Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Xenon: Leave It On...Or Turn It Off?

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Topic: Xenon: Leave It On...Or Turn It Off?

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-29-2002 11:42 PM

Hey Pat More,
This is a perfect place to post Jack Schmidt's list of reasons for leaving lamps lit a certain length of time(one hour min. I think). If you could get that list and post it here alot could be learned...or better yet get hime to register here and post it.
The best reason had something to do with the amount of shock a lamps quartz envelope gets when its been on for 15 or more min, turned off and then re-lit after just a few minuites(This is common in Spotlights). The amount of pressure on the envelope is unbelievable at this time as the Xenon gas is still very high in pressure, and any lamp(even new)is at its peak of possibly exploding at this point.
If you can get it, or if he could post this here it would be appreciated by all of us.
Mark @ GTS

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Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-29-2002 11:51 PM

That is something that I have noticed when attending concerts that fifteen minutes before the first act hits the stage those spots are powered up and stay on until the end of the main acts performance.

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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!

Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 04-30-2002 12:49 AM

As has already been stated, it depends on the situation. What I've seen over the years for different applications is:

For spotlights: Strike up early enough so that if there are problems, one has time to troubleshoot and replace stuff (15-20 minutes seems about nominal). Stay lit until the end of the show and shut down between shows. In 'Vegas we always seem to have at least an hour between shows. If the break is less than 30 minutes, leave 'em lit. Observe a few minutes cooling time with fans running after shutdown.

For IMAX: Same as above for strike up. Leave lit for the day, running at idle current between shows (assumes approx 40 minute shows with 20 minute breaks inbetween). Lamp cools after end of day shutdown and is cool enough by the time the print is rewound and covered, logs are done, field flattener cleaned, and the film path blown and brushed out.

For changeovers: Strike both and leave both lit for the show if running on 2k reels. If running 6k reels, killing the other lamp may be an option. I prefer to leave them both running though.

For platters: Again I like to strike early enough to have time to deal with any problems--which requires use of the hand dowser. Obviously this doesn't work for timer or remote starts unless one can automate the hand dowser. Whether to stay lit or not at the end depends on how long the break is--if it's less than 30 minutes, I like to leave 'em lit and use the hand dowser. Of course I return control of the lamp to the failsafe if I'm not going to be at the machine--a little CYA for unexpected stops or if I miss the end. Again a few minutes of cooling with fans at the end, during which time I wipe stuff down, do the logs and cover the print.

As always, just my 0.02USD.

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 04-30-2002 01:30 AM

I'm curious if there is a maximum length of time you can leave xenons lit?

Typical day at one of these cinemas is three shows weekdays, 5 shows on Saturdays and during peak holiday periods.

Lamp types in use are...

XM1600HS
XM1600H/VC
XM2000H/VC
XM2000HTP

------------------
And, hey! Let's be careful out there.

~Manny.

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David Favel
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 764
From: Ashburton, New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 04-30-2002 01:42 AM

The most I ever ran a xenon was from 1.00p.m. Saturday till 8.00a.m. Sunday for our marathon.

Today I installed a 2500 H/S lamp.
I was fine tuning with my left hand on the focus & looking thru the port at the picture when it exploded.

After 6 hours I can now hear in my left ear though my trousers are still a bit sticky.

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