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Author Topic: Volt Meter Help Matthew Stevens Film Handler Posts: 37 From: Colorado Springs, Co Registered: Jan 2004 posted 12-30-2004 02:16 PM                        I just installed a new mxl-20 bulb in my back lamp house, and I wanted to make sure the watts are correct for this bulb, however, the lamp house doesn't have a volts reader, but it does have Amps. I can't figure out which symbol on my damn volt meter I need to use (and what range) is it the omega symbol the V with a ~ over it or V with a ---? Thanks for helping.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 12-30-2004 03:31 PM                     You don't need the "omega" symbol. Just look for VDC. Are you tapping across the recitifer lead outs to check for voltage, and is this on a Christie lamphouse being the "mxl-20" a Christie bulb (wonder if the bulb should be a CXL-20)? Easy way for proper wattage is to have the console's ampmeter, with bulb on between 65 and 75 amps for a 2000w bulb. the "~" is the VAC, and the "--" is the VDC. good luck - Monte  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 12-30-2004 04:29 PM                     mxl is the letter code used by the Xcel xenon bulb company...same dimensional type as a CXL. These where distributed under the Marble name in the USA.  |  IP: Logged John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-30-2004 05:36 PM                     Be careful when working with a meter inside a lamphouse. It's not particularly safe. Also, please ensure that your meter is not connected when the lamphouse igniter fires -- the high voltage pulse will fry your meter. --jhawk  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-31-2004 12:00 AM                     The Ω symbol is for measuring resistance. (Ohms) DO NOT connect the meter to any source of electricity when it is in resistance mode! You will likely blow the meter all to hell! You also risk getting hurt. (The risk is proportional to the amount of voltage & current you are working with.) Some meters have fuses. Others have internal electronic gizmos that prevent damage. Some meters just go "Pffft!!" It would be a smart thing for you to study your meter to find out if it has fuses and/or a protective circuit. You would do well to go get yourself a handful of spare fuses and put them in a safe place. You never know when you'll need them. It'll probably be right when you need the meter to fix a blown diode or something when you discover it's got a blown fuse from some OTHER idiot putting the meter to a power source when its in "Ohms"! If you can find the manual for your meter, I suggest putting it in the bathroom. If you can't find your meter, see if the company that made it has a website where you can download it. Then print it out and put the hard copy in your bathroom.  |  IP: Logged Thomas King Expert Film Handler Posts: 119 From: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Registered: Oct 2004 posted 12-31-2004 10:23 AM                        Just set the rectifier so that standard running current is right. As a constant-current supply, the rectifier's going to range the voltage to whatever's nesscary.  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 12-31-2004 04:22 PM                        quote: Randy Stankey If you can find the manual for your meter, I suggest putting it in the bathroom. If you can't find your meter, see if the company that made it has a website where you can download it. Then print it out and put the hard copy in your bathroom. I meditated on these mysterious words, but I just couldn't figure out why you should keep your manuals in the bathroom. I keep mine on a shelf next to my desk.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-31-2004 04:40 PM                     Michael, Manuals are usually kept in the bathroom because for many its used for the longest period of concentration out of the 24 hour day. Good time to study and no one to annoy you(hopefully anyway! ). So you DON'T have manuals in your bathroom.....? You keep yours by your desk.... you mean to tell us that you can actually concentrate by your desk . Hey I wanna come to work for your company! Mark  |  IP: Logged Oscar Neundorfer Master Film Handler Posts: 275 From: Senoia, GA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-01-2005 07:12 AM                        I quite agree, Mark. I daresay most of my education has come from many happy hours of bathroom reading.  |  IP: Logged Richard Hamilton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1341 From: Evansville, Indiana Registered: Jan 2000 posted 01-01-2005 08:39 AM                     Is Penthouse considered a manual? If so, I graduated summa cum laude!!!! Rick  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-01-2005 10:59 AM                     Matthew my advice is get someone who knows how to use a meter safely come in and do it and show you at the same time  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-01-2005 11:55 AM                    Eek Richard...that's usually a girl thing: Sum Cum Laud But hey, different strokes...  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 01-01-2005 01:37 PM                        I actually didn't get the reading on the toilet association. Probably because I never read on the toilet myself. My pale ass gets cold, I don't like that. I prefer to read in bed.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-01-2005 06:41 PM                     quote: Michael Schaffer I prefer to read in bed. If I read in bed about 6 pages in I always fall asleep. I sometimes read in the bathtub..... very relaxing and I don't fall asleep! Mark  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-01-2005 07:49 PM                     Seriously? You DON'T read in the bathroom?! Right now, in my bathroom, I have the latest copy of Scientific American, a copy of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader and an old copy of the ARRL Handbook given to me by a friend to encourage me to take the test some day. Most people I know do their best studying in the BR!  |  IP: Logged

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