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Author Topic: Lume-X Striking Problem Ian Bailey Master Film Handler Posts: 317 From: Nambucca Heads, Australia Registered: Jun 2003 posted 12-02-2004 04:55 AM                     About a month ago my Lume-X was striking way too many times before the xenon would operate.The lamp had done over 2000 hours so i installed a new xenon.The amount of striking went from 15-20 down to 2-3 before the xenon would operate.Then the problem seem to get worse again So I bit the bullet and put the safety gear on and switched the lamp on with the cover open.I could see arcing between a few wires at the back of the lamphouse.So I replaced the wires with heavier guage/thicker insulation wire.The problem wires were the two going to the amp guage on the back of the lamphouse and one going to a metal box with two large solder connections next to the "striking circuit".From that point on all was well,lamp would operate in 1-2 strikes. This morning i come in to start the first show and it seems to be back with the same problem-way too many strikes.Could it be that by moving the old wiring I'm just creating more problems?Any advice would be much appreciated.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-02-2004 05:52 AM                        One possibility is contamination/dust on the wires or terminal connection blocks. They may have some conductivity to the high voltage ignition, especially in humid conditions. Vacuum any dust, and clean the insulators/insulation with pure isopropyl alcohol. Don't forget proper safety procedures: xenon handling safety gear and "lock out, tag out" of power.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-02-2004 07:55 AM                     This is a plagueing common problem with these lamphouses. Its obvious that the HV either isn't making it to the lamp electrode or that the lamp is bad(open). I've seen HV arc to just about every point inside these lamphouses over the years. Some of the new ignitors will arc right thorugh the black casing the ignitor is in. Unfortunately this problem never been fully resolved by the manufacturer.... you just have to do what ever works in your situation to get it to work. Its actually still manufactured and used on the Super(?) Trooper spotlight. Efen a new DC ignitir won't cure this problem as you will end up with a whole new set of problems. Good Luck with it! Mark  |  IP: Logged Dean Kollet Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 591 From: Florida State University Registered: Jul 2003 posted 12-02-2004 09:26 AM                     I've never actually struck a lamp with the lamphouse open....besides the normal safety equipment, what do you wear? I'm guessing a welder's mask and possibly some SPF 1,000,000?  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 12-02-2004 12:31 PM                     I have this problem from time to time with my Kneisley lamphouse's. I've found that taking all HV connections off and cleaning them up good with emery cloth every couple of years does wonders for starting problems.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-02-2004 01:51 PM                     check also the noload voltage of the rectifier and also check and make sure the filter caps are still good those little lamphouse need to be able to dump a lot of current at a fairly high noload voltage to make them strike  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 12-03-2004 06:12 AM                        quote: Dean Kollet I've never actually struck a lamp with the lamphouse open....besides the normal safety equipment, what do you wear?  |  IP: Logged Peter Hall Master Film Handler Posts: 314 From: London, UK Registered: Dec 2000 posted 12-03-2004 09:37 AM                        Does the thing strike OK when you use the manual strike button ? I have had one where the open cct DC was low, around 85VDC, such that the instant the ignitor started to strike the voltahe dropped just enough to pull thr strike relay out. Manual strike worked OK. If this is the case there's a zener diode than can be changed in the lamphouse..  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-03-2004 07:03 PM                     regretably the Lumex ignitor has no manual strike capability  |  IP: Logged Peter Hall Master Film Handler Posts: 314 From: London, UK Registered: Dec 2000 posted 12-05-2004 03:31 AM                        Gordon Apols - thought it was a Super Lumex. No emergency strike button - what a pain !  |  IP: Logged Thomas King Expert Film Handler Posts: 119 From: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Registered: Oct 2004 posted 12-05-2004 07:12 AM                        Sounds like a pain: our CX20H wasn't striking the other day. Oddly, the discharge sound was coming from the top corner, where I knew full well there was no lamp. Turns out the flexible anode had got a bit too close to the manual douser. A through cleaning of the power leads couldn't go amiss, if it's not a case of a lead being too close to ground, it could be that because of a poor connection it's easier for the HV to ground through something other than the bulb.  |  IP: Logged Justin West Master Film Handler Posts: 271 From: Peoria, IL, USA Registered: Jul 2001 posted 07-20-2005 05:19 PM                     quote: Mark Gulbrandsen Its actually still manufactured and used on the Super(?) Trooper spotlight. Mark: So, is the ignitor board for a Lumex lamphouse still available NEW? Thanks.  |  IP: Logged

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