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Author Topic: Light on Screens (DRIVE-In) Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-27-2008 03:58 PM                        One of my Drive-In accounts didn't have enough light on their screen. They were running 3000 watt bulb in a Century Projector and pretty old lenses. After many, many discussions we at last changed the power supply, the lamp house and upped the bulb to 4500 watts. They at first were not very happy with the outlay of cash but once the customers starting telling them what a nice picture they had now they came around. I guess my question is how many Drive-Ins or for that matter indoor theaters are running to dim a picture to save money on the bulb and electricity. Don't you guys agree you get more back from the paying customer if you do it right? (Edited to correct Drive-Inn to Drive-In) [ 05-28-2008, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Ron Funderburg ]  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 05-27-2008 06:47 PM                     4500 is still not enough. Any drive-in not running at least a 6000 watt bulb isn't set up properly.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 05-27-2008 06:50 PM                        In a drive in, it's all about the light! No light, no picture. Anything below 4500 watts with a top grade lamphouse; water cooled projector, and new, excellent lenses is criminal. Screen size is not relevant, since 4500 watts on a small screen will allow an even earlier start. Double the light, start 1 hour earlier; 2x the gate and 4x on concessions. The average result of 10 drive ins. In the 60's & 70's we had 2 sets of lenses to allow an even earlier start. Louis  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-27-2008 10:25 PM                     Only one 'n' in 'in'. (unless you're staying overnight).  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-28-2008 12:03 AM                       Thanks, John! FWIW, the single best thing you can do for any drive-in is get new lenses. Even with existing lamphouses, that difference alone can be phenomenal.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 05-28-2008 02:44 AM                     Dang, same setup that I work with at this drive-in in my area... ..and with a 3k bulb in that XENEX hitting a 45x90 screen 400ft away..and can't get the owner to do some serious upgrade with this setup. ..least the lenses are Schneiders...  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 05-28-2008 05:57 AM                        He must be allergic to money! Louis  |  IP: Logged Paul Gordon Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 580 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Registered: Aug 2005 posted 05-28-2008 07:09 AM                        If its about saving electricity "technalight" could be an option... basically its a retrofit lamphouse that greatly increases your light. We had our 2000watt lampghouses done (indoor cinema) and now they act like 3000 watts. with large drive in lamps the increase is even greater, 4000watts acting like 7000watts etc.. with a very even and great contrast..very punchy http://www.robertfilm.com/english.html  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-28-2008 08:18 AM                        quote: He must be allergic to money! Aren't all theatre owners? So, does the Technilight thing really work? As in, does it give more light per watt without damaging film? Are there any issues with the quality or evenness of the light?  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-28-2008 09:31 AM                        We are working on new lenses and yes technalight does work, no he hasn't got technalight but it is an upgrade we are looking at. The lamp house does have a glass reflector. This guy will spend money unlike many drive-in owners and sorry for the double n I was tried maybe that had something to do with it. They also already figured out they can start earlier than before. The projector isn't water cooled now but it was in the past and we are looking to set it back up that way in the near future. The previous owner didn't throw anything away he just took the stuff off and put in storage! But there is a lot of stuff in storage! Monte I like the footstool to be able to get up high enough to do the tread work! I have seen that booth set up before.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-28-2008 09:48 AM                     With a technilite conversion and 5kw lamp its very possible to hit the 20 footlambert level on many a drive inn screen. Mark  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-28-2008 10:38 AM                        Brad it is there drive-in and I can't make them spend the money to have everything perfect. All I can do is get them to spend what I can and get the picture and sound as good as I can.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 05-28-2008 10:42 AM                        I don't know of any drive-in that intentionally under-powers their lamps. Anyone who keeps his head above ground level has at least heard that this can be about as hard on a bulb as overpowering it. It's more likely a problem of not having updated their lamphouses or lenses since the theatre was built (or converted to xenon). There are LOTS of drive-ins that are using old ORC lamphouses. Their 4,000 watt boxes are about as efficient as a 1,800 watt Super Lume-X, and their consoles are worse. Going through some of the online tours, I'm still seeing Panavision and those old B&L anamorphic adapters... light hogs. There are also a few out there that don't have 3-phase power. I've seen a couple with Xenex lamps, but they have no ambient light problems and their owners think they're just fine. I have 7kW Big Sky lamps here. So far, I haven't seen anything that beats them... at least not in this application. Switching to Schneider lenses on our big screen made a noticeable difference as well. This kind of stuff costs money that a lot of drive-in operators can't see putting back into that part of their business. Having done it though, I'm a big believer. There are other drive-ins in our state that our customers can go to, so comparison is possible. If anyone were to tell me that one of those places had a picture that came anywhere close to mine, I'd be going over there to see why pretty fast.  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-28-2008 10:50 AM                        Jack the lamp house isn't underpowered the old one was just to small to get the job done. The 4500 is putting out much better light and it is probable not bright enough but we are working with the limits of the budget they set for me.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 05-28-2008 10:52 AM                        4500 watts is nothing to sneeze at, Ron, though others here rightly point out you might not be happy with a dark movie. I didn't see it in your original post... How big is your screen, and what lamphouse are you presently using? Are you fighting light incursions from nearby parking lots?  |  IP: Logged

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