my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Who has had a fire somewhere in their projector? -> OT: Voltage around the world (Page 1)

This topic comprises 6 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6

Author Topic: Who has had a fire somewhere in their projector? -> OT: Voltage around the world Olivia Coleman Film Handler Posts: 53 From: Bend, OR USA Registered: Jun 2005 posted 06-30-2005 09:56 AM                        Last week I had a bulb that for some reason wouldn't ignite. For an hour I spent troubleshooting it, on and off the phone with the tech. Till the manual button was turned on and I leaned against the backdoor, it struck. Problem though, was there was an extremely bad flicker. It was running at almost 30 amps less then is should. So the tech informed me I will have to change out the diodes in the rectifier... So I went in the next morning (a little later than I wanted to as I closed the night before) to change them out before our first show... Kiddie film: "Shrek 2," which I knew they would not sit through that bad flicker. So the tech informed me the night before there is a small arrow somewhere near the threads of the diodes.... Now apparently these are foriegn made as the 'arrow' did not look like the typical arrow. I couldn't figure it out so I ended up putting some in the wrong way only to find an electrical smell when trying to get the lamp to strike. Shut the projector down again, and put them in the correct direction. This time I neglected to see one wire that was to be connected to the bottom set of diodes where the other two didn't have but the two currents connecting. Small fire started when trying to get the lamp to strike. Shut the projector off again. Attached the wire. Lamp struck. Thought all was good til another manager arrive to assist me. He was the one who found a burnt wire, which was not the one I had forgotten to connect. He then attempted to fix that. Another fire started... This one was a little fun as we shut everything down and opened the back door to it still on fire! So we ended up taking that piece out of another projector to get that one working. Of course this was our largest house! There was no way we could salvage the part due to the fire melting the tiny board the wires were attached to. The next day the part arrived so we could get the other projector up and running. When the tech called to find out if it had arrived, he asked if I put it in yet. I told him I didn't want to end up causing another fire and destroying that part, again. He chuckled and told another projectionist, who is a friend of mine, I didn't want to start another fire... We have everything working properly now. I was just curious how many other projectionists out there have had small fires somewhere in their projectors??? [ 07-14-2005, 11:32 PM: Message edited by: Adam Martin ]  |  IP: Logged Ken Layton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1452 From: Olympia, Wash. USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 06-30-2005 10:37 AM                     For something like this why didn't your tech come out in the first place to troubleshoot & confirm bad diodes? If there was a bad diode(s) then then tech should change them.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-30-2005 08:01 PM                     I have to wonder after reading that story if there is even a tech in her area...... Ken is right about having a qualified tech change out the diodes. Not only can they be over tightened(at both ends!) but most that are not familiar with the procedure seem to ignore correct application of heat sink compound. Mark  |  IP: Logged Rick Long Jr Expert Film Handler Posts: 211 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Jul 2000 posted 06-30-2005 08:36 PM                     I have read this a couple of times, and am not sure what to think now. A big part of me wants to think that it's a joke. Sureley no one would attempt this without knowing what they're doing, would they? THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW WHICH END OF A SCREWDRIVER TO HOLD DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO USE IT! If this is not a joke, and IF the tech didn't know Olivia personally, they should have been at least able to feel out the technical abilities of the operator here and determined that this is obviously the WRONG person for the job. I may not be the right person to say this but, given what you've posted Olivia, its obvious that you were in over your head, and have cost your theatre much more money in repairs than was probably necessary. IF you got it to light with the diodes in wrong, you've probably taken hours off the bulbs life, if not screwed it completely. I don't want to seem like a hardass, but unfortunately I see this all the time. People with a little knowledge doing dumb things and blowing stuff up. I do acknowledge that I have no idea of your projection or technical skills - I'm sure you're a very competent operator, but if you don't know what you're doing DON'T TOUCH IT!!!! You could really hurt yourself. Not to mention the equipment. As to the topic, yes, In my 20 years as a tech, I've seen all kinds of things catch fire in the booth. Crown amps... Ashly amps... Strong switching rectifiers... Kinoton ignitors...Cinemeccanica ignitors...Speco platters...etc.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 06-30-2005 08:37 PM                        Olivia, Do you work at a Regal? Where does your service tech work out of? I'm gonna guess Portland. It's great to be enthusiastic and willing to go the extra mile. But this whole story sounds like the setup for a costly disaster.  |  IP: Logged Olivia Coleman Film Handler Posts: 53 From: Bend, OR USA Registered: Jun 2005 posted 06-30-2005 09:28 PM                        I am qualified to do diodes (level four) and the tech is out of Salem. Yes, David, I am from a Regal. The tech was in Portland opening the Bridgeport when this happened and was the one who instructed me to do the diodes. I just have never done them before as I have only been certified level four for a few months and before we didn't have any go out. As to you, Rick, I am rather offended you assume a lot of about me. Don't you remember when you first were learning, you didn't know everything either, did you? I learned what I did wrong and it won't happen again. My tech wasn't even upset about the fire as happens! Oh, and the bulb struck after I had corrected the direction of the diodes, FYI!  |  IP: Logged Rick Long Jr Expert Film Handler Posts: 211 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Jul 2000 posted 06-30-2005 09:56 PM                     I did in fact NOT assume a lot of about you. The wording of your post did indicate that you are obviously inexperienced, and I felt compelled to post. It is frustrating to hear of this happening. I will be the first to admit that shit does happen. A lot. But I was concerned that perhaps someone who hasn't been trained on the proper troubleshooting and repair of xenon powersupplies was doing so. You say you are "qualified to do diodes (level four)". Well, good. Not sure what this means. Did you have a multimeter to check the diodes? Have you had any formal electrical theory training? I'm sorry if I've offended you in any way. As I said, I'm sure you're a fine operator, but I see this far too much. but if you've done any lurking on this site at all, you'll learn that people in this industry can be very passionate about their profession.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 06-30-2005 10:59 PM                        I don't think anyone was trying to pick on you Olivia. It was more an honest concern for your own safety. Is this the same tech that services Eugene? He's doing a pretty good job keeping Cinema World 8 going.  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 06-30-2005 11:49 PM                        I think Olivia should be applauded for the honesty with which she tells the story. It is not really her fault that she is expected to perform this kind of operation with minimal training and apparently not the right equipment. I never expect or allow any of our people to work inside the power supply. Just the regular phone troubleshooting stuff - "triplecheck the breakers", "is the green light on", "are the fans running", "does it click in the bottom of the console", etc. When it becomes apparent that some work on the actual power supply is necessary, I always do it myself or call in an outside technician. On the other hand, after step 1, she should have left the thing alone and waited for the technician, even though it did work in the end. When stuff starts smelling bad or burning, it is usually time for more in-depth anaylsis. That there was not more damage in this case is mostly luck.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-30-2005 11:58 PM                     quote: David Stambaugh I don't think anyone was trying to pick on you Olivia. It was more an honest concern for your own safety. That statement is very true and exactly what I was thinking. Chains seem to have little to no concern for an employees safety, or their customers by allowing employees with little to no training to do repairs of that type. No matter what "Level" you are at 3 phase can still kill you, single phase too for that matter. One of the chains we service does not have "Levels" so apparently they realize that anyone can be killed . They don't change diodes... they call us.... and every once in a while I get to visit Lake Powell as a result . Be Careful and live long! Mark @ CLACO P.S. In 25 years of doing this I have had very FEW things catch on fire on a booth. One Kneisley rectifier, one QSC amp, and many Essanay changover coils.... the latter being one of the more dangerous things in a booth IMHO, thats about it! [ 07-01-2005, 12:04 AM: Message edited by: Mark Gulbrandsen ]  |  IP: Logged Josh Jones Redhat Posts: 1207 From: Plano, TX Registered: Apr 2000 posted 07-01-2005 12:56 AM                        We had a diode lead smoke and melt down, merely because the diode shorted. we upgraded the diodes and havent had a problem since JJ  |  IP: Logged Olivia Coleman Film Handler Posts: 53 From: Bend, OR USA Registered: Jun 2005 posted 07-01-2005 01:05 AM                        I AM young and inexperienced in some areas but I am not stupid. I did know, when I started the work, to have the current going in the correct direction. I blame impatientness and not a lot of sleep: only 3-4 hours! I will admit I didn't first inspect the diodes close enough and that is how I messed up. I do learn from my mistakes--isn't that what educates us?! If I had more motivation when I was younger, I probably would have gone to ITT Tech. Oh well. I too have passion for my work. Too many times I want to strangle a few people. I take it too personally when a print gets scratched. We had a really good record for a long time then we had some people *uck up royally!!! David, yes, our tech is the same for Eugene. He is the tech for Idaho as well, and Alaska. He [the tech] did instructed me on how to do the diodes. I just didn't pay close enough attention when actually working on them. Our cordless phone sucks near the projectors.  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 07-01-2005 01:15 AM                        Do you have a multimeter in the location? I don't pay much attention to what it says on the diodes about the direction, I always test them. Yes, I have seen mislabelled ones. It is never too late to go back to school if you desire to improve your knowledge and skills.  |  IP: Logged Emma Tomiak Expert Film Handler Posts: 238 From: Carrollton, TX, USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 07-01-2005 01:58 AM                        Just curious; is it unusual for day to day operators to do things like change diodes? Do large chains (and even independent theatres) usually call a technician to do this?  |  IP: Logged Olivia Coleman Film Handler Posts: 53 From: Bend, OR USA Registered: Jun 2005 posted 07-01-2005 02:16 AM                        quote: Emma Tomiak it unusual for day to day operators to do things like change diodes? Do large chains (and even independent theatres) usually call a technician to do this? Yes, it depends on who the operator is. I am the booth manager's right hand and she had just gotten back in town from being at other theatres, with a cold. So I did not want to disturb her. If I wasn't there I would have probably been called about it any ways to try to fix it. Most managers there are either not qualified or do not do that sort of work. There is only 3 of us there that do, out of twelve managers.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 6 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.