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Author Topic: Strong LTI bulbs Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 12-01-2003 12:06 AM                     We are about to start using LTI bulbs and I have heard that they are not very reliable. I was wondering if anyone can give me any information or opinions on them (how long will they put out good light, how often do they fail, etc..) Thanks  |  IP: Logged Jeff Klump Film Handler Posts: 22 From: Austin, Texas, USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 12-01-2003 03:04 AM                    We used to use LTI bulbs in our Strong lamphouses before we switched to Christie. I like Christie better because they usually burned brighter during the duration of their life. Also, I found that the LTI's last 500 hours longer (about 2500 hrs with 4000 watts) than their Christie counter parts. That's an extra two months for us. Another drawback we had were more explosions. We had 3 bulbs blow up within 2 years. In a year and a half with Christie we've had none. Hope this helps a little.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-01-2003 03:53 AM                     Chris, I have had bad luck with them. I never had one blow up on me, but I never got mileage out of them as compared to Christie.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-01-2003 09:04 AM                     Of course Christie(actually Ushio) is the best, however we have not has a single failure of any LTI lamp and we have close to one hundred in the field now!! What ever problem may possibly arise from their use I'm sure Strong will back up every bit as well as Christie would. LTI's are quite a bit less expensive too. Mark @ CLACO  |  IP: Logged Kris Brunton Expert Film Handler Posts: 108 From: Napanee, Ontario, Canada Registered: Apr 2000 posted 12-01-2003 09:36 AM                     We have been using LTI for about 2 years now. We are experiencing few failures about the same as we experience with ORC. There are a few other threads on the forum for LTI. Try a search for LTI Bulbs and you will see the other threads.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-01-2003 11:22 AM                     We have recently switched to LTI after a number of years of running Osrams, and most of them seem to be doing well- I have had one LTI bulb explode with 177 hours on it, but got it replaced for no charge under warranty. (FWIW, the only other bulbs I have ever had explode while in operation in a lamphouse were all Osrams) I also am quite impressed with the bulbs from Superior Quartz. -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 12-01-2003 06:04 PM                     I have had four osram bulbs explode on me in the past year. Four out of 90-120 is not bad in my opinion. Of course they paid for the bulbs and reflectors. Other than that I have been happy with Osram. Everything I had heard before was from people that haven't actually used the LTI bulbs. Sounds to me from what you guys are saying that they are good for the money. They might not last as long as Christie or Osram but they are cheaper. thanks  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-01-2003 06:33 PM                  I only have had experience with 2k, 3k, 7k, and larger lamps from them. While I never had any of them explode, I do agree with Jeff Klump in that they do not hold their brightness level over life as the Christies' do. The light seems to rapidly fall off like the ORC and Hanovia ones. I've also had good luck with Osram, and as Aaron mentions, Superior Quartz. I think for the dollars vs. performance, Christie and Superior are best overall. >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-01-2003 07:02 PM                        With respect to the 2kw bulbs: I wouldn't say that LTI bulbs are unreliable, but they seem to get about 30% fewer hours than Osrams before they start to flicker and need replacement (Osrams ran for about 3500-4000 hours, LTI ran for about 2500). This is in a 6-plex with Strong Highlight-II lamphouses. Usage patterns did not change when the bulb brands did (about a year and a half ago). Obligatory disclaimer: don't take this as conclusive evidence of anything, as the sample size is too small. Also note that we were taking a risk by running the Osrams that far beyond warranty hours, which may or may not be the best thing to do, even when the picture is bright and flicker free. I've only had one bulb (an LTI, as it happens) explode; the usual failure mode seems to be flicker, dim bulb, or old bulb (we pulled everything at 4000 hours regardless of other factors). I haven't dealt with Christie or Superior Quartz enough to have an opinion (haven't had any trouble with either). If it were my money and I were buying 2kw bulbs, I'd either go with Osram (which I know is good) or try Christie or SQ, due to the number of positive comments about both. Xenon bulbs are expensive, but they become cheap very fast when you consider the cost per hour of operation, so it makes sense to go with whatever gives the longest service in your lamphouses.  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-01-2003 07:14 PM                     I'm not sure I would consider a 4% explosion rate "not bad". I'm not sure I would even consider a 4% "failure" rate "not bad". I'd get fired if 4% of our shows went down.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-01-2003 08:02 PM                     This afternoon I replaced a 14,000+ hour old ORC bulb (installed in 1999) with a lovely new LTI bulb. We'll see what happens. -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 12-01-2003 08:26 PM                     Aaron.....was the bulb in a vertical lamphouse?  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-01-2003 08:31 PM                  Adam, you should be fired for any number of reasons! >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Rachel Craven Madam Moderator Posts: 2190 From: Pensacola, FL Registered: Dec 2000 posted 12-01-2003 08:55 PM                     I've never had a problem using a LTI bulb...always got extra hours out of them... ORC on the other hand...  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-01-2003 10:18 PM                     I've noticed a general concencious that lamps drop off in brightness as they age...well this is definately true at least to some extent of all lamps, however, if a system is properly designed per say so that you have 16fl at the bottom end operating current of a certiain size lamp then you should not have any problems holding that 16 fl through the life of the lamp. As far as explosions go I've had two myself. An Osram 1600 watter and a Christie 3kw. The Osram had way too many hours on it and the Christie was brand new out of the box and blew up on first ignition. Have yet to have an LTI blow up but sooner or later it'll happen just as it does with all the others. Rachel, ORC isn't in any of our language dictionarys.....They are crap! Mark @ CLACO  |  IP: Logged

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