This is topic Maxi-8 automation in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 03-24-2002, 06:23 PM:
I am in the process of putting another screening room in my bedroom, and had a maxi 8 automation from a friend. Can this unit alone control credit lighting and curtains, or do I need to get my hands on one of the "auditorium programmer" units? I want it to basically do what our setup downtown does (TA 10).Josh
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"Film is made of silver, video is made of rust"
'nuf said
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-24-2002, 07:51 PM:
The Maxi 8 was barely more than a failsafe. It's cam timer was only used for show start to allow the motor to get a 7-second head start over the changeover and exciter lamp.Steve
Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 03-24-2002, 08:31 PM:
Josh, we want pictures of your bedroom...
Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 03-24-2002, 08:40 PM:
I assure you, I'll post them when its all done 
JJ
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"Film is made of silver, video is made of rust"
'nuf said
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 03-24-2002, 08:43 PM:
One of my client's maintinance workers has transformed his bedroom into a "Soundfold" draped room with scrap brackets and multi-shades of wall fabric from many cinema projects...talk about "home" theatre........Dakota is cold so that bedroom is probably the warmest place to see a flick......
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com
Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 03-24-2002, 09:32 PM:
Jerry exclaimed:
>Josh, we want pictures of your bedroom...What, you've never run 35mm in your bedroom? Heck, I've even run an unmarried reel or two in here.
Not that that can compare to watching 70mm in Mark G.'s garage attic years ago.
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 03-24-2002, 09:35 PM:
Josh, that Maxi-8 you have was used in Cinema 5 in Mount Vernon, Washington in House Number 4. When I had it in operation, it was definately almost "Maxed" out. I had it control everything I wanted to. Steve Guttag is correct, it is nothing more than a glorified failsafe. However, I had the inboard cue triggering the house lights directly. There was a switch that could route the cue, either to the Xetrol IV, or to the auto lense changer on a Ballentyne Pro-35.
Since the Ballentyne has a goofy change-over, I made the change-over open when the exciter came on, through a relay that was in series with the exciter lamp. Some of those contacts of that relay were used for Ultra-Stereo switching, etc.
Yes, the Maxi-8 can do alot of things.....but the circuits that have to be built to carry auxiliary functions have to be planned out on paper very carefully before they are implimented. The Maxi-8 provided the basic functions I needed very nicely. All I had to do is expand it with the use of latching relays, standard relays, and some other off-the-wall stuff I had to conjure up.
It performed flawlessly from 1984 when I built that booth until 2001, when I dismantled it.
I still have the circuits in my memory bank (what's left of it because of old age) but I can assure you I can get that thing to do what you want with a few add-ons. 
When there is a will, there is definately a way! Plan in what you want it to do, and it can be done. I can make that thing flush your toilet if you would like for it to do so.