This is topic Booth humidity levels . . . whats good and whats not in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-18-1999, 02:34 PM:
Even though its summer and I live in Western Pennsylvania (hot and humid this time of year), we are having serious static problems. We found on the internet a site from British Columbia, Canada, that claimed the humidity in the booth must be between 50-60% in order to avoid problems with static cling. The manager bought a hygrometer and I tested the booth. I found that our humidity fluctuates between 40-45%. We are using a humidifier, buckets of water stashed safely near platters, and mopping the floor every other day to try and get our levels up. Two days ago, our technician droped by and thought he saw watermarks left by condensation on a circut board inside the lamphouse. My question is: What is the proper humidity level inside a booth so as that the film runs without any problems and condensation causes no damage to the equipment?
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 06-18-1999, 02:55 PM:
I have run film in Colorado only. The humidity averages around 16%. We have had all the same problems as you with static. We have never used a humidifier. I don't think it makes a bit of difference. I have seen film have static in Houston where the humidity must have been 300%, anyway I was sweating up a storm. The difference between 40% and 60% isn't enough to worry about. Empty your buckets of water and turn off the humidifier.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-18-1999, 03:16 PM:
I must agree with Ian. Everyone makes the humidity out to be such a big thing, when in reality it is more like a poor excuse from Kodak as to why their prints have so much static. Don't bother with the water. Imagine how good a print will look the day the bowl accidentally gets spilled on the print!What type of platters are you running? I've found most static problems can be toned down by adjustments to the platter.
Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-20-1999, 11:07 AM:
We run three types of platters, Potts, Neutronic (Neumade), and SPECO. The Neumade platters are by far the worst with static!
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-20-1999, 12:19 PM:
Neumade is the worst followed by speco because they have painted platters that insulate the film.
Humidity does make a big difference In toronto we use steam humidifiers in all booths to hold the humidity at 55% and very little wrapping occurs.
gordon
Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 06-20-1999, 02:14 PM:
The best things to use for humidifying the air in a projection booth is a 'swamp cooler' or an *evaporative* humidifier, as they put the most humidity into the air without a risk of damage to anything in the booth. If you MUST use 'vaporizers' or 'steam humidifiers' or anything else that emits a mist, steam or spray, try to locate the unit away from lamphouses, sound racks, and other critical electronic items, I have seen mineral deposits from these units find their way onto circuit boards, and even as little white spots on the platters and sometimes the film itself! (and unlike polyester dust these are hard crunchy deposits that stick readily and have to be 'chipped off' the surface)
Aaron