my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Bad Rectifryer??? (Page 3)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1  2  3

Author Topic: Bad Rectifryer??? Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-17-2009 01:21 AM                     Almost looks like a "switcher" rectifier esp. with the upper circuitry with the cards and the usage of 'control cables and calibration MS connections' - if that's the case, another "boat anchor" in the works.. you look in the lower gridwork in the case, one can see large blue filter caps Interesting of the outboard terminals. You'd think that it would have internal hardwire terminations inside... EDIT: That makes more sense know if it blew a large circuit fuse - just like a STRONG 'switcher' - internals short out and it'll knock a fuse real bad. And, if my memory serves me correctly when I first saw these Horizons at Showest a couple of years ago and did some snooping on this line - is that the rectifier indeed is a switcher style rectifier. (gasp!) -Monte  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 01-17-2009 01:30 AM                     quote: Richard Hamilton As far as anyone badmouthing these "Chinese Crap" projectors, if you haven't seen them or worked with them, that's bullshit. The image is rock steady with more than enough light. The only real issue was the platter timing, which the factory sent technicians to the States to fix. When I worked for Ballantyne, all I did was travel around fixing Apogees in fairly new installs, more problems than these Horizons have had. Richard, try not to take my comments personally. I am speaking from over 26 years of experience in cinema service and projection operations. I was responsible for a service territory with over 1,400 screens and too many other cinemas to count since then. The biggest headaches and most trouble-prone equipment was all that made in either China or India. I will honestly say that I have not had any hands-on with Horizon equipment or the platters/rectifiers at Andrew's theatre. I am speaking from the experience with older equipment. The simple mathematical ratio of breakdowns per screen/complex for those two countries of origin was over three times more often than the cinemas using Century, Cinemeccanica, Norelco/Kinoton, Simplex and Christie. I had files of all my service reports that backed that up. A rock steady image and bright illumination is great, but if the damn equipment can't keep running then where's the value? The excessive issues and downed screen time is really going to kill that theatre's reputation, and in today's climate every lost customer is a big deal. Andrew has reported a LOT more issues than just platter timing on this forum. As for Apogee, c'mon. That IS junk from Ballenswine and there's no comparison there. And I am not trying to proclaim that American manufacturers have never made crap equipment. (Anyone remember the Dreamcatcher? Or anything from CFS/Rentec?) But the simple fact is, from what Andrew has been posting here, is that for equipment that is not that old he's had a HUGE amount of issues and downtime that is simply unacceptable. Finally, I find it very difficult to believe that the rectifier is UL listed. The exposed, "binding post" type of AC input terminals would not get past UL in most cases. (Note that most local Code enforcement officials will NOT accept equipment that is not UL listed. There are a few other agency listings that would be accepted with documentation.) If it is listed then a picture of the UL label or the UL file number will prove me wrong, and I'll have a nice crow pie standing by.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-17-2009 01:33 AM                     From the Horizon page ..."Removable “Briefcase” style Solid-State Adjustable Rectifier (1 ~ 3kw)" Yep, a switcher ..... -Monte  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 01-17-2009 08:07 AM                        Tony: foreign manufacturers "self certify," something that those of us in the US cannot do. It may well have a sticker, that is probably mostly bogus. I would agree that " failure mode" and slow repair are the trademarks of "ese" equipment. Therefore we will never sell any. ("ese" is Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, etc.) "We sell the best" and "service the rest." Louis  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 01-17-2009 10:00 AM                     The binding posts appear to be the insulated type and possibly have a UL listing "if" the rectifier is an internal part of a system instead of a stand alone. Some Strong equipment is made in China...and so is Christie...supervision / QC is the is the key. You should consider the excellent KEX switching rectifiers sold by Kinoton for replacement / upgrade.....made in Spain  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-17-2009 10:21 AM                     I belieeve that horizon has ETL ETLc certification done by intertek which is an internationaly recognized testing agency that test each individual item and does not issue blanket "shop" approvals There testing lables are recognized world wide and tend to be rather in depth compared to some testing agencies Also if it was to be mounted in a console there is actually no need for a cover over the binding posts as the console would provide the dead front requirment  |  IP: Logged Richard Hamilton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1341 From: Evansville, Indiana Registered: Jan 2000 posted 01-17-2009 12:07 PM                     the rectifryer is internal, and yes Gordon, I believe the ETL was the testing that was being done right before Showest a couple years ago. My involvment with Horizon was doing the first multiplex install, then meeting with the Chinese and working with them for the trade show. I got involved with them during the install because they were interested in me because of my dealings in China. I still talk with them and will help resolve any issues if I can. Rick  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-17-2009 12:14 PM                     I repair switchers... lots of switchers! Just send the bad one to me and I'll fix er up for ya. I'll even use semiconductores that were made in the USA! Mark  |  IP: Logged Richard Hamilton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1341 From: Evansville, Indiana Registered: Jan 2000 posted 01-17-2009 12:41 PM                     quote: I repair switchers... lots of switchers! Really, are you working for Ballantyne now??  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-17-2009 10:19 PM                     quote: I repair switchers... lots of switchers! Hmmmm doesn't sound too reliable to me. As for Horizon...I saw nothing about them that would make me believe they would do anything more than perpetuate the cheap-Chinese stereotype. Power supplies are normally UR (or equivalent). That is, UL recognized since they often are only part of a circuit. For the life of me, I don't know how IREM can get their UR on the EX series...the EX-100s have practically exposed DC connectors and neither the 100 or the 170 have adequate covers for the AC/DC input/outputs. The fine folks at Boston, Light and Sound make some sheet metal covers for them to at least let one land their Greenfield/liquid-tight connectors. Steve  |  IP: Logged Andrew Bangs Expert Film Handler Posts: 148 From: Kerrville, Texas, United States Registered: Sep 2008 posted 01-17-2009 11:33 PM                        Mark, Let me know what you Charge and I will pass on the info to my boss as it is his decision.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-18-2009 03:39 AM                     quote: Richard Hamilton Really, are you working for Ballantyne now?? Richard... Pleeze!, Honestly though we do repair alot of them and we make alot of $$ on the repairs even though we are still only charging about half what Ballanswine does. Not one of my repaired switchers has ever failed either for reasons I do know about but am not going to divulge here. Mark  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1  2  3

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.