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Author Topic: A Chain problem. Cant auto align. Frank Dubrois Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 896 From: Cleveland, OH Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-19-2006 06:52 PM                    We have a Cat 701 reader and Cp500 processor. The problem just happened yesterday where I tried to use the Auto Align OPU function. I dont remember the exact error message, but it was something like Out of Range (while running the 69T loop) Did I just not have something set right or is there a problem somewhere? I made sure I had the right loop in and pushed the right buttons. It seems that nothing can auto-align with that projector. It can't auto set the levels or anything. Bad parts somewhere? Thoughts?  |  IP: Logged Alan Gilbertson Expert Film Handler Posts: 148 From: Carpentersville Il 60110 Registered: Nov 1999 posted 08-19-2006 07:19 PM                        This is not uncommon at all especially if you have a older loop. If the loop is new and in good shape make sure the sound drum is up to speed before hit the button to auto align. You will also get the error if LED has low voltage. If all this fails just set Dolby Tone manually and everything will be ok  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-19-2006 08:39 PM                        The auto align has always been problematic for me, too, on cp-500. Louis  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-19-2006 08:45 PM                     I don't believe in auto aign anything If you are competent engineer then aligning it should not be a problem Often the LED is either faded or out of alignment so it can't get enough gain  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-19-2006 08:49 PM                     quote: Gordon McLeod Often the LED is either faded or out of alignment so it can't get enough gain Also check that both the jumpers are cut on the small reverse scam board. We got a mothafuckin autoaligner on this thread..... Mark  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-19-2006 09:01 PM                     The CP500 came out prior to the dreaded stupid red LEDs...back when superior S/N was more important (a good thing since it is not the quietest processor)... Anyway...the Auto Align only works if the levels are around the middle of the range. If they are above about 2/3rds -3/4 the way up, it will complain about being out of range. With red LEDs, the goal is to keep them running as dim and noisey as possible...as such the level bars are going to tend towards the upper part of the CP500s range.  |  IP: Logged Frank Dubrois Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 896 From: Cleveland, OH Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-19-2006 10:51 PM                    Steve, The levels are near the bottom. The LED is new (about 3 months old). If I manually raise the levels then try to autoalign, it should work?  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-19-2006 11:00 PM                        You do realize that there is more to an A-chain than simply setting the Dolby levels, correct? Have you read the installation manual (not just the operator's manual) for the CP500?  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-19-2006 11:19 PM                     For best A-Chain S/N I generally find the level bars end up at about 2/3 of the way up and then set the LED level inside it's power supply to achieve Dolby Tone. Then once the level is found always use the power supply adjust to get back to Dolby Level. The LED will last longest this way. This is also the main reason for not using the auto level align feature. With the 500 there will always be somewhat of a trade off for noise vs. LED life span. I maintain a gob of 500's and this has worked well in the majority of them that have Kelmar or C.E. scanners. Mark  |  IP: Logged Frank Dubrois Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 896 From: Cleveland, OH Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-19-2006 11:28 PM                    quote: Scott Norwood You do realize that there is more to an A-chain than simply setting the Dolby levels, correct? Ummm...yes...I do.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 08-19-2006 11:59 PM                       quote: Gordon McLeod I don't believe in auto aign anything Amen, brother! I never used that feature, either.  |  IP: Logged Charles Greenlee Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 801 From: Savannah, Ga, U.S. Registered: Jun 2006 posted 08-20-2006 12:35 AM                        When I was at the Wynnsong, our CP500s wouldn't autoalign for crap. I'd maybe get one or 2 to. I'd almost always have to manually align. Good point on adjusting the power on the LED, I'll remember that for later. The aligning on the processor is more for fine tuning. If you are not already in the ballpark, you need to check your other adjustments. Like the LED power, or life, or physical alginment. If you are just a slight bit off, then aligning in the processor is fine, but you should get as close as possible prior. Ours, BTW, did suffer the problem of being to high to auto align, but were aligned real well left to right, so adjusting the LED juice would have fixed that at the source.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-20-2006 03:52 AM                     ...even though the LED's are not that old..are all of the arrays within the LED lit up being that there is a good dozen arrays per row and two rows of arrays.. Found this out the hard way as well..tried to do autoalign and got the "out of range" flag, so did the manual but couldn't get the levels where I wanted them to be. Thus, took a piece of tail lead from a trailer that is black to use as a viewer to look through at the brilliance of the LED and not expose my vision to the brightness, and I saw 5 arrays burnt out-3 on top row and 2 on the bottom row. Time for the change.. - Monte  |  IP: Logged Eric Robinson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 538 From: Santa Rosa, CA Registered: Jan 2005 posted 08-22-2006 01:18 AM                     As far as I knew there was only one row of LED's. I have only been exposed to Component Engineering, Simplex basement readers though. Are there other LEDS with more than one row?  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-22-2006 05:20 AM                     the Dolby Optical LED units in the newer Simplex 5-star units are in a two row array setup. Yes, C.E. LED arrays are just the single row variety.  |  IP: Logged

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