If trying John's transformer trick, keep one hand behind your back. I'm sure this goes without saying to the active participants, but you never know who could be lurking.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

 |  IP: Logged

When I was really young, I just thought it was just a added feature of the train. (realistic smell choo-choo)

I'd figure a way to at least vent it away from the immediate operating area. (Dryer hose?) I've seen some places run the vent to the attic, or others into/through a wall. At 500w and you're not running a daily grind (4 or more shows per day) you shouldn't have any big problem...but it's a good way to save $$$ on lamps.

I had a General Manager who opened the lamphouse door. The lamp failed during the show and he came running into the booth and opened her right up. Tha lamphouse hadn't even been off for a minute. The projectionist on duty was already at the machine. When that clown opened the door he just ran the other way! (I found out about this the next morning after it happened.)

When people ask me how bright the xenon lamp is I tell them, "Well I don't know for sure, I've never actually looked at it. That's why I'm not blind."
Kidding aside; I have always told people that it's something like ten times brighter than looking at the sun. Then I tell them that it's so bright that if you look at it (without protection) that you'll be blind even before you "see" the light... you'll just look in and the next thing you'll notice is that you can't see anymore.

Worthing beach in the UK can be extremely bad from ozone with the seaweed, the sort of place to go if you want the experience, and maybe good for your health as it is by the sea ?

I changed to xenons 19 years ago, first 1.6k, now 2k. Can someone please tell me the year ozone free lamps were first introduced, and was this a health and safety issue.

------------------

AFAIK, xenon gas is odorless and would not have a "pungent" odor.

Here is an MSDS:
http://www.praxair.com/praxair.nsf/0/85a2707fb21e443c85256a86008221b2/$FILE/P4677C.pdf

Anyway, loss of xenon pressure would quickly cause lamp failure.

The odor may be ozone. In a xenon lamphouse, ozone may be generated by high voltage "corona" discharge (lamp ignition system) or by breakdown of oxygen molecules by intense ultraviolet energy from the lamp (not using an "ozone free" lamp that has additives to the quartz envelope to reduce ultraviolet energy). Are your lamps well vented to the outside?

Pungent odors could also be caused by excessive heating or burning of materials, such as plastic wire insulation. Obviously you need to find the source.

I assume you are familiar with the characteristic "pungent" odor of prints "rejuvenated" with UV-cured overcoats?

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

 |  IP: Logged

Here is something I found on the Internet:

"OSHA regulates employee exposure to ozone gas through its Air Contaminants Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1000. The permissible exposure limit (PEL) is listed in Table Z-1 as an 8-hour, time-weighted average value of 0.1 part of ozone per million parts of air (ppm). Rule 29 CFR 1910.1000(e) requires that administrative or engineering controls must first be identified and implemented whenever feasible to achieve compliance with the PEL. When such controls are not feasible to achieve compliance, personal protective equipment, respirators, or any other protective measures shall be used to keep the exposure of employees to ozone gas within the PEL."
http://www.kesmist.com/oz1.htm

Here's the EPA word on ozone "air purifiers":
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html

Health Canada agrees:
http://www.odatus.com/doc70.html

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

For some reason, I always thought that that must be ozone. As to whoever asked if their lamp was 'leaking', I don't think that ozone is something within the lamp that can leak out. It is something that is created, externally to the lamp.

[Edited because I read the answer in John's .PDF link. Xenon is not toxic, a gas, and almost totally inert, is the answer I sought.]

------------------
"One man can make a difference."