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Topic: christie lamp won't ignite

Warren Dewey
Film Handler

Posts: 28
From: monterey ca usa
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 01-23-2008 12:32 AM

Update-- The diode arrived from Allied, physically a little different from the existing ones, but installed fine. Now the open voltage reading slams the meter, as Monte described.

However, still no strike, no arc that I can see. I replaced this new but as yet unlit bulb with the known good new one. The igniter hissed a few times but seems to have given up. Now I can sometimes hear a relay click 4-5 times after switching DC on. My supplier thinks the igniter has finally died, so a replacement is on the way. Manual strike doesn't work either.

Is there anything else I should check?

Thanks again gentlemen, for all the good advice.

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 01-23-2008 12:43 AM

Check to make sure the ignition pulse is not arcing to ground somewhere near the reflector, or to a wire near the igniter itself.

BE CAREFUL... you have to do this with the door(s) open and the safety switches defeated in order to see it.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 01-23-2008 08:01 AM

Having the lights off helps greatly!!

MArk

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Warren Dewey
Film Handler

Posts: 28
From: monterey ca usa
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 01-23-2008 11:21 AM

No arcing anywhere that I can see. There was the usual hiss / zap sound from the igniter when I had the bad diode and when I first tried to start up with the new diode-- but hiss is gone now. I just hear a series of about 5 relay clicks, then nothing.

Maybe the shorted diode affected the igniter, which then gradually died? (What in my old recording studio days we used to call a clusterf--k....)

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

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

posted 01-23-2008 02:02 PM

Try the new igniter.

BTW: inside the igniter is a transformer with only three wires: 2 are the primary, one is high voltage. There is the other secondary wire which is soldered to a mounting screw. Unfortunately that screw is insulated. It is a wonder it ever worked. The wire needs to be "grounded" so that there is a return path for the high voltage. Be careful not to pinch the primary wires; many come that way from the factory. Louis

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Warren Dewey
Film Handler

Posts: 28
From: monterey ca usa
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 01-24-2008 08:27 PM

The new igniter did the trick, machine 2 is back on the air. Probably toasted the old igniter trying to start with no DC(?) Thanks again--

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