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Author Topic: Strong LTI bulbs Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 12-01-2003 10:47 PM                     So, 4 bulbs is a lot? I haven't been dealing with bulbs for that long. I thought that was decent. I should note the 4 bulbs were three explosions and one seal failure, none of which were anywhere near over hours.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-02-2003 01:39 AM                  Those 4 failures out of 90-120 or whatever translate to, as Adam mentioned, about a 4% failure rate which presumably reflects theatre down-time/lost shows of at least that amount. In the 1570/870/special venue world, the uptime is consistently 99.9+% overall. Too bad we cannot attain that in the commercial venues for whatever reasons. And, as Adam also mentions, if someone responsible for a "quality" show (at any level) were to have that crappy of performance in those venues, their sorry ass would be Ummmm… "replaced." >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-02-2003 01:52 AM                     I would be looking for *why* they each exploded. Were they all in the same lamphouse? On the same exhaust vent? Are the lamphouses aligned properly? Were they all from the same manufacturing lot? The Paper on analyzing xenon bulb failures by Ray Boegner is a good read. I've only had three lamps explode on me and they were all on the same night. Some crap fly-by-night lamps that I was chosen to guinea pig for the company. The packages were not labeled and I don't know who the manufacturer was. They all failed (exploded) within four hours of installation.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 12-02-2003 02:38 AM                        Although a 4% failure rate is high, it does not translate into a lost show rate of 4%. For that to be true, you could only run one show during the life of each lamp.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-02-2003 03:09 AM                  You mean you don't use a fresh bulb with each show? JEEEZE! You are correct Daryl. I was thinking of other reasons like audio failures as well... in my convoluted thinking. But, as you point out, I must have been smokin' some of that I-30 stuff.... >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-02-2003 03:23 AM                     quote: Aaron.....was the bulb in a vertical lamphouse? Yes, it was a CFS console. -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-02-2003 03:37 AM                  Ah yes...the CFS console....better known as "Flicker City". Make sure you get that lamp properly focused else you'll be picking up melted mirror stuff from the lamp and reflector... I HATE THEM! Ummm... have a nice day. >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-02-2003 08:11 AM                        Chris Hipp wrote: quote: I should note the 4 bulbs were three explosions and one seal failure, none of which were anywhere near over hours. Those four catastrophic failures are excessive. As others have noted, you may have an overheating (venting) problem, or are overdriving the lamps (exceeding rated current range). Read the Ray Boegner paper, then look at your lamps for signs of heat-related stress. And ALWAYS use proper safety equipment and procedures with xenon lamps.  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 12-02-2003 09:04 AM                     quote: I would be looking for *why* they each exploded. Were they all in the same lamphouse? On the same exhaust vent? Are the lamphouses aligned properly? Were they all from the same manufacturing lot? Actually three of the bulbs were in two lamphouses connected to the same exhaust fan on which the motor did burn up shortly aftwards. So, it may not have been defective bulbs. I don't know why I didn't make the connection before.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-02-2003 09:11 AM                        Chris Hipp wrote: quote: So, it may not have been defective bulbs. I don't know why I didn't make the connection before. Glad to have been of help.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-02-2003 09:52 AM                        Out of curiousity, what is the "normal" defect rate on xenon bulbs? I'd define "defect rate" as "per centage of bulbs which do not provide good light output throughout the warranty period." Obviously, only a small fraction of these will actually explode; most will just flicker or go dark. Bulbs which are operated outside of the manufacturers' specs (too much/little current, too much/little ventilation, etc.) wouldn't count, naturally. I'd guess that it's only a fraction of 1%, but maybe someone knows for sure.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-02-2003 10:50 AM                        The measure of quality today for many companies is "Six Sigma" manufacturing: http://www.isixsigma.com/ Achieving "six sigma" process quality means less than 1 defect in approximately 300,000 "opportunities". Of course, some manufacturers do a better job than others in making quality products. http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/researchDevelopment/careers/sixSigma.shtml  |  IP: Logged Scott Manley Film Handler Posts: 59 From: Austin, TX USA Registered: May 2001 posted 12-02-2003 09:56 PM                     I have had about 8 theaters try the LTI bulbs......I think they had one bulb go close to 2000 hrs.....Mostly they go dim...and physicaly darken.....Have experienced good warranty service for the bad bulbs.....but all have switched back to Christie.  |  IP: Logged Chris Greenwell Film Handler Posts: 28 From: West Valley, Ut Registered: Mar 2003 posted 12-03-2003 02:35 AM                     Ive seem to have had better luck with the LTI's than osram, but I have to admit Christie is still my top pick. My company just ordered a few "Silverscreen Lighting" Bulbs, have any of you had any experience with that kind before??? I just put in some of there Slide Projector lamps in my slide machines and about 1/2 of them exploded when I first lit them up, So im a little concerned about to put these Xenons in...  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-03-2003 09:01 AM                        The Silver Screen Lighting xenon lamps are made in China: http://www.silverscreenlighting.com/  |  IP: Logged

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