Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Lamp life superior bulbs

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Posted by Michael Voiland (Member # 5386) on 03-23-2010, 01:42 AM:

We currently use superior bulbs models sx20002 and sx160002 i have noticed that each time i get the bulb the warranty has been lowered. We started with 2200 hours 6 months ago we are now at 1300 hours. We have sent in a 2 or 3 bulbs trying to claim the warranty. One due to a flicker after 1300 hours. One due to a seal failure. I think we sent one more in for another reason.
Superior bulbs are getting anywhere from 700 to 2000 hours depending on our theaters. We currently have roof top ventilators from 1980 and they are all dieing. We have put cruddy booster fans on top of our projectors which are old super highlights mfg in march of 1989. The lamps i am assuming are getting a shortened life due to low exhaust airflow. Anyone know of any other reason. Our company is worried about spending money but doesn't seem to get it through their head that they are wasting more cash on bulbs then they would if they would fix the darn exhaust vents. Also someone previous cut all the exhaust cut fail safes out. I have yet to see one make 2000 hours but we are whiten 300 hundred hours of our biggest theater hitting 2000 hours. Its dimming slightly.
Comments would be very helpful Its ridiculous that its so hard to get things that save money.

and does anyone know any film techs that serve the northern Illinois region.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 03-23-2010, 06:35 AM:

Michael,
If you don't find any techs, let me know. I am about 6 hours away.
Rick

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-23-2010, 06:51 AM:

#1 fix the blowers. I remove all of the mechanism on the roof and then add a new blower from Grainger in the line. Use search for part numbers.

#2 Look up Osram and Christie bulbs on search as well. Certain bulbs behave differently with different rectifiers. Christie seems to have an advantage with switchr rectifier (unknown in KY). Bothe have "superior. . . hours warrantys" compared to what you report.

No bulb. . . not even an excellent one, can survive overheating.

I expect 4-5000+ hours Osram with IREM rectifier. Same for Christie rectifiers. Usually less with other equipment.

Yes, over time, it saves money to repair problems and ditch equipment that does not support long bulb life. Yes, even enough money to replace the consoles. (Should be cheap now with the rich buying digital. Louis

Posted by Manny Montes (Member # 5639) on 03-23-2010, 01:03 PM:

get some christie bulbs (best i've dealt with) and definitely make sure that you are changing the exhaust fans so they work, we had this issue and it KILLED our bulbs until we fixed it, once it was fixed we've been normal on bulb hours for that auditorium.

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 03-23-2010, 05:15 PM:

I have the same lamp houses and switched to Christie CXL-20R's about 2 years ago and haven't looked back. I just pulled one out that had almost 4500 hrs on it due to flickering and the current was maxed out. The bulb itself was only slightly cloudy. I also had all of our roof top exhaust units changed last summer and now average 450cfm at the stack opening. I also doubled up the blower motors that force air over bulb. I plan to cut the existing 6" opening to an 8" get up to around 900cfm.

The only other change that has been made since they were installed in 1988 is that over the 20+ yrs all the high reactance rectifiers have been replaced with switchers.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-24-2010, 07:16 PM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser
fix the blowers. I remove all of the mechanism on the roof and then add a new blower from Grainger in the line.

Man! Above all DO NOT USE ANY BLOWERS FROM GRAINGER!!! They used to be good but the Chinese motors they are using now are absolute crap.

Look into the Fan Tech In-Line Turbine Exhaust Blowers. Not only are they all ball bearing but the size to air flow ratio is tremendous. They also do not vibrate at all and are easier to mount. In my book there is no other blower to be using excepting a master exhaust system... they can be mail ordered for LESS money than the equivalent Grainger blower. Hope this helps...

quote: Jeremy Weigel
The only other change that has been made since they were installed in 1988 is that over the 20+ yrs all the high reactance rectifiers have been replaced with switchers.

HA! And there are people in this thread that will tell you switchers suck! (not me)

Mark

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 03-24-2010, 08:04 PM:

I have 4 of the black suitcase switchers that have been in use for 15+ years without any problems.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-24-2010, 08:38 PM:

Yea, STRONG Switchers and Christie bulbs get along real fine.

Somehow, you shove an OSRAM or a Philips/LTI in the loop and you got problems ...

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-24-2010, 10:32 PM:

Agreed that Grainger motors are no longer any good. I buy their blower and then use an AO Smith motor (not from Grainger) with it.

btw: AOSmith, made in Mexico, appears to originate from the old Grainger factory; 40% cheaper, too. Louis

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-25-2010, 12:04 AM:

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
Look into the Fan Tech In-Line Turbine Exhaust Blowers. Not only are they all ball bearing but the size to air flow ratio is tremendous. They also do not vibrate at all and are easier to mount. In my book there is no other blower to be using excepting a master exhaust system... they can be mail ordered for LESS money than the equivalent Grainger blower.

I can also vouch for Mark's statements. I used these in my recent screening room and although they don't have a lot of hours on them, the airflow from them is tremendous.

Don't buy anything but a Christie bulb. Nothing comes close.

Posted by Michael Voiland (Member # 5386) on 03-25-2010, 01:59 AM:

So do you guys just gut the old roof top units then and use them as a vent. When you put the inline in. Right now we kind of limp along with our roof top units. We have 2 theaters that actually share a single unit but that's a different problem all together.

The original super highlights when cooled properly shouldn't get much more then warm on the front top of the lamp house. I know our super lumexs are like hotplates.

Posted by Dan Reiter (Member # 1386) on 03-25-2010, 03:18 PM:

The warranty of the Superior Lamps has actually increased. The "1300" hour you note is just the first half of the warranty for full value. There is still the additional 1300 hours of pro-rated coverage, so the full warranty period is 2600 hours.

As for the evacuation problem, I agree completely, as in my years of designing, installing, and servicing lamphouses and consoles, heat is the enemy, get it out. I have seen many combinations of lamps run with varied rectifiers. As long as the rectifier has smooth output with no problems, all magnetic stabilization is present and properly oriented in the light engine, any lamp should last.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-25-2010, 06:44 PM:

quote: Dan Reiter
There is still the additional 1300 hours of pro-rated coverage, so the full warranty period is 2600 hours.

Humm, I know your lamps are great but the warranty is not so good. No one is pro rating lamp life on that size any longer. Both Osram XL and Christie are 100% till the end of rated life.

quote: Michael Voiland
So do you guys just gut the old roof top units then and use them as a vent. When you put the inline in.

Yep... And for areas that get cold in the fall/winter and for all digital projectors an automatic non-return damper is reccomended so you don't get a cold blast of winter air back down a dead stack onto a still warm lamp... Some local codes now require automatic dampers hooked to the fire alarm system.

quote: Louis Bornwasser
I buy their blower and then use an AO Smith motor (not from Grainger) with it.

I was doing the same thing until I tried Fan Tech... Too much running around and I think there is only one AO-Smith motor that fits...

Posted by Michael Voiland (Member # 5386) on 03-26-2010, 11:11 PM:

Anyone have any suggestions on exhaust for super highlights. And i will look into getting fan tech motors. 120 is not tough and a damper. Better then replacing bulbs every 1000 hours.

Also does anyone know the Christie bulb equivalent for sx20002 and sx16002

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 03-27-2010, 12:07 AM:

According to Superior's cross reference guide the Christie equivalent to the sx16002 is a CXL-16SC and the sx20002 is a CXL-2000/20R.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-05-2010, 09:39 AM:

Those of you looking for a good lamp should also consider the Osram Extreme Life Lamps. I have had every bit as good of luck with these lamps as I have had with the Christies and have completely switched to selling this lamp for cinema use and some digital installs as well. You get a 3500 hour 100% replacement warranty vs a 2500 Hour 100% Replacement warranty and the Osrams will cost you considerably less. Both type lamps have shown the same long life spans and more or less zero trouble.

Mark

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 04-05-2010, 11:30 AM:

What? Mark, I thought you were a Christie man?? Louis

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-05-2010, 12:32 PM:

Mark's opinions change with the wind.

The facts remains...Osrams turn in to bombs, depending on the run. Christie's out light Osrams and outlast Osrams. Osram blames "you" the user for all of their problems.

If you want a good LOW-COST lamp, ASL, right now, has some very good lamps. They too offer 100% warranty until the end of the rated life and are great people to deal with.