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Author Topic: Christie AW3 Schematics Needed Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 08-11-2009 07:22 AM                     I have several Christie AW3 platter systems and MUT's that have been extensively modified by another tech. Not only that, but each one has been modified differently, so no two systems "match" electrically, and the MUT's cannot be interchanged between systems. I've been asked to see what it would take to restore these things to 'original' state. Does anyone have scans of wiring diagrams for both the the AW3 platter and MUT? The manuals online here only have exploded parts diagrams. I don't need things down to componant level. I'm mainly interested in the harness wiring which interconnects everything. Thanx  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 08-11-2009 12:32 PM                     Jim, I have that info but not on a scanned version. PM me with your snail mail addy and I can get a photocopy out to you.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 08-11-2009 03:14 PM                     I'm curious as to what the modifications were. They work just fine out of the box, other than cutting the "brake" control.  |  IP: Logged Sean Weitzel Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 619 From: Vacaville, CA (1790 miles west of Rockwall) Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-11-2009 03:30 PM                     Maybe they were modified not to scratch film  |  IP: Logged Eric Robinson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 538 From: Santa Rosa, CA Registered: Jan 2005 posted 08-11-2009 04:35 PM                     The first thing I would modify is the make table plug and platter tree socket. The connection between the two is very sketchy.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-11-2009 08:29 PM                        FYI: that plug is rated at only 400 volts. Underwriters requires it to be 600 volts. Therefore it cannot be UL approved. Louis  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-11-2009 08:51 PM                        quote: Sean Weitzel Maybe they were modified not to scratch film That's not modifying, that's cleaning. (Or just operating properly)  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-11-2009 10:09 PM                     Jim, The best thing to do is gut out the MUTs and start over. I use the variac from the SPECO platter and a bridge rectifier on it's output. Install a 3 amp push to reset breaker on the input to the variac. I also rip out the usless night light and install a 40 watt florescent under the almost usless window. You can get screw base sockets with an angle mount at any electric supply worth it's spit(keep spit out of socket ). If you install the variac you'll never have the table breakdown at least until the motor heads south. Mark  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 08-12-2009 10:03 AM                     quote: Brad Miller I'm curious as to what the modifications were Oh, I could write a book! At one location that I'm now responsible for, a previous tech was one of those people who had a tendency to 'cutomize' everything to his personal liking. It was not unusual for him to declare "they designed it wrong" and then rip out original componants and replace them with what he thought he should be, and also do a bit of re-wiring or bend a bracket or spring a bit so that things would work properly with the changes he made. It also was also not unusual for him to bypass every known safety device and to somtimes make "temporary" connections with alligator clip leads which were never replaced so the clip leads became "permanant" wiring. And of course, all these 'improvements' are undocumented. For better or worse, this tech is well liked by theater owners he's worked for because he has a good reputation for "saving a show". And I'll admit that (like me) he's very resourseful at coming up with a creative fix under pressure and getting things back on screen ASAP, and making temporary "Mcguyver" repairs until a proper part can be obtained. But, unlke me, his "fixes" often violate every electrical safety rule in the book and he doesn't have a great reputation for following up on 'temporary' repairs, so that things that were done quickly to save a show often wound up being left in place for months or even years. To answer your specific question about the AW3 and make up table- - In this particular location, one MUT has been modified to work by powering it direcly from the AC line. To wind a film onto a platter, you have to unplug the platter motor on the AW3 and then plug it directly into a cable coming from the MUT. Also, the "brake" switch on the MUT has been bypassed for some unknown reason. To make things even more interesting, the MUT in the 2nd auditorium has also been modified,but differently, so that if the MUT in one booth fails, you can't just grab the MUT from the other booth and use it to make up the show. As for the platters themselves, they too have been extensively 'customized'. In fact, it is absoloutely IMPOSSIBLE to do a speed alignment 'by the book.' Doing so will make them so far off speed they'll never feed or wind film at the right speed or tension He's also removed all the film shield plate and guide posts(where the film passes right before entering the first brain roller) on all the platters. This causes the platter speed to 'hunt' during most of a movie, but he managed to convice the theater owner that the platters didn't need them and that this was "the way they should have designed them" . I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. I have about 4 systems I'm trying to straighten out and to make things more fun, no two of them are modified exactly alike. Oh, boy!. . . . .  |  IP: Logged

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