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This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
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Author
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Topic: Running with the lamphouse open
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Christopher Meredith
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 126
From: Jackson, MS, USA
Registered: Apr 2006
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posted 05-21-2007 10:34 AM
When I came into work Saturday evening, I was told that projector #8 (our big house, 4kW) was "too hot." Upon inspection, it was immediately clear that the roof exhaust fan was not running. The console was way too hot to touch and the heat was ripping off the entire unit. It was running Shrek and had about 20 minutes left so I let it finish.
Since then, I've been running it with the back panel removed and the side panel open, with an industrial fan blowing into the side and another sucking air out the back. We had to rig up som shades to prevent the excess light from spilling into auditoriums, but this has kep the unit sufficiently cool until a new fan can arrive tomorrow morning.
Unfortunately, other projectionists here are scared to death by this arrangement and have made their complaints known. They are trained enough to run the booth properly but know next to nothing about how the machines actually work. (The second-most trained guy, next to me, when he saw the projector was running hot was convinced the projector belt needed changing!)
Anyway, I was wondering about everyone's experiences having top run in thsi compromised fashion. Personally, I am not a bit concerned by this setup. I find it far safer than the alternative, and far preferable to being down our big house on the opening weekend of Shrek 3. Any thought?
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Jack Ondracek
Film God
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Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 05-21-2007 11:00 AM
There are a lot of people here, who can pick this apart better than I, but...
I'm leaning toward your other projectionists' attitude about this. An "industrial fan" might pull the heat that's radiated to the sides, but may not do much for the bulb seals. If that bulb blows... for ANY reason, related to the failure of the fan or not, you're likely to have glass flying everywhere. If any of that so much as touches one of your staff, things could get really exciting around there... especially for the lawyers. Having that door open is a risky service issue, even with a cold bulb. Intentionally leaving it open, then running the thing AND allowing people in the room with it... well, I hope the company insurance is paid up!
Another issue here, is whether you were authorized to put your company at-risk like this. Modifying a lamp like that is a decision I would never allow an employee to make on his own... especially since I carry all the liability and he carries none. Your intentions may have been honorable (keeping the screen up), but you probably should have had something like that authorized... in writing, by someone very close to the top.
I saved a show like that... once... for the same reasons, with about the same time left on the show. At the end of the performance, that screen was officially down until I'd replaced the blower.... AND the bulb. I wasn't ready to risk that it hadn't been overly stressed by the experience. However, in that case, it was my theatre, my lamphouse, my bulb, my choice... and I cleared everyone out of there but me.
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Christopher Meredith
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 126
From: Jackson, MS, USA
Registered: Apr 2006
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posted 05-21-2007 11:31 AM
Perhaps I should clarify. The blowers that directly cool the bulb are functional. It is only the console exhaust that is down. The bulb is being directly cooled as normal.
Gordon, yes, I did have to defeat 2 safety switches to run with the doors open. Also, these units do not have a sail swicth for the roof stack. It appears they used to, but no longer do. The units at my previous theater did not have them either. (Actually, at that theater, 8 of the 2kw units didn't even have roof exhaust at all!)
I am aware of the liability issues involved. But if the bulb doesn't explode and no one touches the electrical components, that becomes a moot point, no? I guess my question is from a technical perspective. Should I be concerned about an equipment failure due to running this way?
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Randy Stankey
Film God
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Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 05-21-2007 11:53 AM
No. You're missing the point. The lamphouse doors keep the air flow INSIDE and make sure it blows on the LAMP, not all out into the room. Even with the blower blowing on the lamp, it might not get enough air to cool it the way it's supposed to be.
Yes, you SHOULD be concerned about the increased chance of failure.
quote: Christopher Meredith But if the bulb doesn't explode and no one touches the electrical components, that becomes a moot point, no?
But, if the bulb DOES explode YOU will become moot! Have you ever heard the words "Joint and Severable Liability?"
You defeated TWO safety mechanisms, designed to protect people from just the sort of danger you are worried about? That kind of thing will earn you a Darwin Award!
It's YOUR neck that's on the chopping block, RIGHT NOW! Basically, you're just lying there hoping the axe doesn't fall! Why don't you paint a dotted line around your neck while you're at it?!
Just quit dicking around and get somebody to go up there and check it! It's probably just a worn out belt. A can of spray-on belt dressing might get you back up and running until you call the repair man.
For the amount of effort that is required to go up on the roof to check the blower, you're putting yourself and a lot of other people in all kinds of danger!
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Jack Ondracek
Film God
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Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 05-21-2007 12:23 PM
quote: Christopher Meredith I guess my question is from a technical perspective. Should I be concerned about an equipment failure due to running this way?
I think the point here is that the technical side of this problem is a lesser issue. Yes, you might get away with it. However, there are lots of things you CAN do, even though you SHOULDN'T. Therefore, this becomes a judgment issue that bears on how maturely you approach your job.
Yes, you kept your show on the screen. However, to do that, you bypassed safety components and intentionally operated potentially dangerous equipment in a manner that could unpredictably cause damage and injury. I seriously doubt that any booth manager is allowed a call like that, and that is the main point of my argument. You would have been far better off to have explained how you approached the big picture, thinking of your employer at least as much as being able to show off your technical prowess. That you haven't done so would put serious doubts in my mind as a potential employer. Without serious training and agreements as to the parameters of your job, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with you in the booth. That might be a shame, since you showed the initiative to even approach the problem in the first place.
Incidentally, the stack blower that John mentioned is a great idea. Several multi's in our area have done exactly this, as their way of dealing with the problem you have now. Once you get through this situation, get one of these things (probably from Grainger), then see if you can arrange your booth so the blower can be placed on any lamphouse that might need it.
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Christopher Meredith
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 126
From: Jackson, MS, USA
Registered: Apr 2006
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posted 05-21-2007 03:15 PM
I don't know how I gave the impression that I wasn't planning on getting this fixed. I thought I had indicated in the OP that the new fan would not arrive until tomorrow morning. We had an HVAC tech out here until almost midnight Saturday night working on the unit, his conclusion being that it was in need to replacement and that the motor is OEM and needs to be ordered from the mfg. It will be fixed at the earliest opportunity.
Second, this was not a call I made on my own, though the person who has the authority to make this call had the same idea as me.
Third, I agree that the lack fo sail switches is a bad thing. But when you inherit a setup that has changed hands and companies numerous times, it's difficult to determine which odd things were done intentioanlly and for a good reason and which ones were the result of negligence somewhere along the line. I admit to at least partially dropping the ball on this point.
As far as the issue of proper airflow, this is the one that most interests me. It has been stated ibn this thread that the design and placement of the lamphouses and the exhaust hardware is done intentionally to create a specific airflow for the general cooling of the interior of the lamphouse. Is that affected by Monte's suggestion of rigging up an emergency fan that pulls air out the back of the X-90, rather than out the top as it is designed to do?
In other words, if Monte's suggestion works, I don't understand why my temporary solution wouldn't.
For what it's worth, I found out after the original post that the parts will not actually arrive until Wednesday morning. Given that fact, and given that it is not a non-peak business time, we've decided to run without that house at all. Again, I hope I enver gave the impression that this was intended as anything other than a short-term, temporary "band-aid" until the repair could be completed.
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