MPR Says
By David Wells, President, Moving Picture Rental — Updated March 29, 2026
Astera Helios tube rental Florida is the answer to every location where the Titan won’t fit. At 20.5″ and 1.68 pounds, the Helios is exactly half the size of the Titan with identical color science, identical wireless control, and identical IP65 weatherproofing. Automotive interiors, tight set pieces, overhead grid work where weight and clearance are the constraint — that’s the Helios. Not a compromise, just a different tool for a different problem.
We’ve had these in inventory since they launched. They get rented for automotive work in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, music videos in compact Orlando studios, corporate events in Tampa where portability matters, and productions across Fort Myers where you need cinema lighting rental that moves fast. The IP65 rating survives Florida’s outdoor conditions just as well as the Titan does.
The Astera Helios Tube measures 20.5″ long and weighs 1.68 pounds. Each tube has 8 individually controllable LED pixels. The pixel density is identical to the Titan — half the tube length, half the pixels, same resolution. The RGBMA LED system gives you accurate color across the full spectrum from 1750K to 20,000K. CRI 96 and TLCI 96, matching the Titan exactly, which means you can mix Helios and Titan on the same shoot with no correction needed.
Pro Tip: Book Helios and Titan kits together. Use the Titans for output and background coverage, Helios for tight automotive interiors or constrained set pieces. They share identical color science so everything matches on camera without correction.
Where Astera Helios Tube Rentals Actually Get Used
The most consistent use case is automotive. Car commercials and music videos in Miami where the DP needs RGB accents inside the vehicle. The 20.5″ length fits inside door panels, along the dashboard, under seats — places where the 40.7″ Titan Tubes cannot physically go. That single use case drives a significant portion of our Helios rentals in South Florida.
Beyond automotive, the Helios works well in tight set pieces for music video work in Orlando studios where rigging space is limited, in corporate event production in Tampa where fixtures need to be repositioned quickly between setups, and for any video equipment rental package where weight overhead is a constraint. At 1.68 pounds each, you can tape them to almost anything with standard gaffer tape and they stay put.
The wireless control runs through the AsteraApp on iOS or Android, or via wireless DMX using any CRMX or W-DMX transmitter. No additional hardware is required for basic operation — the app handles everything from color selection to pixel effects to seamless runtime programming. The PowerBox that comes with the 8-tube kit provides wired DMX via 5-pin XLR, plus Art-Net and sACN over ethernet for full lighting console integration when the production calls for it.
The Size Difference in Practice
Half the length is not half the usefulness. On a car commercial in Fort Lauderdale where you’re wrapping tubes around the interior of a sports car, the Helios does the job and the Titan physically cannot. On a music video where the set piece is a 2-foot cube with LED tubes integrated into the structure, the Helios fits and the Titan sticks out on both ends.
The output difference is proportional: 393 lux at 3.3′ for the Helios versus 785 lux for the Titan. Half the tube, half the light. For background accents and practical effects work, 393 lux is more than sufficient. For key or fill work you’ll want the Titan or pair the Helios kit with a larger source like the Aputure 600d for the key while Helios handles color and accents.
Both the Helios and Titan use the same RGBMA LED system and share identical color calibration, which means mixing them in the same package is seamless. If you book both kits — Titan for output, Helios for tight placement — they match perfectly on camera without correction. That combination covers a wide range of production needs for film production equipment rental in Florida.
Battery Runtime and Charging
The built-in battery is rated for up to 20 hours at lower output levels. At maximum white brightness, expect about 1 hour 45 minutes — same runtime profile as the Titan Tubes. The seamless runtime feature lets you set a specific shoot duration and the fixture automatically adjusts output to guarantee it lasts that long without fading mid-shot.
The PowerBox charges all 8 tubes simultaneously in about 3 hours. For permanent installations or long events where battery isn’t practical, you can run the tubes directly off the PowerBox via the power+data cables.
Pro Tip: For multi-day shoots or full-day events, request an extra PowerBox when you book. One box charges 8 tubes in 3 hours — a second box means you can always have a fully charged set ready while the other half are on set. Our team can discuss logistics when you request your quote.
Technical Specifications
| Specification |
Details |
| Type & Size |
RGB LED Tube Light; 20.5″ length × 1.6″ diameter |
| Color System |
RGBMA (RGB + Mint + Amber), 1750–20,000K CCT |
| CRI / TLCI |
CRI 96 / TLCI 96 |
| Output |
393 lux at 3.3′ (4000K) |
| Pixel Control |
8 individually controllable pixels per tube |
| Total LED Power |
36W per tube |
| Beam Angle |
120° beam, 180° field |
| Battery Runtime |
Up to 20 hours (output-dependent) |
| Charging Time |
3 hours (full charge) |
| Control |
Onboard controls, CRMX/W-DMX wireless, wired DMX, AsteraApp (iOS/Android) |
| Wireless Range |
Up to 990′ (DMX) |
| IP Rating |
IP65 (waterproof) |
| Weight per Tube |
1.68 lbs |
What’s In The Astera Helios 8-Tube Kit Case
Every Astera Helios RGB LED Tube Kit rental from Moving Picture Rental comes production-ready:
- 8x Astera Helios Tubes (20.5″ RGBMA LED tubes with integrated batteries)
- 1x PowerBox (charges all 8 tubes, provides wired DMX/Art-Net/sACN)
- 8x Power+Data Cables (combined power and DMX signal transmission)
- 8x Foldable Floor Stands (vertical mounting for low-angle placement)
- 16x Tube Clamps (AX1-H) (metal holders for truss/grid mounting)
- 16x Eyebolts (AX1-EBLT) (1/4″-20 thread for hanging/rigging)
- 16x BabyPin Spigots (for connecting tubes and mounting to grip heads)
- Hard Shipping/Charging Case (protective transport with charging capability)
Frequently Asked Questions — Astera Helios Tube Rental Florida
How do I secure an Astera Helios tube rental in Florida?
Submit a quote request through our online portal or call any of our five Florida offices directly. We offer full-service fulfillment for pickup or delivery across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, and Tampa, seven days a week. Every kit ships fully charged and tested.
Do Helios and Titan Tubes color-match on the same shoot?
Yes. Identical color science — CRI 96, TLCI 96, same RGBMA LED system. You can mix Helios and Titan Tubes on the same shoot with no correction needed. Both kits respond to the same DMX commands and AsteraApp controls.
How long do Helios Tubes run on battery?
At maximum white brightness, about 1 hour 45 minutes. In RGB color mode or at lower output levels, up to 20 hours. The seamless runtime feature lets you set a specific duration — the tube automatically adjusts brightness to guarantee it lasts that long without fading mid-shot.
Will Astera Helios tubes fit inside a car for automotive production?
Yes. The 20.5″ length and 1.68 pound weight are specifically why Helios Tubes get booked for automotive work. They fit inside car door panels, along dashboards, under seats, and in any interior space where the 40.7″ Titan Tubes won’t physically work. This is one of the most common uses for Astera Helios tube rental Florida productions.
Can I control Helios Tubes without a wireless DMX transmitter?
Yes. The tubes have onboard controls and work with the free AsteraApp via Bluetooth. The wireless DMX transmitter (AsteraBox CRMX) is only required for console-based wireless control from a lighting desk. For most video equipment rental work, the app is sufficient.
What is the actual output difference between Helios and Titan?
Helios puts out 393 lux at 3.3′ versus 785 lux for the Titan — roughly half, which makes sense since it’s half the length with half the LED emitters. Choose Helios for tight spaces and portability, Titan for maximum output and background coverage.
Complete Your Astera Helios Tube Rental Florida Package
To get the most from your Helios kit, pair it with these from our inventory:
- Titan Tubes: Add the Astera Titan RGB LED Tube Kit for full-length 40.7″ tubes delivering double the output.
- Key Lighting: Pair with the Aputure 600d for primary key light while Helios handles RGB accents.
- Grip Support: Add Matthews C-stands and super clamps for rigging options beyond the included floor stands.
Astera Helios Tube Rental Florida — Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers
Whether you are lighting automotive interiors in Miami, tight set pieces in Orlando, or corporate events in Tampa, our Astera Helios 8-Tube Kit arrives tested, prepped, and ready to shoot.
We offer delivery and pickup to your location 7 days a week in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers.
Compact wireless RGB tubes for tight spaces and automotive production across Florida.
