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Posted by Scott Balko (Member # 438) on 10-15-2002, 12:22 PM:
I am going to be installing an led reader in my century. Which one is the best to have, or are they all pretty much standard? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-15-2002, 12:49 PM:
Which model Century? Yes it can actually make a difference.
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-16-2002, 09:39 AM:
Latley I have been having the best performance from the BACP readers
You may have to get the scanning drum machined down if it is one of the very old ones as the shoulder on the edge can make it difficult to get the LED positioned correctly
Posted by Ray Derrick (Member # 1001) on 10-16-2002, 03:54 PM:
The new ICS units from Australia give superlative performance (I designed the electronics 
) and the LED positioning problem has been solved with a better design bracket.------------------
Ray Derrick
President/Chief Engineer
Panalogic Corporation Sydney, Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655 Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-16-2002, 07:06 PM:
Is there anyinfo on these available on the web for them? didn't find anything on the panalogic site
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-16-2002, 07:56 PM:
I have also switched almost entirely to using the BCAP readers. They give the best results, have the fastest install time, and we have not had one failure. It will be interesting though to see what the new Kelmar units are like. Anyone see it at Showeast?
Mark
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-16-2002, 08:46 PM:
I have seen the units via e-mail photo. The construction mechanically appears to give it a Component Engineering look. The circuit card has test points and indicator lights. The pricing makes it attractive to the high tarrif Australian market.....more competition to keep everyone on their toes.
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com
Posted by Ray Derrick (Member # 1001) on 10-18-2002, 06:25 AM:
Gordy, the readers are not Panalogic products, they are made in Australia by ICS, a separate company. Panalogic was invited to do the electronic design and development. We also supplied the specification for the solar cells which have a narrower slit and lower dark current than the Dolby units. We were originally reluctant to have the Panalogic name associated with a product that looks (externally at least) similar to the Component Engineering units, however the readers turned out to be so good that we decided to take on the distribution and we do intend to promote them on our web site very shortly. The units have two power supply options, a basic analog-LED-only version and a really neat dual analog/digital-LED supply that includes a 3-digit current readout for each of the analog and digital LED supplies. AFAIK this is the first ever such supply to use a microprocessor (in fact two of them) to control and monitor the current in each LED. When we do something we try to do it better than everyone else, boys and girls! We are not in the cloning business.Richard, where did you get the idea that Australia has high tariffs? Most cinema equipment comes into Australia tariff-free, unlike your country where the tariff is 5%! Australia is far less protectionist than the USA, thank you very much. Just ask our farmers who get a really rotten deal from the US 
------------------
Ray Derrick
President/Chief Engineer
Panalogic Corporation Sydney, Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655 Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-18-2002, 12:52 PM:
Ray Derrick wrote: "Australia is far less protectionist than the USA, thank you very much. Just ask our farmers who get a really rotten deal from the US."But I do enjoy having fresh Australian fruit in the off-season! Right now, buying lots of oranges and tangerines with Kangaroo labels on them.
------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-18-2002, 01:57 PM:
I was informed by one of my brokers about the tarrifs which may not be correct. We recently shipped some projection equipment last month and sell a decent about of projector parts to Australia in addition of importing automation equipment. We ship to 15 countries and some locations see 77 to 100% duty / VAT by the time the end user receives the items.
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com
Posted by Bob Koch (Member # 1062) on 10-20-2002, 12:04 AM:
The best led reader,hands down is the BACP. Strictly quality in machineing and design and not a pain in the posterior to install
Posted by Ray Derrick (Member # 1001) on 10-20-2002, 05:12 AM:
Good on you John Pytlak. Our farmers are having a really tough time at the moment with the worst drought in many years. They can use all the help they can get.Richard you were probably thinking of some South East Asian countries (like India) that have enormous tariff barriers (100%+). However there IS a significant currency exchange rate difference between the Australian dollar and the US dollar, which makes US products expensive here, but this is due to the high value of the US dollar and not Australian government policy, so it is a problem worldwide for the US.
------------------
Ray Derrick
President/Chief Engineer
Panalogic Corporation Sydney, Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655 Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-20-2002, 08:03 AM:
The Australian dollar is .55 cents to the U.S. dollar so we are expensive to you in addition to Euro based countries. Pricing region to region is mostly equal if taxes and fees would not present barriers. Products from your country are a fair value compared to U.S. or European products after currency evaluation ( or real value ) is compared. The deciding factor in some areas such as China and India is the labor costs and/or government assistance which make some local items very attractive. The joke in America is the Walmart chain who a few years ago prided themselves in support of U.S. made goods but a visit now would say they are a division of China The cost offered for the reverse scan units built in your country did seem high compared to other existing products UNTIL you consider the optional features on that product. I am a firm believer of International trade as my grandfather and father where since their involvement in importing / exporting and bartering widgets from around the world.
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-20-2002, 10:28 AM:
That means 
and Ray are on the same exchange rate figure as each other. Simple solution..... Sneak your stuff up to , and have him ship it to Ray!! Save big bucks....
Mark
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-20-2002, 10:48 AM:
I wish it was that simple.....the true cost of a durable versus services ( services that a film production company may use as a reason to shoot in Canada or Australia as an example ) is that the real value has been already been adjusted to the marketplace....just like the "real" cost of a McDonald's hamburger does not vary that much world wide with the exception of market pressure and sometimes more economical surplus of raw materials in a particular market. We are straying a bit unless Gord is going to tell us about the secret Canada based reverse scan readers which uses the classic custom stereo version Western Electric 3A P.E. cell to give you that classic "tube warmth" audio playback quality
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com
"I am always learning" - Michelangelo
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-20-2002, 07:48 PM:
So far, no real complaints on the Component Engineering readers from me. I've used the 20, 30 and 40 series readers all with great success. I have no doubt that the Pana designed electronics on the Aussie readers may be superior though.
Steve
------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"
Posted by Shaun Flichel (Member # 1435) on 10-21-2002, 05:08 PM:
The BACP is a good system, quick note from my experiences, if you get any kind of hum or any other noise, run a wire from the BACP's ground to some point of ground on the projector. Another thing thats very good to do is to have the LED switched with the motor via maybe a relay or however you want to do it, this way, your not burning the LED while your off screen. Example, if your theatre runs from 12 - 12 say, 4 shows a day, approx 7 hrs of actual running time, this leaves the LED on for 5 hours, almost half of the time it doesnt need to be.
Posted by Ray Derrick (Member # 1001) on 10-21-2002, 05:33 PM:
Turning the LED off when not in use is a very good idea. However an even better way is to switch the LED to a very low current mode when not in use. This prevents the LED from cooling down completely. Most electronic equipment suffers reduced life because of the constant heating and cooling when it is turned on and off. It is the expansion and contraction of the physical structures that does the damage. LEDs are no different in this respect. You can add a low current mode quite easily to existing systems by placing a large value resistor in series with the LED when it is not in use. If the power supply is current regulated (as it should be) the resistor needs to be large enough to cause the supply to go into voltage limit mode. The ICS power supplies and I think maybe some of the later Comp Eng power supplies have an input to select low current mode.------------------
Ray Derrick
President/Chief Engineer
Panalogic Corporation Sydney, Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655 Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-21-2002, 05:36 PM:
Odessy Products has a switching board and interface card for CP500/650 which will switch off either analog or digital LED.
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. here
Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 10-21-2002, 11:30 PM:
I switch off the digital LED's in my Kelmar basement readers when running analog or otherwise not in use. The power supply is actually separate (in the same housing) from the analog LED & pre-preamp supply so I just added switches to turn off the 120.