Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Strong Lume-X Lamphouse

This is topic Strong Lume-X Lamphouse in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Ian Bailey (Member # 1752) on 12-27-2003, 08:54 PM:

I have a Strong Lume-X (not SUPER-Lume X)lamphouse which can take anywhere from 2-15 strikes to ignite the Xenon.The Xenon appears to run fine and at the correct amperage.I did recently find a large current cable going to one end of the Xenon loose at it's connection but after tightening this it made no difference to the striking problem.I feel it could be the igniter circuit but I would like some advice before I go looking.Also the "Negative Lens" is cracked into 3 pieces but is still in it's correct position.The projected image is quite good.Should I just leave it or replace it.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 12-27-2003, 09:00 PM:

not an uncommon problem check the noload voltage of the rectifier it may be a bit low for your lamp
That ignitor has no adjustment to increase the pulse length to my knowledge
I ended up put IREM ignitors into most of the Lumex's

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-27-2003, 09:26 PM:

9 times out of 10 it is hooked to a Strong black box rectifier (current controlled)...there is a 1100MFD boost cap..check/replace it...don't be afraid to up it to 1800MFD...It will help hard ignitions.

Steve

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 12-28-2003, 08:43 AM:

Both the lamphouse and power supply have filter caps and small diodes. Check all of these. Some time ago I serviced a Lume-X with an ignition problem. Bad cable connections, grounds and diodes and filter caps. Strong recommedned a upgrade to me, put extra filter caps across the diodes as extra protection. This of course was not on the schematic. Call Strong for recommended cap values.

When soldering diodes into place, be careful. The trick is to have a hot well tinned iron, along with heat sinks (aligator clips) on each diod lead. The trick is forming a good but quick solder joint, as a little too much heat can ruin diodes. Also, sometimes new electronic componets like diodes will be bad, so double check with a VOM before installing. And make sure polarities are in the correct direction.

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 12-28-2003, 10:46 AM:

Take the metal plate off over the ignitor, remove the plastic ignitors lid. Either bypass or jam down the safety switch under the lid and observe the ingnitor as it operates. I've seen a couple lately where some of the wires inside the ignitor needed to be re-routed to avoid flash over...

Gordon, you amaze me. Apart from the above mentioned I have never had a bit of trouble from the Super Lume-X, Super 80, or Ultra 80 ignitors.. The DC pulse type used on the consoles is another matter... I've experienced much more grieff from Irem ignitors than anything else!

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 12-28-2003, 11:42 AM:

I have never had grief from the Super Lumex X60 Super80 ignitors but the Lumex which is what the person has is a diffent fish alltogather
It was a early form of DC pulse type ignitor
It used a neon glow tube in conjunction with an SCR to generate the pulse into a pulse transfomer
That was coupled to a large glass condensor and spark gap (in the lower black blox coupled to the tesla coil
The standard brute force strong ignitor is excelent the Lumex one was queit and when it worked you never even heard the lamp light but when it didn't it was a pain (also there was no method of putting an manual ignition button on it either)

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-28-2003, 12:35 PM:

Actually all of the present Strong Ignitors made for Spotlight and X-90's are DC pulse. This is supposed to be a much more reliable ignitor than the Lum-Ex was. My experience with them so far has been mostly positive and they are a very simple circuit.
Not sure what they've done with the Super Highlite and Super/Ultra 80 though as I've been installing Christie consoles/lamphouses for the most part.
Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-28-2003, 02:11 PM:

We still sell a bunch of Super Lume-X and Ultra-80s...they are the good old reliable AC igniter...the only problem we've had has been the Super Lume-X's igniter being shattered in shipping.

Steve

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-28-2003, 02:21 PM:

Been there, done that...straight out of the original shipping box, with the box staples still in tact.