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Author Topic: Lamphouse 'Popping' Mathew Molloy Master Film Handler Posts: 357 From: The Santa Cruz Mountains Registered: Nov 2000 posted 09-17-2002 03:41 AM                     Tonight my friend's ORC(900?)with the self-contained rectifier 'popped' when it tried to strike the lamp and there was a flash. He tried it three times and it always made this loud, electical pop with a flash but the lamp did not light. I told him I'd ask you guys what you think it might be. When I got home I heard that he tried it again after I left and it struck just fine. Any thoughts? Also he was thinking about removing the bulb and seeing if the pop was there without the bulb. I didn't think that was a good idea. Is it bad to power up a lamphouse with no bulb?  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 09-17-2002 04:36 AM                     Mathew, It sounds like the anode lead is too close to the metal mirror. It could also be fouling on the hand douser blade. DON'T remove the bulb and fire the igniter!!! It could do damage to the igniter and also destroy the control boards.  |  IP: Logged Mathew Molloy Master Film Handler Posts: 357 From: The Santa Cruz Mountains Registered: Nov 2000 posted 09-17-2002 05:24 AM                     Thanks Paul! When he asked me if he should fire up the lamphouse without the bulb I realized that neither in my six years of union work nor any time before or after that had anyone said anything in regards to NOT doing that. It just seemed wrong and I remembered my 16mm Xenon had a sticker saying "do not operate without lamp in place".  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 09-17-2002 07:38 AM                        I think Paul "nailed it". The anode lead is arcing to something, most likely the douser or reflector. ------------------ John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243 e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion  |  IP: Logged Don Sneed Master Film Handler Posts: 451 From: Texas City, TX, USA Registered: Aug 2001 posted 09-17-2002 08:21 AM                        Mat, I think Paul & John nailed it alright, even if the anode lead is not touching the dowser or reflector, if it is close to these the high voltage will arc or jump from this lead to the metal, be sure to move the anode cable lead away from these & try the lamp again, most of the time the arcing will rob the bulb from striking, just move the cable away from the reflector or any metal it is near to...good luck !!  |  IP: Logged Barry Hans Film Handler Posts: 92 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 09-17-2002 08:44 AM                        Same thing happened to me. Just like what everyone has said, it was the anode lead arcing to the housing.  |  IP: Logged Wes Hughes Expert Film Handler Posts: 175 From: Raleigh, NC, USA Registered: Aug 2001 posted 09-17-2002 03:35 PM                     The cathode lead will do it too. Happened a couple of times on a few of my Xenex II lamphouses when the lead was too close to the back side of the mirror.  |  IP: Logged Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 09-19-2002 01:41 AM                        I have had that same problem before, and Paul did in fact nail it right on the head. Get a technician out there pronto! Dave  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 09-19-2002 02:54 AM                     The anode lead on the baby Orcon is notorious for this. Also watch out for it having frayed, often a sliver of wire will be poking out and is arcing on the douser.  |  IP: Logged Tony Ratcliff Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Madison, IN, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 09-23-2002 01:23 PM                     I have an ORC as well. This has happened to me a couple times after changing the bulb - I have the lead too close to the case.  |  IP: Logged Mathew Molloy Master Film Handler Posts: 357 From: The Santa Cruz Mountains Registered: Nov 2000 posted 09-23-2002 05:28 PM                     Thanks guys! You hit the nail on the head!  |  IP: Logged

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