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Author Topic: OSRAM XL xenon warranties? Christopher Meredith Expert Film Handler Posts: 126 From: Jackson, MS, USA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 10-06-2007 12:36 PM                        OSRAM has started to ship us "xtreme life" bulbs which are apparently replacing their normal line. Specifically, I just installed an OSRAM XBO 4000W/HS XL and I was unable to determine from the warranty card how many hours this bulb is warrantied to run. Does anyone know the warranty hours for this "XL" line of bulbs? Thanks!  |  IP: Logged John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 10-06-2007 05:00 PM                     The warranty card doesn't list the number of warranteed hours? That sure seems busted. I don't know, but the older Osram catalogs specced the 4000 W/HS (pn 69254) with a service life of 1000 hours. Osram's catalog (at http://ecom.mysylvania.com/) now lists that lamp with a service life of 1500 hours, but a warrantee of 1000 hours. Oftentimes you can find different information at osram.com and sylvania.com, but neither of them seems to have the full story. catalog.myosram.com lists both XBO 4000W/HS OFR VS1 and XBO 4000W/HS XL OFR VS1, but doesn't actually list any useful information... --jhawk  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 10-08-2007 02:44 AM                     I'd recommend in NOT getting those XL bulbs since they are not as good as quality as the regular Osrams. I heard that Osram has changed their product status to where they're meeting the demand requirements for ultimate light output for a cost of duration..(i.e. the "LTI syndrome") since large circuits are more concerned on presentation than duration. Thus Osram is meeting these demands of a lesser duration bulb for the exchange of light output - which are not any good for the circuits who rely on duration of bulb life. If you want the ultimate bulb, head on over to Christie and as for the "CDXL" series of bulbs - a shorter arc gapped bulbs compared to their standard "CXL" bulbs.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 10-08-2007 11:08 AM                        The "XL" is a superior Osram bulb, recognizing their good luck with "extended life." The regular Osram bulbs will (eventually) go away when the XL covers the full line. (How can a longer life bul;b be bad??) Note: Only on Osram; the warranty life is the point at which 20% of the light is lost. Continuous improvements allow longer warranty. I believe other warranties are not related to light output, but are determined by competitive reasons. Louis  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-08-2007 12:34 PM                     quote: Louis Bornwasser I believe other warranties are not related to light output, but are determined by competitive reasons. Louis Yea, because Christie is selling way more lamps than they are and they last ALOT longer before you reach that 20% light reduction point. Also Christie has had the XL in their lamp designation(CXL....20...30 and so on) longer than I've been in this buisness!! So Osram had to do something to draw attention. The worst thing that ever happened to Osram was Sylvania. So far in 28 years I have yet to be impressed by anything out of Osram. They are just ok lamps in my book. Mark  |  IP: Logged Christopher Meredith Expert Film Handler Posts: 126 From: Jackson, MS, USA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 10-11-2007 07:11 PM                        I moved from Christie to OSRAM because I can usually get a better picture for longer out of an OSRAM. I had a 2kw OSRAM go past 10,000 hours in one house and it was the brightest lamp in the complex when an unhappy supervisor made me remove it because it was "old." I asked the original question because my company has a policy of removing lapms once they get to 150% warranty hours no matter what they look like and I wanted to know if I needed to adjust my spreadsheet now that we're getting these "XL" bulbs.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 10-11-2007 09:06 PM                        XL means "extended life." I don't think there is any set answer. Each bulb is an individual. Very long life can be good .....or bad. Remember YOU assume the cost of the reflector even when you are 1 hour over warranty. My opinion is that both Christie and Osram are worthy bulbs. In general all others share a common trait: short, unreliable life. Even they, occasionally, make a good bulb or two. The 2 I mentioned have a history of excellence. Some of the blame/credit belongs to the rectifier manufacturer and the amount of cooling involved. Some equipment/bulb combinations don't matter while others are not very workable. Beware if you are running a switcher power supply. Louis  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 10-12-2007 03:40 AM                     Thus, I had a 2500XBO die on me with only 1475 hrs on it - just plain die. No hints whatsoever of any sort of failure-physical or electrical evidence of any failure points. It knocked the rectifier into a lockout mode with the "ignition" LED displaying..prob due from numerous attempts of ignition and then just locked up. At least Christies, when they get age, they get a little grumpy on striking, but they will ignite and light up-not the prettiest light, but will ignite. Thus, why do OSRAMS have this sort of failure, I wonder? For all of the Osrams that I've used in the past, it seems that they love to die this way..and they will die when they want to - even new out of the box with 2 hrs on them.  |  IP: Logged John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 10-12-2007 09:47 AM                     What did the electrodes look like? Did you ask Osram? They should be able to tell you. --jhawk  |  IP: Logged

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