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Author Topic: Xenon Bulb explosion upon ignition Steven J Hart Master Film Handler Posts: 282 From: WALES, ND, USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 07-05-2007 08:54 AM                        Yesterday I struck the arc on my Kneisley Xenex II and the bulb exploded. It was a 1600 watt LTI HS bulb with about 900 hours on it. When I called my dealer, they contacted LTI who said the bulb was purchased in 2001, so the warranty is expired. I installed the bulb in my lamphouse in June of 2005, so it hadn't been in the machine very long. The explosion did major damage to my reflector which costs about a grand. I run a limited schedule, Friday - Monday weekly, and put only about 500 hours a year on my equipment. If I buy a new spare bulb now, the warranty time may expire before I need to install the bulb. Should I "go commando" for a while without purchasing a new spare? Do Xenon bulbs really physically age sitting on the shelf unused? Steve  |  IP: Logged John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-05-2007 09:56 AM                     OK, this past week makes me feel like an Osram spokesperson. Anyhow, Osram says, on p.35 of ENGR_BLTN11.pdf: quote: Storage XBO lamps can be stored indefinitely, as far as can be determined for a product only 35 years on the market. The ambient conditions must however be nonaggressive, for example, no storage temperatures over 50°C no condensation, and a non-corrosive atmosphere. In these circumslances the material properties of quartz glass and tungsten change so slowly that no ageing effects are evident. Where storage effects do occur they usually affect external lamp parts such as the interiors of bases, the bases themselves and the power leads. I certainly cannot speak to LTI's warranty policies. --jhawk  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 07-05-2007 10:53 AM                        Most bulbs have a 5 year policy from Dealer purchase. Osram seems to be the exception. Stick with Osram if you need long-term warranty protection. I have personally been bitten by the 5 year policy. I truly don't think anyone's bulb actually ages. I think they have too many lawyers. Louis  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 07-05-2007 12:28 PM                     We were told to date and rotate our Christie bulbs. In a multiplex, bulbs don't stay on the shelf long anyway.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-05-2007 01:09 PM                     I think you should badger LTI till you get a reflector replacement or at least a pro-rated part if it... both on the phone, via your lawyer, and on this forum. That lamp was made back in their days of really iffy lamp construction so they shouldn't be argueing much with you about it. They have also defined another good reason NOT to be using their lamps. Brad has had them explode just sitting on the shelf!! Believe me buying the least expensive lamp NEVER pays in the end. You either receive major damage like you have or much shorter lamp life. Mark  |  IP: Logged Richard May Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1057 From: Floral Park, NY USA Registered: Aug 2004 posted 07-05-2007 10:00 PM                     I have never had an issue like that with Osram. I have had a couple of bulbs blow that had sat on the shelf for more than 5 years, and Osram gave me full credit.  |  IP: Logged Steven J Hart Master Film Handler Posts: 282 From: WALES, ND, USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 07-05-2007 10:08 PM                        Thanks for the info, sound like I'll be purchasing an Osram for a spare. I've never really understood why this lamphouse came from Kneisley set up to use the short arc lamp, it takes two extra adapters to make it fit. Should I consider switching to the long arc 1600 watt bulb?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-05-2007 10:36 PM                     The 1600W long lamp and the 2000W standard lamp are either identical or nearly identical from most manufacturers. Christie is one of the few that does make a different vertical 1600-watt lamp (CXL-1600) from their 2000W horizontal lamp (CXL-20R) though one will physically fit in the other's place. In general, the short arc lamps are more light efficent than their longer cousins though typically with less operating life. If the light is good with the 1600HS, I'd stick with it.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-06-2007 07:47 AM                        That's a pretty crappy warranty and yet another reason to stay away from LTI.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-06-2007 08:07 AM                     Actually, Christie has a 2-year maximum warranty. For parts it is 90-days! We recently got burned by that one.  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 07-07-2007 11:32 AM                     quote: Steve Guttag For parts it is 90-days! We recently got burned by that one. Same here. So much for keeping a spare shutter gear box and when you finally need to use it, it too begins to leak after a month or so.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-07-2007 12:01 PM                     Just a side note: Microsoft just released their end-of-year earnings statement. They had to take a 2 billion dollar LOSS against their earnings because of too many warranty claims against the "X-Box 360" A loss like that would probably put Christie out of business.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 07-07-2007 04:22 PM                        Not if they sold as many shutter gear boxes as Microsoft did X-Box 360s.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-07-2007 04:48 PM                     Our loss was on the LED/CDS assys. These were new with the factory heat shrink on the CDS cells...they wouldn't set to spec. Technically, the warranty (in Christie's Standard Warranty Statement) is supposed to begin when the first end user receives the items...these never made it to the first end user...Christie still denied our claim. How does one support a product like that? That is, how can a stocking dealer stock parts when the manufacturer won't support their own parts?. I wonder if they are going to be like that on the DCinema equipment? Don't keep a spare anything, if it is bad, you are out $7K or more! Steve  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 07-07-2007 06:52 PM                        Hardball works.....especially if you sell enough. Louis  |  IP: Logged

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