Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Christie CXC console

This is topic Christie CXC console in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=005507

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-29-2003, 03:29 AM:

How do these relate to the other Christie consoles? They have many features of the SLC console, but I could not find a specific manual anywhere.

Posted by Bevan Wright (Member # 1884) on 10-29-2003, 08:30 AM:

Only a few hundred made in '88-90. Same reflector and power supply as the SLC20/30. IREM igniter. Structural stability was probably its biggest weakness.

Posted by Peter Hall (Member # 695) on 10-29-2003, 11:35 AM:

Are these the units with odd coloured doors, held on by velcro ?

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-29-2003, 04:09 PM:

Odd colored? They are somewhat beige-white. The doors cover the entire side of the console. The door on the non-operating side is locked by a small hex head bolt hidden inside. To open it, you have to reach across the power suppy with a long arm and loosen the screw. Who comes up with ideas like that?

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-29-2003, 04:36 PM:

The screw was a UL requirement....which was misguided in the real service world.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-29-2003, 04:43 PM:

UL requirement?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-29-2003, 06:18 PM:

There are 3 of them in the Cinemas 6 in St. George. I worked on them a couple of weeks ago. They stick out like a sore thumb....looks like a big Frigidare [Roll Eyes]

!
Mark @ CLACO

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-29-2003, 06:56 PM:

UL ( Underwriter's Lab = CE = CSA = TUV = CCC ) required that the access panels not be easily detachable if it did not have a keyed lock set. There was always one screw that involved reaching from another point by an "experienced technical person" who would go through yoga positions to reach them and risk injuring themselves in the process [uhoh]

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-30-2003, 06:57 AM:

Funny, the operating side is only secured by a primitive square key lock, relatively easy to open even without the proper key, while the other side is really hard to open. Actually, I found opening it not to difficult, but putting the screw back in without the help of another person was impossible. Due to the "structural problems", the door was quite warped, so I had to reach inside to put the screw back in, and my helper had to wrestle the door down to make the holes line up...
Then there is another key to secure the motorized lamp alignment controls. The standard console key went in without problems, but it wouldn`t turn at all. Was the lock corroded inside or would I have needed another key? Well, there was no other key around, so I found myself bridging the contacts on the lock in order to activate the controls, and another wonderful evening in Christieland finally found its successful and happy conclusion.
By the way, there are no thumbscrews on the little motors, so if one of them is broken, you are really [sex]

ed!

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-30-2003, 07:24 AM:

Thumbscrews would have double the cost of the console [Wink]

Posted by Peter Hall (Member # 695) on 10-30-2003, 08:08 AM:

Cost or value ?! Just joking, we like the Christie consoles..

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-30-2003, 04:08 PM:

The sad thing about all this nonsense is that when you finally have the door open, most of the inside is well accessible. So there was a basic good idea behind this. For instance, the diode side of the power supply is more easily accessible than on the SLC console. But apart from that, the SLC consoles are far more user-friendly and serviceable than this one here.