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Topic: CNA-150 Automation problems

Matt Basford
Film Handler

Posts: 19
From: Nashville, TN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 02-21-2001 04:49 PM

I have a location that has all CNA-150's and from what they tell me that have been droping like flies. They say that all that have gone out have had the same problems as they went out. They first loose power to the convenience outlet(slide proj.) then the programming craps out. They would reprogram them about once a week until it would loose its programing sometimes every show. At this point they see it last a couple of days and it's dead. Anybody ever had this kinda problem with these? Sure would appreciate it.

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-21-2001 05:03 PM

No, I have not. These automations and the Ultimation have been very reliable for me. One thing you can check is the backup battery and the switch next to it. Be sure the battery jumper(W4)is in the on position and that the battery is good. They usually last several years but they may already be bad. The other possibility is that you have a run made with a bad batch of parts in it. This however is really remote. Contact Strong, or Eprad for help on this. Eprad builds em for Strong. If ya can't get anyplace feel free to give me a call and I'll do what I can. The manual for the 150 is on line here in the manuals section in case you don't have one.
Mark @ GTS

Matt Basford
Film Handler

Posts: 19
From: Nashville, TN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 02-21-2001 05:11 PM

Yes, That was my first inclination this being a 20-plex and bad batches come out sometimes. The only thing that swayed me away from that conclusion was that recently a replacement CNA-150 was replaced due to the same problems. Anyhoo, I'll see what I can do. Thank you.

Pat Moore
Master Film Handler

Posts: 363

Registered: Mar 2000

posted 02-21-2001 06:59 PM

Hi Matt;
These have been a very reliable automation for us -- all of the CineNet series have. I might understand sporadic problems but a whole complex makes me think something else is going on.

The battery back-up is one thing to consider, but this sounds deeper than that. Are these random problems? Did it start at once, and is it on all machines?

If it is, there's something that might be happening over the LSN (Local Synchronous Network) that connects all the systems. Is there a Host computer on that network?

Are these systems equipped with the Digital Dimming Controller option? Have there been problems with the dimmers before the automations were affected?

There's also an update that's required on the termination panels for these systems. An additional capacitor is required. Information is on our website, www. strong-cinema.com, then click on "Field Bulletins" and check out Service Bulletin SB-020.

Please keep me advised, and you're welcome to reach us at Strong. Always here to help...

Pat

Matt Basford
Film Handler

Posts: 19
From: Nashville, TN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 02-21-2001 08:05 PM

So far it does not seem to be affecting all the machines as in a network problem. They seem to be random cases equaling about 1/2 the machines have had problems and to my knowledge have been replaced. These do not have the Digital Dimmer and no 'host'. I will read up on the update and confer with the previous tech in order to get a full recap of problems of this nature at this location. Thank you.

Pat Moore
Master Film Handler

Posts: 363

Registered: Mar 2000

posted 02-22-2001 07:01 AM

Matt; My previous post had the wrong service bulletin number, which I've gone back and edited. Look for SB-020, the last currently on the site. This could well correct the random problems.

I wouldn't totally discount the network interference yet either -- that's usually been the way I see electrical noise get into the systems. It might affect some or all of the systems, depending on what they are doing at the time -- same noise but different problems.

If you need those capacitors let us know.

Pat

Matt Basford
Film Handler

Posts: 19
From: Nashville, TN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 02-22-2001 08:09 AM

Pat,
Thank you. Come to think if it we had another location having similar problems or actully more with dimmers acting funny. The RF was getting into the automation, we installed those capacitors on all 18 machines and and have had no problems since. Don't know why I did't think of that

Thanks

Matt

Pat Moore
Master Film Handler

Posts: 363

Registered: Mar 2000

posted 02-22-2001 12:19 PM

No problem, Matt. That may well take care of the problem. Keep me advised...

Pat

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