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Topic: Igniter problems?

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 10-12-2002 03:16 PM

I have been contacted to help solve a problem in another state over the phone. I do not yet know exactly what equipment they use. They cannot get the bulb to ignite. According to them, both the ignter and the bulb are new. They "get a spark" when trying to ignite it manually.

Any ideas I should tell them?

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Ken McFall
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 615
From: Haringey, London.
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 10-12-2002 03:49 PM

Are they getting any spark when they try to strike the lamp.

If there's no splash sound or spark is the ignitor wired in correctly there may have been a subtle change in the wiring terminals. Do they have automation or is it manual strike, are the lamphouse interlocks all working correctly when the sides are closed.
Depanding on the setup they should be able to hear the contactors close as they turn on, if not suspect the side interlocks.
Are the DC leads near or touching any part of the casing, try turning the lamp slightly to move the leads away from metal casing etc, orcon are very poor in this respect.

Have they tried another lamp, it's not unheard of for a lamp to be faulty out of the box!! But never Osram I'm sure couldn't resist that sorry....

More to follow as the Gin & Tonic flows ....

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-12-2002 04:10 PM

Joe, ask them to put their ear close to the powere supply and listen for the contact closure. If they cannot hear the contactor close, I would suspect an air flow or safety interlock problem.

If the contactor does close, something could be wrong with the power supply.

Also, if the lamphouse is equipped with volt meter like some are, ask them to look at the voltage indication. Depending on the type of power supply, the open circuit voltage could be anywhere from 75 to 130 volts. (somewhere in that ballpark figure)

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Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 10-12-2002 04:14 PM

Normaly when an interlock is open there is no spark or anything for safety reasons. Check diodes, if one is open allowing fliow in both directions can sometimes cause this with out triping breakers. They need to double check and make sure the start voltage is pegging over 120volts.

edit,

or as paul just stated make sure the start voltage is within the range depending on the rectifier unit.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 10-12-2002 04:25 PM

Yeah there is contact closure and there is air flow. Also checked to see if the bulb had any wires sitting too close to the reflector or any other metal parts (that happened to me once). All checks out. I assume it is a diode or a power supply problem which I cannot fix over the phone. Unfortunately they have no techs so they'll have to work something out.

They have, according to them, "Christie lamphouses that are probably about 35 years old".

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-12-2002 04:46 PM

Those were very troublesome power supplies. Have him check the tap switch. chances are, it is burned up.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 10-12-2002 05:17 PM

Have them lower the tap setting one notch and wiggle it around to make sure it is well seated. Seen it happen a lot on those older style Christies.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-12-2002 06:11 PM

Have them measure the noload voltage on the output terminals of the rectifier
Also can they see the spark in the lamp itself through the view port

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 10-16-2002 09:02 PM

To measure the load / no load voltage, use a DC meter that won't be damaged by the high voltage ignition pulse that may not be completely snubbed by the rectifier filter circuit.

Optimum load (operating) and no load voltage ranges (prior to ignition) are usually specified by the lamp manufacturer.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Jonathan Worthing
Master Film Handler

Posts: 384
From: Hereford, UK
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 10-18-2002 03:50 AM

can they see the lamp trying to strike or do they say that it sounds like it is striking.

They may be confusing lamp striking with ignitor spark gap striking.

I have seen a striking lead arc against a mirror holder which looked like a strike flash.

I hate this kind of question. No matter how hard you try you never get all the facts over the phone.

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