight, either by unscrewing the font bezel by rotating it by hand, or removing it via a pressure clasp, depending upon the make and model of searchlight.
2. Pull the light bulb or lighting element out of the searchlight, carefully putting it aside, as the filaments in many searchlights are very fragile. Remove the reflector by hand; it is never secured due to thermal expansion, but simply held in place by the pressure of the front bezel. Use work gloves and safety goggles due to the danger of cuts from a broken reflector. If the reflector is too badly broken then it would be best to replace it and have the old one recycled.
3. Tape the cracks in the reflector with aluminum tape, if the searchlight is an incandescent-powered lamp. While the aluminum can survive higher temperatures, the adhesive will bake off under higher temperatures. If the searchlight is a klieg lamp or other esoteric lighting element, then you will need to solder the pieces back together, being careful to preserve the original geometric shape of the reflector.
4. Slide the reflector back in and replace the lightening element. Screw the front bezel back on and plug the power supply back into the searchlight. Turn the searchlight on to verify that the reflector is reflecting.
Tags: lighting element, front bezel, geometric shape, geometric shape reflector, higher temperatures
