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Author Topic: What exactly is an SD lamp? Brendan Penny Expert Film Handler Posts: 121 From: Bundoora, Australia Registered: Dec 2008 posted 11-09-2009 11:38 PM                     Was wondering if someone could clarify this. The Christie ZX spec says it takes standard 30CXL lamps but also an ultra bright 30CXL SD lamp which is supposedly much brighter due to a shorter arc etc etc . From what I can gather, the ZX can only meet DCI illumination requirements on say an 18m screen when using an 'SD lamp'. A normal 3k lamp won't hit the mark. What exactly is the deal here because those SD lamps are crazy for both price and warranted hours.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 11-10-2009 05:42 AM                     Actually, Christie only specifies the CDXL lamps for the ZX...that is, the CDXL-20, CDXL-30 and CDXL-30SD. Though with suitable adapters, one can use the CXL line. Note, through my own testing, you are not going to get the light nor life from a CXL (cinema) that you would on a CDXL (Digital cinema). The CDXL-30SD is a very special lamp. It gets just shy of a 4K lamp in lumens but at the power of a 3KW (plus it has more headroom power wise). It is physically shorter than a normal Christie 3K. If you are more interested in the lamp particulars, I suggest downloading the xenon lamp brochure from the Christie Digital site. It will show you what it physically looks like. Steve  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-10-2009 12:22 PM                     Then other thing about the SD lamps is that they are designed to be run at full power from the first strike while maintaining that specified light output over the rated life of the lamp. The CDXL short gaps should be started out lower in current and increased sometimes though the projector's light loc software to maintain a certain required light level. Mark  |  IP: Logged Brendan Penny Expert Film Handler Posts: 121 From: Bundoora, Australia Registered: Dec 2008 posted 11-10-2009 03:45 PM                     Ahh o.k that makes sense. I was wondering how they got up to around 17k lumens with a 3k lamp. The only issue I see is due to the fact they are so expensive and warranted for low hours it works out to be around $2.30 an hour to run! (I don't know about you guys but we pull the lamp right on warranty as we don't want a reflector bill.) So having said that, if one required more light would it be best to go for an SB so you could use a less expensive 4k CDXL? When you think about it you are paying an extra 1k for every lamp every 700 hours. That seems a bit excessive. Do any of your customers get a shock when they start getting massive lamp bills after converting to D-cinema? Are there cinemas out there that push the hours beyond warranty?  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 11-10-2009 03:58 PM                     Of course there are cinemas that go past warranty. A lot of places will do the simple "replace it when it starts to flicker."  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 11-10-2009 07:19 PM                     The CDXL-30SD is a CP2000-ZX exclusive. So if you have a ZX...then that is the BIGGEST lamp you can put in it. CDXL-45 (there is no 40) is MORE expensive than the CDXL-30SD (in fact it is less than $100 cheaper than the CDXL-60). Furthermore, you would need the CP2000-SB to use it (both physically and power wise). It is an incredible lamp though...it is about 38% brighter than a CXL-40. Its burn back is MUCH slower...you will loose about 20% of your light on a CXL lamp within 100-hours. The CDXL-45 will only loose about 10% of its light after 300 hours. Its only down side is it is an expensive lamp. Steve  |  IP: Logged Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 11-10-2009 09:36 PM                    quote: Chris Slycord Of course there are cinemas that go past warranty. A lot of places will do the simple "replace it when it starts to flicker." I wouldn't do that with a lamp used in a digital projector. It is not cheap to replace the reflector in a digital projector if a bulb blows out of warrenty. I don't like to do it in consoles used for 35mm.  |  IP: Logged Brendan Penny Expert Film Handler Posts: 121 From: Bundoora, Australia Registered: Dec 2008 posted 11-10-2009 10:44 PM                     Of course your prices for lamps are probably better than what we get in Australia. Here's something that gets me thinking. To get around 18000 lumens I need a ZX with a Christie 'SD' lamp. Cost of the lamp here is around $2400+tax warranty = 700hrs Or one could buy a Barco DP2000 with a 4k lamp to get 18000 lumen for the cost of $1100+tax warranted to 1000hrs If you took each out at warranty the cost per hr for the user is: Christie: $3.42 per hr Barco: $1.10 per hr Nec: ?? So for a 10 plex running ZX's for one year 14hrs per day. Cost for exhibitor would be around $174,762.00 Cost to run 10 Barco's will be around $56,210.00 This can't be right can it?? (Obviously I'm working in Aussie dollars!!)  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-10-2009 11:15 PM                     The Christie SB Reflector is in excess of 7 grand, Heat filter assy is about 1200 more, the dolby wheel is another 14 grand above that! Should the flying glass from the exploding Dolby wheel scratch the integrator rod add about 2000 more. As you can see you don't wait for the lamp to start flickering!!! Mark  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 11-11-2009 06:31 AM                     I can't speak to your prices as you clearly have other factors in play there. It is true that using a the DXL-40AF is a cheaper lamp to run than the CDXL-30SB, from a lamp cost wise...also, you need to factor in your electric costs as you will be using about 33% more to light up the 4KW lamp. However, your Aussie dollar should be doing very well to our US dollars right now...almost parity! Come to the States and go on a shopping spree. Steve  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 11-11-2009 09:34 AM                     quote: Darryl Spicer I wouldn't do that with a lamp used in a digital projector. It is not cheap to replace the reflector in a digital projector if a bulb blows out of warrenty. I don't like to do it in consoles used for 35mm. Not saying it was recommended. He was asking IF some people do it... and definitely some people do.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-11-2009 10:56 AM                     This is an excellent reason why junk lamps should not be used in digital equipment. Cutting corners on a lamp is the stupidest thing you can do for D-cinema.  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 11-11-2009 11:42 AM                     AFAIK SD lamps are not available in the UK for some reason. I've had a few places enquiring about them. I have one place where I'm fighting to get them to replace the lamp (it has run past the rated hours) Yet they complain about the light output! Oh and trying to persuade owners to put forced extract on them! Then they complain about lamp life. So they'll happily spend £60,000 or thereabouts on a DLP but won't spend £200 on a fan and a length of ducting. Madness, utter madness. Or sites who won't spend a predetermined amount every year on contracted maintenance, would rather spend twice that on ad hoc call outs, and expect you to attend yesterday, if not sooner.  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 11-11-2009 01:10 PM                       Pete. Welcome to our world Dorthy, although you've been at this for a while. Logic is not the answer with cinema operators.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 11-11-2009 01:37 PM                     quote: Brad Miller This is an excellent reason why junk lamps should not be used in digital equipment. Why I get a bit nervous running default Philips/LTI bulbs in our NEC 1600 units (already had one go blue on me after 50 hours of operation..) .. -Monte  |  IP: Logged

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