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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: Strong Lamphouse problem
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Tristan Lane
Master Film Handler
Posts: 444
From: Nampa, Idaho
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-01-2008 12:54 PM
I hate problems like the one described here. Troubleshooting something like this is difficult and the results are questionable until the "fix" has been time tested.
I had what I would describe to be an opposite problem on a set of highlight II consoles. The consoles used high reactance rectifiers. Ignitors were DC. The problem was this:
New lamps installed - Struck fine for the first 300 hours and then would exibit striking problems. The ignitor would pulse at a very fast rate and the time between pulses would decrease the longer the rectifier was powered. One console generally took 1-2 minutes to establish a reliable arc. Once the lamp struck, the arc would move around and then go out. On the 2nd or 3rd time, it would finally stay lit.
We tested power, replaced components, and then started trying things like removing the doors from the plenum, moving the magnet around, replacing the magnet, replacing the ignitor, etc... None of which solved the problem. After months of tinkering, I spoke with a fellow technician who was having a similar problem and he suggested cutting the nichrome wire.
I went back on site, found a lamphouse with a lamp old enough to cause problems and cut the wire. Problem fixed. Lamp immediately struck up and stayed lit.
There was another solution that was impelemented which involved installing an IREM ac ignitor in place of the ballantyne DC unit. I found that all parts were ordered and sitting in a storage room at the theater, so I installed them as well. Now the nichrome wire can stay on and the lamps strike up like normal regardless of hours.
The question still remains: What is causing the problem? The DC ignitors should be sufficient, and work in many other installations with the exact same setup. There was speculation that it was a bad "batch" of consoles because there were a few other sites that were opened by the same company that had the same vintage of equipment, and they all exhibited this problem.
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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/1002d.jpg)
Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 06-01-2008 06:28 PM
Hi Tristan,
That is some good information to keep in mind, as I have those consoles and ignitors almost exclusively. There was a power issue at one of my sites this weekend, and before I figured out it was a power issue and I was troubleshooting individual houses, it was suggested to me to cut that nichrome wire. I have never heard of that before, but I will keep that in mind.
As for the Irem conversion kit, I have done it. Works great. Problem is, it costs about three times the price of a repair/exchange on the DC ignitor. I sure would love to put one in every house, though.
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