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Author Topic: Orc rectifier, hard striking Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 11-07-2011 06:13 AM                     Hey gang, Just wanted a second opinion before going forward and it's 4AM...doubt my favorite tech pal would appreciate a text this early We had a single-phase orc take a dive a while back with a bad diode. I replaced all the diodes and the lamp will strike and run a show but there's one little thing. When the lamp lamphouse is set for automatic ignition, flipping on the lamp results in the igniter firing but not lighting the blub. If I switch it to manual, turn on the lamp, and then wait a second and hit the manual ignition button it strikes just about as it should. My theory is the ignitian capacitor is dying, possibly damaged from the bad diode. Before going ahead with any more repairs I thought I should run it by the brain trust first...Thoughts?  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 11-07-2011 07:29 AM                        The time element in this makes me think the main power supply capacitor is marginal. Louis  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 11-07-2011 06:36 PM                     Step 1: Disconnect the ORC rectifier. Step 2: Toss it in the dumpster. Step 3: Get a real rectifier from a manufacturer that is still in business. (Strong, LP assoc., Christie) Step 4: Install said rectifier. Problem solved. With all the 35mm equipment being pulled you should have no problem finding a replacement for little or no cost.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-07-2011 06:53 PM                     What Tony said. I have a garage full...  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 11-07-2011 08:11 PM                        Yeh, guys, that was my first response, too. I reconsidered when I thought that he may need a single phase AC source, making that old, worthless unit slightly valuable. I would have gotten rid of the ORC back in 1973. Louis  |  IP: Logged Ian Parfrey Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1049 From: Imbil Australia 26 deg 27' 42.66" S 152 deg 42' 23.40" E Registered: Feb 2009 posted 11-07-2011 09:44 PM                     Dominic. How is the spark gap looking? I had one of these things do similar hi jinks and the spark gap was the culprit. Replaced it with an adjustable Kinoton one and no more dramas.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 11-07-2011 10:11 PM                     Louis: Depending on wattage, there are plenty of single-phase rectifiers out there..LP Assoc. makes a magnetic one,. Strong has a switcher good for IIRC up to 2.5k, Christie had a few also. Ian: Good point..and a cheap and easy fix. If it were up to me though I'd still dump that ORC crap.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 11-11-2011 04:20 AM                     Well looks like logic wins this one. The transformer burned up right nice. Who wants to sell me one?  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 11-11-2011 01:30 PM                     Dominic: What wattage lamp are you running? Do you have 3-phase power available in your booth? I will cut you a screaming deal on the LP assoc. rectifer I have, it has about 7 hours total run time on it. (see my listing in the equipment forum...disregard price you see there). We can discuss possible delivery and installation. (By PM of course.)  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 11-11-2011 02:13 PM                     Tony, I appreciate that offer! Lamp is 1600 watt. To make 3 phase id have to run wire and switch out a breaker.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-11-2011 03:52 PM                     check the alumium plate that makes the bridgeing of the caps it often has corrosion over time  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 11-11-2011 04:53 PM                     Dominic: Can your lamphouse handle a 2k bulb? That is the lowest setting on the rectifier I have. And the add a wire.change breaker may not be a big deal, get a pic of your breaker panel for me and send it to my email. Gordon: Sir, sorry to break it to you, but did you read Dominic's post, the one two posts above yours? The transformer is burned up so I think it's beyond repair.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 11-11-2011 05:41 PM                     Tony, sort of...It's an old Cinemechanica console. We're running 2k's in the same model at another theater. The caveat though is that the projector mounted on it is a Century with a modified mount and the 1600 is actually too close to it as it is, scorches the #@$! out of it. In March or so we have a location closing and that screen becomes a side-by-side, so I'll be able to salvage a nice LP to put behind it but until then... Gordon, I checked that plate. We burned a wire off of it last year on this same machine. I should take a picture of the carnage when I get back down to the theater. The xformer, aside from putting out ~ 2 volts has an obviously burnt, blackened lead coming out of the windings. One that is barely holding on as a matter of fact!  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-12-2011 02:40 PM                     quote: Gordon McLeod check the alumium plate that makes the bridgeing of the caps it often has corrosion over time Ditto for the connections to the heat sinks. I went though that with CFS (actually LP Associates) rectifiers a couple summers ago.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 11-23-2011 01:32 PM                     Mark, the ONLY thing that CFS rectifiers had in common with the LPA was the design. IIRC it was, parts-wise, a complete knock-off of the LP unit. I have NEVER had any such failures on LP rectifiers. Only the occasional random diode opening up.  |  IP: Logged

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