This is topic Kniesley Console - Yes or No? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 06-08-2002, 03:36 AM:
I've heard some nice things about Kniesley's console. Mainly that it is a simple, well-made thing.I've got a new complex about to pop up in a couple of years and I'm getting my wish-list together.
Tell me what you think about Kniesley's "elegant, well-made" console (sorry, I don't have a model # but it's probably for a 2000W application) and I'd also like to hear recommendations for brand-new lamp house consoles for someone who needs to get good light on a budget (but who's tired of buying used).
BTW, these will getting the CA-21 automation put into them...don't know if that makes a difference.
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-08-2002, 11:27 AM:
I don't think they are all that well made too many bad ampmeters, breakers etc
there are many better made consoles out there
Kinoton and cinemecanica are my recomendation
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 06-08-2002, 11:59 AM:
A better choice would be the Strong Super Highlight 2 console. Very rugged and well designed.
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-08-2002, 12:45 PM:
My first choice would be the Strong Super Highlight 2 console. As Ken said, they are rugged and well designed. My second choice would be the Christie SLC Consoles. I am running five of those in Stanwood. I have gained alot of respect for them. They just seem to be a very good piece of equipment, well built, well-designed, and extremely reliable.
Posted by Don Sneed (Member # 955) on 06-08-2002, 12:50 PM:
My first choice would be a Christie Console & second would be Strong Highlight II, third would be Kinotone & Cinemeccanic, if I had to pick one, as far as a pedestal Lamphouse, Hands down would be the Strong Super Lumex, I prefer the regular High Rect. type over the switcher type, due to many problems with the switcher type going down & can not be repaired in the field, the older type high rect. is much better to repair in the field....
Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 06-08-2002, 02:53 PM:
Ah, but he's on a budget. How do they compare in pricing?
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-08-2002, 03:07 PM:
Christie SLC all the way! Strong as a second option. I hear great things about the Kinoton lamphouses, but I've never seen one in action as no one around here buys them.
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-08-2002, 05:31 PM:
Actually, the Kneisley can be a good deal depending on the price you pay your dealer for them. I have sold well over a hundred of them in past years and considering the inexpensive construction they use in the AC sub system they really do perform nicely. Their rectifiers have the lowest ripple and inrush of any units that I've measured(with my ORC ripple/inrush meter) so with proper ventallation you can expect excellent bulb life. The mirror is very, very good, but there are problems with breakers, meters, and sometimes AC wireing burning up in them. The rectifier also draws substantially more operating current than most units of the same size!! Of course many of these problems are very smilar to those problems found in older Christie and Strong consoles. Paul and I hauled a Strong Super Highlite up into a booth a few weeks ago that replaced a Christie 2kw console whos back end had completely turned to charcoal. The used Highlite was cheaper than the Christie plenum kit which was out of stock and unavailable at the time anyway.
One MUST take the VERY high part replacement cost into account for either Kinoton or Shakemeccannicca when specing out any booth. Their parts prices are quite out of normal range! For general purpose use up to 2.5kw, the Strong X-90 is my long time favorite, especially as it has plenty of room to integrate a full digital sound system into it. It also has a very nice AC subsystem making booth wireing much simplified.
The first important note to consider in any project is "shop around for the best price!"
Mark @ GTS
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-08-2002, 06:20 PM:
Actually Kinoton and Cinemecanica parts are not all that expensive nor is the price of the equipment not any more than Strong or Christie
The Cinemecanica consoles can produce a terrificly good light
Have had too much grief with Kniesly's wireing and meters failing
As for there rectifiers I know several that have better inrush/filtering. I have never noticed exceptional bulb life with them and often a seperate and flacky boost kit is needed for them as well
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-08-2002, 06:40 PM:
Gord,
Boost kit??? Thats new to me.....
You don't consider US $1180.00 expensive for Shakemeccannicca 1600 watt reflector? I do, and thats not the suggested list price either.
Hey Larry, Whats list price on a replacement Kinoton reflector??
Mark @ GTS
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-08-2002, 06:47 PM:
Many Kniesly rectifiers have too low of no load voltage and a boost kit is required to get reliable ignition Just installed a bunch of them and was not impressed
Have never had to replace a reflector in a horizontal cinemecanica product. As for the verticle glass one try getting any glass reflector for a verticle lamphouse cheap or one for an X25
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-09-2002, 11:18 PM:
Never had to install a boost kit in any Kneisley product. Perhaps you had the taps set wrong, or your hydro is having probems. I think Steve K. would back me up that they are decent consoles for the price, we had almost 0 trouble with them. We have alot of KNeisley lamoshouses and rectifiers out here in Utah and they all work fine! I guess it only happens in Canada...or perhaps the boost kit is made up there 
.
Mark @ GTS
Posted by Andy Bergstrom (Member # 360) on 06-10-2002, 10:04 AM:
We use many Kniesly consoles. The main weak point is the 3-phase breaker in front. If you tighten the connections every 6 months, that seems to help. We have only put 2 diodes in approx. 70-80 units. Reflectors seem to hold up well. There seems to be some rumors around about upcoming parts availability. Not the perfect unit, but very good for its' price range. Also, check electrical codes for UL or similar rating as I don't believe Kniesly has UL sticker.Andy Bergstrom
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-10-2002, 11:11 PM:
I have had many that required a boost kit especially some of the early 3 phase units with the newer lamps
Also the UL issue is a big point nothing Kniesly builds gets close to there requirements
Posted by Wes Hughes (Member # 981) on 06-11-2002, 02:48 PM:
I love most Kneisely products, but worry about whether they will be around to supply replacement parts for much longer. Their staff has dwindled (and they don't do any more designing...the little bit of the company that is left simply builds and ships orders), and I don't think they have been to a trade show it quite a while.
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 06-11-2002, 03:18 PM:
Kneisley is very big in export sales and the staff is very efficient in handling orders in today's "down cycle"......go visit their web-site. www.kneisley.com Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com
Posted by Don Sneed (Member # 955) on 06-11-2002, 05:13 PM:
I never had problem with the Kneisely rectifier, except noisy, the Xenex II 2K lamps alway been good when properly aligned & adjusted, always needed to replace the zener diode in these lamphouse...the PUP 1K lamphouse was a piece of junk, the worst lightput I ever dealt with, just breath on it & the lamp alignment was out....good rectifer though !!
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 06-11-2002, 09:03 PM:
Ahh the PUP, what a dog 
. The removal of the HS pins off the xenon bulb to allow it to work with the spring loaded reflector mount and the upgraded front bulb support was special, in addition to the ignitor mounted toward the inside front of the lamphouse.....but it gave you a horizontal reflector lamphouse for 1/3 less than was competing with it in the 1970's - early 80's......Dick Kneisley always had a better widget for the low price market
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com