This is topic The Best Failsafe? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Jeff Newton on 05-30-1999, 01:31 AM:
Can anyone give a recommendation as to a good reliable failsafe and cue
detector? We have the old cue tape sprip on the edge of the film kind and they
have never worked properly and we want to upgrade.
Posted by Brad Miller on 05-30-1999, 01:31 AM:
I highly recommend the Component Engineering if you are just looking for a good,
solid 3 cue detector/failsafe that won't miss! I have used these in different theaters
for years and years. I tell you, they are incredible. I don't think they have ever
missed a cue. If they have, I sure didn't know about it. There is a link to Component Engineering on the "movie related" links page. I
think the model is FM35, but don't quote me on that.
If you are searching for something more that just a 3 cue reader, repost and I can
recommend some automations that will read up to 99 cues as well as automations
that can take a single cue reader and do virtually unlimited commands.
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-30-1999, 01:32 AM:
The CE cue readers actually have missed a few cues. From what I have seen, the
cues are created as little dots from a hole puncher or something similar. Well, from
my experience these little dots aren't quite big enough, and the cues miss. Making
your own dots (or squares) so that they are bigger will solve that problem and the
cues will never miss. CE also offers a motion detecter instead of a failsafe. The
CE automation is also kind of cool. The one with bells and whistles, forget the
model #
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 05-30-1999, 02:38 AM:
Component Engineering's FM-35 is the best and most reliable failsafe unit on the
market. They stand behind their products 100%. For those of you who are
looking around this is the unit to get, but no matter what brand you get, it won't
work for very long if you've got any oil leaks from the projector or soundhead. It
gets on the circuit board and/or obscures the LED's causing false shutdowns or
failure to start the show!
If you have machines that leak oil then you should stick with the conventional drop
failsafes with micrositches and cue foil strips on outside edge of film.
I've seen REGAL projectionists spray Windex of the circuit boards (while the
power was on, yet!!!)to try and clean off the oil. Goodbye circuit board---hello
refunds!
Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-13-2000, 02:54 PM:
Use the component engineering it is the best failsafe/Automation package.
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-13-2000, 06:54 PM:
I personally like the EPRAD prox unit
or the Raven prox detectors
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-14-2000, 06:49 AM:
The FP-350 or the CE units. I feel they are about equal. The CE unit does do motion sense too which can be tied into the fail safe for that extra margin of safety.
Mark
Posted by Dave Cutler (Member # 515) on 09-14-2000, 09:06 AM:
I will second Mark on the FP-350. I have used it with much success. Attatched to the CNA-200 Automation (Learn mode ALWAYS ON!) from Strong all my cues worked, and were 100% invisible on screen. Very nice.
Posted by Greg Pauley (Member # 503) on 09-14-2000, 10:14 AM:
I'm running 15 of the FM35 with very few problems. Anytime I had a problem, its been due to a lack of proper cleaning. CE has great support!