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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Change Your Xenon Power Supply in 30 Seconds! (Page 2)

 
This topic comprises 3 pages: 1  2  3   
Author Topic: Change Your Xenon Power Supply in 30 Seconds!
Greg Pauley
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 173
From: Huntington, WV, USA
Registered: Jun 2000

- posted 10-08-2000 11:47 AM      Profile for Greg Pauley   Author's Homepage   Email Greg Pauley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I can't speak for every district and every type of building codes, but I've never had a problem using the connectors. I spent most of last year on a 11 plex project using Boca code and didn't have any questions from the inspector. As a matter of fact, I have never had a inspector want to look at any of the equipment on any of the jobs I've been on in WV and Tenn. The most you get is "Is that your video projector?" I hate when they call it "Video". The inspector is trained to look at boxes, breakers and grounds, and by the time you start to install the equipment, the booth area has usually already been inspected. Most inspector wouldn't know what a xenon power supply was or really care unless you had a bunch of shotty wiring exposed or the job looked unprofessional. Since a lot of businesses use these connectors for welding on a regular basis, I can't imagine that you would have a problem with code. My suggestion is call your local inspector if you have questions. I don't worry about the plugs coming loose because they are twisted and locked in place. With a #2 or #3 wire attached you could probably tow your car and not pull the connectors apart. The pictures above were taken at a 4-plex with the power supplies sitting beside the base, but most of our other sites use VIP bases and the power supply is stored inside the base behind a door. Gordon had mention the possibility of someone plugging up the positive and negative coming out of the rectifier and causing a short. I really hadn't thought of that, but I think that falls under the "Don't stick your tongue in the electrical outlet" category. I'm sure that I have hired people that stupid over the last 15 years, but haven't experienced that problem yet (knock on wood). Bruce, a wire nut in the box prior to inspection is a no-no in most states, you have to wait until after the inspection for the wire nuts to go in.

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Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999

- posted 10-08-2000 05:39 PM      Profile for Bruce McGee   Email Bruce McGee   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Guys...

I figured that it was a no-no to have a wirenut splice in the box.

Our inspector checked every box and looked at everything. He went into the attic and looked at all of the wiring up there, too.

Right, I am not licensed, but I have a healthy respect for 240v circuitry, and have done this work before in barns, utility buildings, etc. and NEVER as a business, or for profit. My house is the only residence that I have done. EVER.

Geez, you should have seen what the place was like before when the knob and tube wiring was in place. 4 plug fuses and 2 cartridge fuses for all lights, plugs, water heater, and stove! Now there are 20 circuit breakers (including 3 GFCI types for the kitchen and bathroom)

The only thing they nailed me on was the single splice. Other than the growling about the heavy wire, not a word was said. It's been running fine for 14 years. Only trip breakers when an experiment goes "phfft"

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Matthew Bailey
Master Film Handler

Posts: 461
From: Port Arthur,TX
Registered: Sep 2000

- posted 10-09-2000 04:14 PM      Profile for Matthew Bailey   Email Matthew Bailey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I wonder how you can change out a lamp
power supply in 30 seconds on a Christie
CH console?

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Greg Pauley
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 173
From: Huntington, WV, USA
Registered: Jun 2000

- posted 10-09-2000 09:21 PM      Profile for Greg Pauley   Author's Homepage   Email Greg Pauley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
My company runs mostly strong lamphouses and I don't have any experience with the christie ch console. But, all xenon power supplies work in the same manner with positive and negative DC lines to the lamphouse and control wiring. Maybe if you show the picture and plant the idea in your tech's head they should be able to make it work on a christie. I think someone gave a suggestion about using in a console in a posting above.

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

- posted 03-08-2007 01:54 AM      Profile for System Notices         Edit/Delete Post 

It has been 2340 days since the last post.

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Justin West
Master Film Handler

Posts: 271
From: Peoria, IL, USA
Registered: Jul 2001

- posted 03-08-2007 01:54 AM      Profile for Justin West   Email Justin West   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have a couple single-phase high reactance Strong power supplies (model 61001) and I want to modify them with quick-disconnects in the event a problem arises (so I can "quickly" swap out a bad rectifier with a good one if during a show). The model 61001-11 comes modifiable using a Strong part (#61987) which has both male and female connectors along with the cables and wires soldered to the pins...but Strong no longer sells that complete assembly (this assembly is to go between the rectifier and the lamphouse). I can get the male and female connectors but I have to get my own cables and wires and solder them myself to the pins (whatta job). Is it possible that there may be a Strong Dealer somewhere who has NOS part #61987 in stock, so that I can get this preassembled? If you want to see what I am talking about, go to the Film-Tech "Manuals" section and read the pdf of the manual for the 61001 power supply and you will see in one of the parts lists, for the 61001-11 version, the description, "MS Connector and Leads Assembly" Part #61987. Thanks for any suggestions.

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Tristan Lane
Master Film Handler

Posts: 444
From: Nampa, Idaho
Registered: Feb 2002

- posted 03-08-2007 02:55 AM      Profile for Tristan Lane   Email Tristan Lane   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Justin,

That seems strange. I would think that strong would continue to stock quick disconnect harnesses for the people that would like to upgrade their consoles or lamphouses. Or are you having a hard time getting the connector to put on the power supply side?

Did you contact anyone at Strong and speak with them about this?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the connector that the quick disconnects use is a hubbell pin and sleeve connector with connectors for lamphouse power and interlock with the DC leads included. The QD switcher also has a male L630 twist lock receptacle for incoming AC.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 03-08-2007 07:17 AM      Profile for Mark Gulbrandsen   Email Mark Gulbrandsen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Justin,

Soldering them is no big deal... I do them on a fairly regular basis as we have customers way in the sticks that also don't want to loose a show. All you need is a 150 watt soldering gun to solder the DC cables to the plugs and a snall one... 60 watts for the small gauge wires. Or go the welding connector route(Tweeco Connectors) as they don't require soldering... they attach with two allen screws to each DC cable. I had them opn all my portable stuff and used them for years with zero problems. Just be sure to put the female connectors on the rectifier side and color code them! Use a smaller locking Jones plug for the control leads. This route should cost you half the $$ than the other route costs via Strong.

Mark

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 03-08-2007 07:37 AM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Almost all electrical codes stipulate that the panel is not a junction box
Up here a homeowner can apply for their own permits

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

- posted 03-08-2007 09:02 AM      Profile for Steve Guttag   Email Steve Guttag   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Ayup...the load center is just that...there should be no splices nor even any pass-throughs...just wires landing on Circuit breakers, Neutral Bars and Ground Bars.

Strong could probably be asked to make that connect for any of their rectifiers...they are pretty much made to order, from what I can tell so it is a matter of pulling up the correct build sheet.

As for the lamphouse cables...those are most certainly available for the Super Lume-X and the Ultra-80...as such they can be adapted to most any lamphouse. The Ultra-80 cable is 2awg on the DC lines and have wires 7 and 8 for 230VAC plus all the wires that are in the Super Lume-X cable.

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Richard Fowler
Film God

Posts: 2392
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Registered: Jun 2001

- posted 03-08-2007 09:09 AM      Profile for Richard Fowler   Email Richard Fowler   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Tweeco for welding use is not "technically safe" for non professionals. We have been using color coded type 16 Camlock type of connectors for the past 30 years with great success. They have two types of panel mount receptacles and the cable connectors can handle 2 awg cable. We put many of these on Strong Switchers (middle 1990's) that had melted contacts on the D.C. side (who ever speced an A.C. rated terminal not rated for D.C. probably does not work for Strong anymore).
Mil-spec multipin plugs are great if you know how to solder. Cost from distributors such as Newark / Allied are outrageouse. Aviation supply distributors in major airplane maintinance cities like Los Angles / Miami, you can purchase these at 60% less....if you know how to purchase and assemble component parts to make a set.

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Joshua Waaland
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 800
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Registered: Dec 1999

- posted 03-08-2007 09:50 AM      Profile for Joshua Waaland   Email Joshua Waaland   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Those are just standard stick welding cable connectors. I see them a lot in shipyards. They make it easier to add extensions so a welder can move around the ship and weld. They are used on AC stick welding power sources. They are available at any welding supply place and are designed to carry high amperages. Praxair, Airgas, Linde, etc.

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Justin West
Master Film Handler

Posts: 271
From: Peoria, IL, USA
Registered: Jul 2001

- posted 03-08-2007 11:31 PM      Profile for Justin West   Email Justin West   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Tristan: I am not talking about the power to the rectifier side, I am talking about the power and other leads between the lamphouse and the rectifier. Strong used to sell this with leads and cables attached to the multipin connector but no more...I will have to get the connectors then do my own cutting and soldering or other method to attach to the connctors still available...which is why I say to Mark and the others, "thanks!" I will have to digest what you advise and see if I can get the full picture on a project and proceed from there. [Smile]

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Tristan Lane
Master Film Handler

Posts: 444
From: Nampa, Idaho
Registered: Feb 2002

- posted 03-09-2007 12:49 AM      Profile for Tristan Lane   Email Tristan Lane   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I know what connectors and harnesses you are referring to, I just find it odd that you are unable to get them from Strong.

I know of someone who recently purchased a set of these to convert a number of consoles in a multiplex to quick disconnect. The theater was using QD switchers, but then converted to high reactance switchers. Rather than cut the QD connectors off to hardwire to the new rectifiers, the tech just ordered harnesses for all screens so that in essence, the new rectifier became a quick disconnect.

I can do more research on this if you'd like to get a part number.

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

- posted 03-09-2007 11:19 AM      Profile for Louis Bornwasser   Author's Homepage   Email Louis Bornwasser   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The reason those power supplies have quick connects is because they are also used on Super Trouper spotlights. Check your parts list on spotlights to get the correct numbers (Same electrical drawing and same bulb and lamphouse.) Louis

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