Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Multiplexes...(6+ Proj) How often do you clean your projectors?

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Topic: Multiplexes...(6+ Proj) How often do you clean your projectors?

Tyler Potts
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 159
From: Anderson, SC, USA
Registered: Sep 2008

posted 11-13-2008 11:47 AM

I've used an airhose back when there were really bad cases on choice projectors, and haven't needed it since. I will need it when I go through to blow out all the consoles (power supply fans, lamphouses, etc). I've yet to do is, I'm told by our tech I'll need a full morning to do this to get all at once and successfully clean all the dirt I've spread.

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Andrew Bangs
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 148
From: Kerrville, Texas, United States
Registered: Sep 2008

posted 11-14-2008 09:57 PM

Be careful with those fans!!! If you do this please put something in to lock the fan in place while you blow it out other wise you could just blow it. When the fans spin (without power going to them) they can create a charge and send it back to the board if not frying it then doing some form of damage. It's just not good and besides I agree with mark. Blowing things out never really works. Sure you get some dust out but then their is the dust you blow deeper into the machine and sometimes wedge it in making it almost impossible to get out. The other thing is you blow it out... then it settles right back where it was 5 min ago. All you are really doing is exercising the dust.
One last tip if you do still plan to use a compressor is drain any condensation in the tank regularly. Like every 30 min or so. Otherwise you could end up spraying water into your projector and onto all those nice Circuits.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-15-2008 08:44 AM

I should have made my post simpler... blowing out the dirt only re-locates it to another area of the booth where it can continue to contaminate other important items. Vaccum only while using a paint brush to loosen up the stuff!

Mark

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Aaron Mehocic
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 804
From: New Castle, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-15-2008 01:13 PM

I've had a lot of luck using both a compressor and shop vac together. Andrew is correct about the condensation, so be watchful.

In optimum terms I prefer to blow out the lamphouse, heads, and sound racks two or three times per year, but this is not always possible with payroll. April and October are good moths for this so as not to affect early or late shows during the summer or holiday seasons. I change circulator water during these months as well.

The secret to keeping a clean machine is to keep a clean booth. Read it now and believe it later.

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Tyler Potts
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 159
From: Anderson, SC, USA
Registered: Sep 2008

posted 11-15-2008 03:20 PM

Thanks for the heads up Andrew!

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Eric Robinson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 538
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 11-17-2008 10:40 AM

At our locations:
< 13 projectors: one projector / day gets deep cleaning.
13 or more: two projectors / day get deep cleaning.
This schedule produces favorable results, that is, the projectionists actually do the work. Our previous schedule was overwhelming for the young minimum wage type staff so they did nothing. In conclusion something is way better than nothing.

I used to propogate the use of compressed air but have switched to vacuuming only after reading several posts in film-tech about the downsides. Live and learn.

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