my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Automation Not Working

Author Topic: Automation Not Working Andy Bajew Expert Film Handler Posts: 136 From: Bellaire, Texas Registered: Jun 2009 posted 08-08-2009 11:28 AM                     Housing: Optimax Orcon Projector Head: Christie P35 Failsafe/Cue Detector: Component Engineering, Inc. Model FM-35 For a while now the automation in one of our projectors has completely quit working. We have had to run everything manually. When the failsafe is powered on, it reads that it is detecting 'motion' even when nothing is thread through it. When there is film thread through the fail safe it will read that it detects 'motion and presence.' However, when the film is thread through it, the 'motion and presence' lights will do a pulsing effect where they will turn on briefly and fade off, then fade back on briefly only to repeat the process again. Lastly, when the failsafe is powered on with the film thread through it, when it's doing its pulsing thing, behind the control board there is a series of circuits that will light up and go off at the same time as the pulsing, except with a small buzzing noise. The circuit is labeled Com1, Com2, and Com3--one light will flash in each Com. Generally the projector cannot be started manually with the failsafe powered off. Also, I am certain that everything on the control board on the housing works fine. Any ideas?  |  IP: Logged Geena Phillips Expert Film Handler Posts: 198 From: Norcross, GA / USA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 08-08-2009 11:47 AM                        Just spitballing it, I'd say the problems SOUNDS like the failsafe unit; possibly the wiring attached to it.  |  IP: Logged Demetris Thoupis Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1240 From: Aradippou, Larnaca, Cyprus Registered: Apr 2001 posted 08-08-2009 11:54 AM                     Most probably your FM35 is gone. Do you have a single screen or a multiscreen location? If so perhaps you can swap the FM35 to another screen and see if the problem follows the screen. Demetris  |  IP: Logged Andy Bajew Expert Film Handler Posts: 136 From: Bellaire, Texas Registered: Jun 2009 posted 08-08-2009 12:01 PM                     It is a seven screen cinema, for what it matters. I started getting extremely confused once I noticed all the wires for the Com ports behind the control panel that were flashing were the ones that are ultimately decide whether or not the failsafe works. I will try that tonight, thanks for the idea. Not really sure why I didn't think of that.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 08-08-2009 12:05 PM                        If the failsafe has a motion light when not moving, you have a bad failsafe. If you have a TA10 type automation, there are two bypass switches on the motherboard, one for motion & the other for presence. Switching one or both of them will allow you to start your projector. However, the bypassed function will mean your system is less safe, so plan to watch it closely until you get the problem fixed.  |  IP: Logged Demetris Thoupis Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1240 From: Aradippou, Larnaca, Cyprus Registered: Apr 2001 posted 08-08-2009 12:14 PM                     One of the cue detectors of the FM35 once got bad and it always showed that a cue was passing on the automation and send the automation to emergency even if film was passing as the failsafe was not operating correctly. Probably this is your problem. quote: Andy Bajew Not really sure why I didn't think of that. Usually when you stare a problem all the time, the easiest troubleshooting solution is often avoided! Demetris  |  IP: Logged Andy Bajew Expert Film Handler Posts: 136 From: Bellaire, Texas Registered: Jun 2009 posted 08-08-2009 10:10 PM                     Figured out how to bypass the failsafe, and ended up finding out the automation just flat out didn't work. I adjusted a whole bunch of connections and messed around with the relay's. That solved the automation not turning on the motor issue. After that I realized the lamp is the only thing the automation wouldn't turn on Opened the housing after the next show and what I thought was some sort of putty was actually a huge ball of dust stopping the automation from starting. Finally fixed everything for the automation! Time to replace the failsafe. Thanks everyone!  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-09-2009 12:20 AM                     For the failsafe, there is a fix that might get you going again. Sometimes they get dirty and quit working right. Cleaning them usually solves the problem. If the failsafe isn't malfunctioning, a good cleaning might help. At least it will verify that the unit is bad and not simply dirty and in need of care. Look in the manuals section. The instruction manual to the Component Engineering FM-37/FM-37 failsafe tells you how to do this job. It's not hard. You just remove a few screws, pull off the rollers then disconnect the black metal detector assembly. You give it a good bath using "Formula 409" or rubbing alcohol. Be sure everything is 100% dry before reassembling! Again, this might not solve your problem but it's a simple thing to try and it might keep you in operation long enough to get a new unit. As I always say, "Check the easy stuff first."  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.