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Author Topic: nelp needed rebuilding a Spectra 90 Mat Fleming Film Handler Posts: 14 From: Newcasatle upont Tyne Registered: Apr 2003 posted 04-17-2003 07:08 AM                     I help run a 16mm only (voluntary)theatre. I'm trying to get us up to lofty 35mm hights. WE've picked up some old Spectre90s, (the pedestal ones) I know they've not got the best rep. We want to strip out the automation bits and may or may not fit a new rectifier. Does a rectifier need to be specific to the Bulbs wattage? our screens only 8" tall so we'll be downsizing the bulb which has been in it. Anyone got a manual for this Projector or the very most basic circuit diagram for igniting a bulb? or hints at finding new apeture plates?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 04-17-2003 09:34 AM                     Per the FAQ: "no teaser subject titles". You need to edit the title to something more descriptive or we will close this discussion.  |  IP: Logged Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 04-17-2003 12:53 PM                     Mat wrote: quote: our screens only 8" tall Eight inches tall? What are you using, a sheet of A4 paper? Sorry, I can't help you with those machines.  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 04-17-2003 03:56 PM                     "WE've picked up some old Spectre90s, (the pedestal ones)" Never heard of this... is it a common make? "We want to strip out the automation bits and may or may not fit a new rectifier. Does a rectifier need to be specific to the Bulbs wattage? our screens only 8" tall so we'll be downsizing the bulb which has been in it." I imagine you mean 8 feet. The rectifier has to run a lamp within its output range. Usually trying to turn one down too far results in poor/no lamp ignition, as the rectifier won't supply enough open circuit voltage or starting current. "Anyone got a manual for this Projector or the very most basic circuit diagram for igniting a bulb? or hints at finding new apeture plates?" Igniting a xenon bulb requires a high voltage igniter, this puts ~40KV across the bulb electrodes to start the arc going. Most igniters use a line powered Tesla coil circuit that can be fired via a manual button or an automatic system that senses the higher open circuit lamp voltage when the rectifier is on but the lamp is off. The circuitry is quite simple in concept, but most lamphouses have fans and safety interlocks that make it look complex. Download any Strong lamphouse manual - ie the Super Lume-X - there's a circuit diagram that is pretty generic. Be very careful when working with xenon lamps. The ignitor makes quite deadly voltages, and the open circuit DC from the rectifier is fatally dangerous as well. Xenon lamps themselves are pressurized to the point of being explosive and you should wear proper protective gear if you are opening a xenon lamphouse or handling a lamp.  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 04-17-2003 04:24 PM                     Spectra series may be the units imported from China which could be the Shanghai Harvest portable units or the Dong Feng / Tiajin cinema projector....a photograph would nail it. Richard Fowler Kinoton America Inc.....the nice projector people  |  IP: Logged Jonathan Worthing Master Film Handler Posts: 384 From: Hereford, UK Registered: Apr 2001 posted 04-17-2003 05:11 PM                     How big is your sledge hammer. the first thing you need to do is put it through the power supply. A Widow Maker. I serviced a pair back in the dark ages, I thought it was the kind of thing you would see in some secondary school used for keeping the kids amused, Last day of term. If I have any notes on it I will let you know..  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 04-17-2003 05:34 PM                     I think we've got some bits and pieces for these things, we bought most of the Spectra spares when the then UK agent shut up shop (CSS I think they were called). Richard, they sometimes go by the name of 'Fun Dun' (spelling?) here, but I think they are the same machine you're talking about. The electrics/electronics are crap, Robins ran some of these things, nearest to me were in residence at Durham, back in teh days when Robins serviced their equipment we were never done with repairing the rectifier. The best thing you could do would be to throw away the on board and hook up a T&R or similar PSU for the bulb. If the mechanicals are in halfway decent order the will give a respectable performance. Edinburgh Film Guild has a pair which have been running for years and years wth little fuss (Admittedly only a couple of times a month)  |  IP: Logged Dick Vaughan Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1032 From: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK Registered: Jul 2000 posted 04-17-2003 06:30 PM                        Hope I am not pi**ing on your chips but do you have a separate projection room ie: not projecting from inside the auditorium. AFAIK you can, under whatever version of the Cinematograph Act your Fire Officer/Licensing Authority wants to go, by project 16mm from the back row (or anywhere else) in the cinema . Move up to 35mm and, because many of these people don't realise that nitrate isn't used very much nowadays you need a separate projection room. They may even insist on fire shutters so the dangerous film doesn't wipe out the audience  |  IP: Logged Kevin Baglow Expert Film Handler Posts: 135 From: Yeppoon Qld, Australia Registered: Dec 2000 posted 04-17-2003 09:43 PM                        SPECTRA 90 must be an English modified JGS from Shanghai. Lots of JGS parts have been sent to a few film societys in England who are useing them. Parts are cheep and plentyfull -a new inermittent unit is only a couple of hundred dollars. They are still selling well to smaller country towns for community cinemas and travelling cinemas in Australia. There are even small multiplexes useing them for 8 sessions a day. A mate built an automation unit to strike an cut the Xenon on a foil cue- at the start and end of the show. The unit also does an automatic change over between 2 of these projectors, with 2000ft reels (useing foil cues)  |  IP: Logged Ken Layton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1452 From: Olympia, Wash. USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 04-17-2003 10:30 PM                     I'd like to see a good, clear picture of this Spectra 90 machine.  |  IP: Logged Kevin Baglow Expert Film Handler Posts: 135 From: Yeppoon Qld, Australia Registered: Dec 2000 posted 04-18-2003 03:30 AM                        There a pic of JGS on: www.filmtheatres.com There in the Mt Isa installation. The two projectors together mounted off the wall- I will ad some clearer pictures soon.  |  IP: Logged Mat Fleming Film Handler Posts: 14 From: Newcasatle upont Tyne Registered: Apr 2003 posted 04-18-2003 07:36 AM                     Thanks for the great responses oops, yes, I was talking feet not inches and we do have a proper booth - the photo's from somewhere else. The projectors in question come out of the Robins Durham saddly departed (no graemlin with a tear saddly) and they are Chinese imports (Kaylee copies I've been told) They are big pedestal things with horrible looking rectifiers in the base and I'm off home now to get a photograph. ..A few minutes later.. Here it is. Not as clear as I remember it. left to right- pedestal, lamphouses, idiot, mech heads, rectifier What do y'all think?  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 04-18-2003 08:37 AM                     Dong Feng / Tiajin unit........ Richard Fowler Kinoton America Inc.  |  IP: Logged Mat Fleming Film Handler Posts: 14 From: Newcasatle upont Tyne Registered: Apr 2003 posted 04-18-2003 08:57 AM                     What does that mean for a first timer like me? Are there similar models with different names?  |  IP: Logged Kevin Baglow Expert Film Handler Posts: 135 From: Yeppoon Qld, Australia Registered: Dec 2000 posted 04-18-2003 06:35 PM                        Oh...DONG FENG not JGS. I'm useing three of them in my 3plex. They have the 3kw rectifiers and lamps. I'm just getting a replacement main transformer in one of the rectifiers. Parts are still cheep and readyly available. Pics on: www.filmtheatres.com  |  IP: Logged

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