Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Hard to strike Xetron Lamp?!?!?!?!?!?

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Topic: Hard to strike Xetron Lamp?!?!?!?!?!?

John Westlund
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 204
From: Burney, CA, USA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 12-03-2001 12:12 AM

I'm having some trouble with our Xetron XH-3000 lamphouse. For the last week or so it has been taking quite a while to strike. Today it had to be ignited manually at each show. What should I check to correct this problem? Thanks.
John

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 12-03-2001 12:53 AM

What brand/wattage of bulb is installed? How many hours are on the bulb? What amperage are you running it at? What make/model of power supply is running this lamphouse?

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 12-03-2001 12:59 AM

John, what kind of power supply are you using? Also, what is your open circuit voltage before the lamp attempts to fire?

Your zener doide could be headed south, or the auto strike pot could be mal-adjusted. Disable auto strike and let your open circuit voltage build up to max, then see how easy the lamp fires on manual strike. If it is an easy ignition, I would recommend re-setting your auto strike, or check the zener. (if not both).

It might be a problem with the RA unit in the xetron power supply, which has given me similar indications you describe from time to time. (I never did figure out how that damn thing worked). But I can tell you this: When that power supply finally took a dump, I replaced it with a Strong High-reactance power supply. And, the problem disappeared.

Xetron did things bass ackwards, anyway.

Don't ask me why. Maybe some of the IREM guru's can tell you.

Paul

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Tom Kroening
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 214
From: Janesville, WI USA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 12-05-2001 05:00 PM

I've had many calls on problems with the bulb not striking, or hard to strike, and in most cases it something as simple as a failsafe. Before you swap anything out you'll be doing yourself a big favor by cleaning out the squirrel cage and vent guards. After years of neglect dust can build up and limit the air flow which can affect the blower failsafes. Ive worked with xetron consoles and I know what a pain in the ass they can be. Good luck!

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-05-2001 09:27 PM

If it was failsafes it would still not light manually
It is most likely the setting on the pot on the ignitor

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Tom Kroening
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 214
From: Janesville, WI USA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 12-05-2001 09:38 PM

Well, it's a possiblity... sometimes by the time you try the manual start the blower has managed to trip the failsafe... Just a thought. Of course if the lamp comes on instantly when the projector is stopped (with the douser closed) then it most likely is not a failsafe problem.

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John Westlund
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 204
From: Burney, CA, USA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 12-06-2001 12:25 AM

Sorry it took so long but ive got some more info. The power supply is a Xelamp-8502. The bulb was installed before I started working so I dont know what make it is but it has between 2000 and 2500 hours on it. It is running at approx. 30v and 70amp. The bulb strikes almost instantly with the projector off and switched to manual. Thanks for the help.
John

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Tom Kroening
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 214
From: Janesville, WI USA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 12-06-2001 02:34 AM

Hmm... could be a bad relay in automation... what kind of automation do you have?

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Linda Learn
Film Handler

Posts: 16
From: Tunkhannock, PA, USA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 12-10-2001 12:33 PM

We just had problems with the same thing.... Try checking the connections in the automation unit.

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