Alien bee modeling lamp alternative?

[globalbooks]

Hey guys, Can I use this lamp with the bees? I won't be using it as a modeling lamp just for some product shots. Just to clarify, when I use this modeling lamp I won't be using the strobe flash in the bee.
http://store.tabletopstudio-store.com/55watrtopbu.html


It might be a dumb question but I would love to be able to use this
55 watt or the 30 watt daylight balanced bulb to shoot some product. This would keep me from having to purchase hot lights with the light tent I want to purchase.

Thanks!

[SkipD]

I doubt that you could use that lamp in the AlienBees light. The reason is that the AlienBees has a "dimmer" built into it. The light is a fluorescent design. The two generally do not mix.

You could purchase some clamp-on work light reflectors to use the new bulbs in, though. Any hardware store or home-supply store would carry them.

[kuanyu]

I believe they suggest you do not use fluorescent bulbs. However it wouldn't hurt to call or email them and ask. They are wonderful to deal with and I'm sure you'd get the real answer quickly.

[TMR Design]

Alien Bees suggests that you do not use fluorescents because most people use the tracking mode and that has a dimmer associated with it. You should not plug a fluorescent light into a dimmer of any type. If, however you have turned off tracking mode then the dimmer is disabled and you can use any bulb that does not exceed the maximum rated wattage. That trumpet bulb and other screw-in fluorescents may not fit with the flash tube surrounding the modeling light as it does.