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Author Topic: Lamp intermittent out 5 sec
Jan Hackett
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 148
From: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Registered: Apr 2002


 - posted 05-18-2002 10:57 AM      Profile for Jan Hackett   Email Jan Hackett   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
7 kwatt 150amps current maxed ,,Strong highlight II console. bulb warranty 600 hrs...actual 645 hrs. What can I check before I change out bulb. Happened once yesterday and once today.

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Jan Hackett
Theater Operations Manager
Extreme Screen Dynatheater
NM Museum of Natural History Foundation

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Pat Moore
Master Film Handler

Posts: 363

Registered: Mar 2000


 - posted 05-18-2002 11:45 AM      Profile for Pat Moore   Email Pat Moore   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Jan -- Need a little more info. An "intermittent" anything is harder to find than anything else, simply because of its disappearing nature.

Did the line contactor actually open and then close again? The system's down only five seconds? How far into the show is this occurring? High Reactance or Switcher?

If the contactor is opening then the problem is likely interlocks, door or air. I'd suspect air interlocks first, especially the exhaust. That bracket is designed to be bent up into the stack at about a 30-degree angle, to be sure it's in the air flow of the exhaust pipe. Has it been really windy? I've had situations where outside wind created so much back pressure it would close down airflow intermittently. Other than that, be sure the intake air flow switch is clean and fully pulled in by a clean impeller on that top fan of the console.

Door interlocks are a possibility. If equipped with the magnetic interlocks, be sure the actuators are positioned correctly and the doors are fully closed. If it's an older console with the pushbutton switch, bend the bracket slightly to be sure the door engages the switch fully.

After that, it's wiring in the rest of the interlock circuit going back to the contactor in the power supply. It's not thermal because five seconds is too short a time too cool down anything enough to close a thermal switch again.

If the contactor's not dropping out, the lamp is the first suspect. Try and watch the arc, it would normally waver like hell before it extinguishes. Problem is that you'd be really lucky to actually see that, given it's still a rare occurence. You should see quite a bit of waver when it's running, if it's getting that bad. It could be a loose DC connection so check your DC cable connections, but I'd bet against that. It would heat up to the point where resistence is too high and you'd lose current flow, but that prioblem would occur at a rapidly increasing rate and not just once a day or so.

Pat

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

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


 - posted 05-18-2002 04:36 PM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have had problems with the UV eating that thin shield cable in some highlights giveing grief on the interlocks
Also the molex connectors on that circuit board with the switchs and meter can get bad contacts

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Pat Moore
Master Film Handler

Posts: 363

Registered: Mar 2000


 - posted 05-21-2002 09:08 AM      Profile for Pat Moore   Email Pat Moore   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Jan -- anything new on this problem?

Pat

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

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


 - posted 05-22-2002 10:33 PM      Profile for Paul G. Thompson   Email Paul G. Thompson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
More information needed.......

It could be a goofy airflow interlock, maybe a door interlock, etc. If the igniter does not fire almost about one or two seconds after the bulb goes out, I doubt if it is the bulb that is causing the problem. It is probably an interlock problem. Do you have a stack airflow switch in that thing?


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Jan Hackett
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 148
From: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Registered: Apr 2002


 - posted 05-24-2002 11:15 AM      Profile for Jan Hackett   Email Jan Hackett   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks all.......... Turned out to be bad belt on exhaust on roof that vents lamphouse. Was causing air interlock to engage.. Thanks for the help.........

------------------
Jan Hackett
Theater Operations Manager
Extreme Screen Dynatheater
NM Museum of Natural History Foundation

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