Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: WATNED: Someone to fix my power supply

This is topic WATNED: Someone to fix my power supply 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=007794

Posted by Josh Mitoska (Member # 1086) on 02-02-2006, 06:38 PM:

I have called National Cinema Service all day to get them to send a tech to fix my power supply, I called 5 times and they keep saying they have paged the tech but nobody has called me back. The best part is the tech only live like 30 minutes from my theatre, I have used him before (Steve Dorsch) & I think he does great work! But I just can't get ahold of him, so is anybody else in lower Michigan area that is availble?? Thanks-Josh- Bohm Theatre-Albion, MI

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-02-2006, 09:33 PM:

Josh,

If he is a good tech then he is worth waiting around for. There are not many other choices in that area any more.

Mark

Posted by Josh Mitoska (Member # 1086) on 02-02-2006, 09:36 PM:

yeah, maybe you are right, I just hate to be down on a Friday with my biggest auditorium!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-02-2006, 09:38 PM:

Or worse yet all weekend. What type of rectifier is it? A competant electrician may also be able to repair it if you have spare diodes handy on site.

Mark

Posted by Josh Mitoska (Member # 1086) on 02-02-2006, 10:08 PM:

IT is a Strong International Type 6101

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-02-2006, 10:49 PM:

Josh,

61001's use a bridge assy. and its probably a shorted or open diode on the Bridge assy. The entire bridge is quite easy to change out, but its quite a bit more work to rebuild one. We stock rebuilt bridges if you really get stuck... We could send one tommrrow to you for Saturday Delivery...... Any qualified electrician can change this out... if he needed help we can work with him over the phone. Not a problem! Hard to believe that no one else here jumped in and offered to help you on such a common and simple problem [Roll Eyes]

.

P.S. Another thing that could cause a sudden drop in current is a bad blocking diode. Its on the heat sink next to the bridge...a single 85 amp diode. These diodes can become intermittent and also just outright fail. A completely failed (shorted) blocking diode will make the lamp almost impossible to ignite. While an open one will not allow the high current part of the DC to pass through... all the lamp will do is to flash.

Mark

Mark Gulbrandsen
CLACO Equipment And Service
1212 South State St
Salt Lake City, UT
84111

801-355-1250 Phone
801-355-1259 FAX

Posted by Josh Mitoska (Member # 1086) on 02-02-2006, 11:18 PM:

MArk- What is the price on a rebuilt Bridge? If I don't get a call from the tech by morning, I think I will call you Friday and maybe you can go over a few things over the phone with me to determine if the bridge will fix my problem, thanks for all your help-Josh

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-02-2006, 11:27 PM:

To be honest with you I don't know. I do very little of the pricing around there. I can say that its TONS less expensive than a new one from Strong! We also use much higher rated diodes than the factory does. Talk to you tommrrow... and in case I happen to be out ask for Vince.

Mark

Posted by Josh Mitoska (Member # 1086) on 02-03-2006, 08:39 PM:

FIxed, A Diode connection had come undone, Steve Dorsch from national Cinema Service came and fixed it, great job!

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 02-05-2006, 11:18 AM:

quote:
I have used him before... I just hate to be down on a Friday with my biggest auditorium!

Do you have a service contract?

Posted by Josh Mitoska (Member # 1086) on 02-05-2006, 12:04 PM:

no, What would be the benefits of that?

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 02-05-2006, 12:51 PM:

To prevent situations you just found yourself in, of course. If you don't have a contract, you can't really gripe about not being able to get someone to respond to your call in a timely manner.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-05-2006, 01:26 PM:

quote: Josh Mitoska
no, What would be the benefits of that?

The real need of a contract depends on how much work you are already able to do yourself BUT do it properly. Also newer booths generally don't have many actual breakdowns while older booths might need more attention. I'm not a big fan of contracts muself because too many "Contract Customers" that experience breakdowns will just leave what ever breaks down till the tech shows up on the next scheduled trip, unless he is off screen! This is typical at large chains today and is part of whats ruining the theatre going experinece for everyone.....

One thing to your advantage if you can become part of a tech's service run in a given area where he makes many stops it can also lessen the travel and milage charges per customer. When I go on a run and service say ten locations on one trip the total travel time and milage is totaled up and each customer pays his share based on how many hours I work on his theatre. Are all dealers this fair... I don't know.....

Keep in mind that service contracts cant prevent failures of ALL sorts but they can help..... There are just things that a service tech isn't going be able to perdict, find, or prevent no matter what equipment you have.... predicting when your next lamphouse blower, or DTS drive is going to fail is like predicting when the next lightning bolt will strike a block from your theatre.

If you can come up with a tech thats got alot of experience(good luck!), works quickly but thoroughly, and has the best equipment available to him then you've got it made. But in the last 25 years I'd have to say that most customers I've worked for are ahead both monitarily and technically by just scheduling regular service visits twice yearly(or more often as needs show)for their booths. Since many contracts limit the amount of time spent per screen going this route assures you of someone doing a much better job when he's there and not being limited by time constraints. A tech that does an exceptional job won't leave you many(or any)things to go wrong between visits.

Some tips and bad signals(red flags) to look out for in a tech:

In a hurry to get to his next stop....

More talk about the last football game than how's your theatre or equipment been doing...

Doesn't have a decent(4-mic)Spectrum analyzer, scope or digital meter..... lacks other more sophisticated test gear to work on other problems.. no amprobe, no air flow meter. These are all BASIC pieces of test gear needed to do a through job at any site.

No assortment of parts carried with him.

Arrives in a compact Car...... He should have a well stocked van!

Spends hours at the local bar before hand...... Afterwords this or a big dinner might be necessary! There is a tech I know of that stops work at 3PM eeach day to go to the local bar(where ever it is) for the remainder of what ever......

Re-curring problems(like failing diodes) that are never completely taken care of by him. If one diode fails they all SHOULD be replaced at the same time.

Just my 10 cents worth....

Mark

Posted by Josh Mitoska (Member # 1086) on 02-05-2006, 01:53 PM:

yeah, the tech that came is Steve Dorsch, I've known him for about 8 years, from back when I actually worked for a theatre. He has always done great work, National Cinema Charged me $300 for a service call, is that normal for other companies as well? It seems fair to me, after all it got me back on screen and that is the most important part.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-05-2006, 02:03 PM:

quote: Josh Mitoska
National Cinema Charged me $300 for a service call, is that normal for other companies as well?

Is that all they did while they were there, tighten a loose wire.....That may just be their flat rate emergency call fee. Some techs(or companies) charge an emergency call fee and some don't. Since you are not a "regular" customer of theirs and considering NCS has a reputation for being high priced and if he did at least give a quick check (15-30 min) of the other booth then that seems a reasonable fee if thats all inclusive including travel time and milage. I know at least a couple of other dealers that operate like we do and don't charge an emergency call fee to any customer new or not. Just the regualar per hour fee on site plus driving(at 1/2 labor rate) and milage.

BTW: Some dealers charge that exhorbant fee just to get you to buy a servcie contract..... some will say its good marketing.... and I suppose thats true towards the dealers bottom line.

Anyway, If all he did was make a simple repair and charge that fee than I would say you were ripped off....
BTW: nothing reflective here against Steve... he did his job. I don't know him from "Sam Hill" but I am well aware of how his company operates!

Mark

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 02-05-2006, 07:13 PM:

quote:
Arrives in a compact Car...... He should have a well stocked van!

FWIW, Tim Eilher from Bright Star used to drive a Ford Escort to service the 18-screen I worked for. Currently, TJ, one of their other techs drives a Dodge Magnum & also does great work in a great capacity.

It's not the size, it's the gas mileage! [Wink]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-05-2006, 09:59 PM:

quote:
It's not the size, it's the gas mileage!

Hardly, Its all about having the parts on hand when you're 400 miles away from the shop(common out here) so you can do your job efficiently! Its saves the customer $$ not having you around for days waiting for parts although this does happen occasionally! The Company Van I drive gets close to 20 mpg which is very reasonable. Its also stocked with so many parts that I could do complete rebuilds of any commonly used projector at any customers site. I also carry lamps, ignitors, blower motors, an arbor press, small lathe if needed, and all the normal test gear and hand tools. Personally, I would seriously question a dealer that is THAT worried about gas milage as to not have the normal [thumbsdown]

stuff on hand when on site!

Posted by David Graham Rose (Member # 1450) on 02-06-2006, 01:56 AM:

Greetings

I'd be out of business at 20mpg. Fuel over here is £1 per litre!

David

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-06-2006, 02:15 AM:

Bah, that's only 40% more. Compared to the distances travelled on this side of the pond you come out ahead.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-06-2006, 07:59 AM:

You guys missed the line in my post that said we charge for driving time and mileage.... the mileage fee is based on gas prices at the time..... Thats why I wondered why any dealer would be so worried as to make their techs drive compact cars on service work.... It looks like that dealer is just too cheap to have the proper vehicles. Now I can see employees driving to work in their own vehicle(compact car of course!) and then heading out in the company truck or van. Also, if you're paying for your own gas while on service calls you have a serious problem with the structure of your business that needs some revision..... Customers always pay for transportation in just about any service type company weather you having your dishwasher, TV, or your projector repaired...

Mark

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 02-06-2006, 10:39 AM:

Mark, I belive it was those tech's choices to drive smaller cars, and maybe I should mention that the models in question were station wagons. With Bright Star it's never been a question as to whether or not the techs could carry all the necessary parts because, as emphasized earlier in this thread, I've always worked with B.S.S. while at theaters with service contracts and our company couriers (with cargo vans) were the ones to pickup the needed parts on a will-call basis. But with the territory you have to cover, a van would be absolutely essential. That & how some of the jobs that you've posted would make me hate to drive hundreds of miles back & forth as opposed to a metro-area beat with an in-town shop.

Posted by David Graham Rose (Member # 1450) on 02-06-2006, 01:28 PM:

Erm….Litre/Gallon. £1 per litre = $ 8 per gallon (ish).

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 02-06-2006, 03:34 PM:

Maybe a silly question, but what diode connection can come loose on a 61001 to reduce the lamp power? The bridge diodes have 10ga solid wires soldered to them. The blocking diode wire being loose wouldn't just drop the power without doing some local melting...

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-06-2006, 04:57 PM:

quote:
I belive it was those tech's choices to drive smaller cars,

Steve,

I've been there done that... 20 years ago I drove a Toyota Celica, then a dodge caravan(yuck!),then a Ford Aerostar stretch van, Then to a Dodge 2500 V-10, then to a Chevy S-10 Blazer, and now the Chevy van.... So I can certainly say from experience what works and what doesn't under ALL service situations. If my van is in the shop I will reluctantly take my KIA Sportage on trips..... although its a comfortable vehicle for me doing service work out of it is very restrictive and a pain in the ass!

I use the same van for metro work as well as road trips, and it goes home with me nightly in case a theatre needs emergency service, or weekend service. I do calls 5 min from the shop and up to 500 to 600 miles away. Our service vans are indeed a smaller version of our main office and parts stock, with just aabout the same capability as working in our shop, mnus the machine tools. BSS doesn't sound like a very efficient outfit to me...... Station wagons certainly just don't cut it. I can remember the RCA Service guys in Chicago driving those shitbox Dodge K-cars and how they hated them. I'd certainly never work for any dealership were I stuck with a small car or wagon.... Thats pretty ludicrous and its just not a vehicle meant for serious service work!
P.S. And yes, all the CLACO vans are outfitted with very comprehensive burgler alarms, electrical shocker devices, and flame throwers.

Case in point..... Today I pulled out an entire water damaged booth to bring back to the shop to refurbish and re-install in the same theatre after its all rebuilt. I'd like to see them do that in a small wagon, how many extra trips or extra vehicles would that take them [Big Grin]

. Efficient a van is for this buisness no matter where you drive to. BTW: All of our techs drive vans.... Not just me...... The most efficient method of service reaps the most profit for both the theatre owner AND the service company and makes for happy repeat customers.

quote: David Graham Rose
Erm….Litre/Gallon. £1 per litre = $ 8 per gallon (ish).

Then I would assume that your custmers are paying more for travel than for service....

quote: Dave Macaulay
Maybe a silly question, but what diode connection can come loose on a 61001 to reduce the lamp power?

Dave,

I was thinking the exact same thing but I didn't want to be the one to raise the red flag..... but ok, I'll raise it a bit higher! What I usually find wrong in the 61000 series stuff is... bad blocking diode, or... bad rectifier stack diode,or... burnt up wiring, or.... burnt up power transformer. With a little luck some day soon they'll all burn up [evil]

..

If I were in Josh's seat I would probably call Hadden and set up some sort of twice yearly service or a service contract. I think Louis does go into that area. Hadden is a top notch company and has ALOT better reputation than NCS.

Mark

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 02-06-2006, 05:44 PM:

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
And yes, all the CLACO vans are outfitted with very comprehensive burgler alarms, electrical shocker devices, and flame throwers.

Cool!

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-06-2006, 08:20 PM:

quote: David Graham Rose
Erm….Litre/Gallon. £1 per litre = $ 8 per gallon (ish).

I was actually comparing litres to litres, but used a rate for CDN dollars to euros and not pounds.

So you pay twice as much with likely less than half the distance to go. You probably still come out ahead.