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This topic comprises 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6
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Topic: Who has had a fire somewhere in their projector? -> OT: Voltage around the world
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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!
Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 07-09-2005 07:20 PM
I have thought long and hard about posting on this one...and to the regret of some, I've decided to do so.
Should a manager or projectionist being the business of changing diodes in rectifiers...my position is ABSOLUTELY NOT.
This is the equivalent to working in the breaker panel. I wouldn't be surprised if this sort of thing is covered by electrical codes. This is high-power equipment and can easily end ones life without them ever knowing why.
quote: Jason Burroughs
BTW, its not that difficult to change diodes, and there's no reason that theater staff shouldn't be trained and be able to change diodes. Its not that difficult. The need for "formal eletrical theory training" is complete BS.
The fist line of this quote is quite right....in most rectifiers, it doesn't take a highly trained genius to physically change diodes. The rest of it is dead wrong. One should have some electrical knowledge to know what they are working with and how it should work. We are not talking about an EE degree (most of them wouldn't know what a DO-5 diode looks like anyway, trust me) or even an AA degree...but they should have more than "remove the nut, change, tighten the nut."
Most dangerous things in life are not that hard. It isn't hard to prescribe medicine...but as a society we relegate that to doctors in order to do it properly and safely. It isn't hard to do most electrical jobs but the consequences of doing it wrong can bring great harm to life and property.
I've talked to many a "handy man" that never understood the difference between the neutral and ground wire...after all they both go to "ground" don't they?
The rectifier poses many hazards. There are often multiple power sources (incoming and switch leg), there are stored charges in capacitors and some rectifiers DO NOT HAVE BLEEDER RESISTORS. I've come across many a contactor or local breaker in the console where a "leg went bad" and they just wired around it...thus an off breaker does not mean it is safe. Heck, older Christie equipment used 2-pole contactors on their 3-phase equipment! I'm serious! Thus, even with the lamp off...there is still one hot leg.
Olivia's description is a perfect example of why unqualified people have no business in the rectifier. A fire started? To casually connect up a device that can have 1000s of watts of power in a manner that can and did cause a fire is irresponsible. Who qualified Regal to say you are qualified? I'm not saying that Regal didn't expect you to peform this task but they are wrong for making that a requirement. Even if they have good trainers...before someone "solos" on such a task...they should be supervised and be proven to know what they are doing...not merely sit through some sort of training. What if you succeeded in getting confused and placed the forward diodes where the reverses should go and vice-versa? What do you think that simple mistake would do? If you thinking the lamp might be damaged...you are wrong that would be the least of your worries.
If Regal doesn't supervise their people on such tasks to ensure one knows what they are doing with confidence, they are just plain wrong and dangerous.
But what the heck...I've never been too impressed by managers that change their own lamps either...while this is certainly not universal...but most I've seen don't align them well and have left too many loose connections and don't seem to clean the reflector.
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Monte L Fullmer
Film God
Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 07-11-2005 03:00 AM
..and it's not fun being bitten by one of those caps that haven't fully been discharged - especially with one of those big caps in Christie console rectifiers.
Yes, it's quite interesting that REG will garnish a level 4 to their managers who be able to change diodes, change bulbs, do CP-500 format settings, et.al. (anyone who hasn't been certified to this high level are forbidden to perform these points..) .. (and they are something to do in those old Strong 61000 reactance rectifiers - and I think that what's Olivia has at her location there in Bend. Please correct me if any different) and not take serious heed in liability issues of safety matters.
I can see level 4 with everything else mentioned above, but doing electrician's/technician's work especially pertaining to the rectifier just doesn't add up in safety's sake - like "tickling the dragon's tail."
But, if one can do diode changeout in any form and do it well, well "congratulations" will come from me.
Like with me, if something mechanical/electrical that is out of my range, I get someone who is professionally qualified to do the job needed. I just won't touch it no matter how much the head office whines on me to get it fixed myself just to save them money.
My life is far more important than any job's requirements that pertains to some sort of danger.
-Monte
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Olivia Coleman
Film Handler
Posts: 53
From: Bend, OR USA
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted 07-12-2005 09:26 AM
quote: Steve Guttag
Just curious...what would have happened if the forward and reverse diodes were swapped?
In fact, I did have some going the wrong way.
On the note of the tech taking 3 hours, that is just the drive time. There is the fact that he was on his way home, at 1 am, and that was an hour drive for him. So the actual time to have him there would have been a lot longer....
For the record, the company is not upset that I cost them a little extra money. Besides, the small part that I did destroy, we didn't have any replacements for. SO, I cause us to get some back ups...
I have stated many times now, I screwed up! I know what I did wrong and it won't happen again. The next time someone is going to do diodes that doesn't know, will not do them alone and will have much better training than myself!
Is everyone done being pissy about the way my company works...??? I can't control that, I'm sorry that you all feel frustrated about this situation but I did learn from my mistake! I do understand the passion everyone has but the way some have directed it in their posts was off which made me very defensive.
Thank you all for your comments on my situation... Now onto the subject of the topic: Who has had a fire somewhere in their projector?
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cannot change diodes. The key here is one-on-one training though. I don't think I would trust someone who took a "class" on how to do it though, as people don't learn quite as well from classes.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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