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Author Topic: Osram Xtreme Xplosion lamps Jon P. Inghram Expert Film Handler Posts: 124 From: Wichita, KS USA Registered: Jan 2007 posted 01-21-2009 10:30 PM                     Had the "pleasure" of having my first xenon explosion last night. It was an Osram "Xtreme Life" XBO 4000W/HS XL OFR with only 1388 hours (warranty is 1500 hours.) The bulb had been on for maybe 40 minutes before popping, and other than being a little dim, hadn't been giving us any trouble. The lamphouse is a Big Sky C4000, the airflow seems fine, and we always let the bulbs cool off before cutting the power at night. Unless we've just been really unlucky, it seems the quality of Osram bulbs has taken a turn for the worse as this is the third one to fail prematurely. Here's the mirror afterwards (with an ASL 4k bulb running): Here's what the mirror should look like: Here's the cathode with a bit of burnt anode stuck to the tip: This is the anode, covered in tungsten trioxide crystals: And finally, a close up of the pretty (but expensive) crystals:  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-21-2009 11:52 PM                     Good reason to switch to Christies...been there and done that with Osrams... But, it looked like it didn't bang up the mirror too bad being a big bulb as it was.. Seen some bulb explosions that really dented up a mirror pretty bad..and can't get the owner to buy a new one since their logic is "as long as the light can still goes through the lens, it's okey to leave it as is.." - not knowing that the light is now going everywhere in the lamphouse as well out of the machine...and they wonder why their light output is lesser than other units in their operations... "D'oah!" -Monte  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 01-22-2009 12:05 AM                        It is pretty much common knowledge nowadays that Osrams aren't very good. By the way, those are fantastic photos, Jon. Seriously!  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-22-2009 01:31 AM                     Since it failed under waranty be sure Osram also buys you a new reflector!!! Mark  |  IP: Logged Dan Reiter Film Handler Posts: 74 From: Easton PA Registered: Jul 2002 posted 01-22-2009 09:36 AM                     Having designed that lamphouse, I can add that those systems have never had any heating issues in the 11 years I worked there. The only problems could arise if there is either none or weak evacuation up to the roof. My guess is like the others above, the lamp just failed. Hapilly, the reflector is easy to replace if you get one, just be sure to put the magnet back on in the same exact position you took it off.  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 01-22-2009 09:56 AM                     Last week I had a 2K Osram XL fail after only about 170hrs. Fortunately it didn't explode. Looks more like a seal problem. DEJA VIEW: I had a "no name" cheap Chinese-made bulb explode and take out the mirror in a lamphouse last summer. Ouch! Getting in touch with the manufacturer was nearly impossible, but the vendor made good on a new blub & mirror. (Techstuff: Kneisley Xenex-1 Lamphouse, & remains of 2K bulb)  |  IP: Logged Ken Lackner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1907 From: Atlanta, GA, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 01-22-2009 11:37 AM                     I second Joe's comments about the beautiful photos. For serious. Especially the closeup of the crystals!  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-22-2009 02:42 PM                       Since when have bulb manufacturers been insuring reflectors? Not that I'm necessarily against the notion, but I've never heard of this before. And, yes, Osrams have gone from being my favorite bulb to ones that I dread seeing.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-22-2009 02:48 PM                     quote: Tim Reed Since when have bulb manufacturers been insuring reflectors? Not that I'm necessarily against the notion, but I've never heard of this before. As long as I've been in this biz. Each manufacturer does it differently though. Some prorate it after so many hours of use. Christie also does it for their CDXL line of lamps... and those D-Cinema reflectors, especially BARCO's are dam expensive. Mark  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-22-2009 08:46 PM                     Most every lamp we ever sold had the reflector warranty...that is they warrant the reflector so long as the lamp exploded while it was within ITs warranty. Christie and ASL both warrant the reflector for sure and I'm pretty sure Superior does as well. Now some big chains obtain a no-warranty price on lamps to get the price lower...but that is a different story. Steve  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-22-2009 08:57 PM                       I've never dealt with claims or sales before; most of my theatres have always been big circuits with parts contracts. Back when I was a projectionist, I only ever had one bulb blow up (with a lot of hours on it), so this is news to me. Cool.  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 01-22-2009 10:15 PM                     I had a 2k LTI blow with less than 50 hrs a few years ago and Strong replaced the bulb and reflector. This has so far been the only bulb explosion that I have have in my 16+ years in projection.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 01-22-2009 11:11 PM                     Why would Strong replace the bulb/reflector for you when LTI broke both? Or is LTI owned by Strong?  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 01-22-2009 11:14 PM                     LTI is/was a subsidiary of Strong.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 01-22-2009 11:15 PM                     Ah though LTI's website mentions them being part of Phillips currently, fyi.  |  IP: Logged

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