Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: ASL lamps

This is topic ASL lamps 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=010629

Posted by Lindsay Morris (Member # 1430) on 09-29-2010, 05:57 AM:

With the costs rapidly escalating on Xenon lamps I stumbled across the ASL website and got a very competitive quote for a 2.5kw lamp and even allowing for freight USA to OZ I am still way in front.
It seems that ASL took over the ORC factory some time ago and up until recently I had never heard of them as a maker of lamps.
In the past I have always used Ushio lamps but am very tempted to give these a fly.
Any Film Techers got any first hand experiences on their use please??
Lindsay

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 09-29-2010, 06:51 AM:

Depending on the model, the ASL compares very favorably to more respected brands in performance/reliability. I've never had an issue with ASL as a company either. Very easy to get along with and good customer service.

They also seem to continually try and improve their lamps too. I like Christie/Ushio the best but it may be worth a shot using the ASL in your case...you can always switch back if the ASL does not live up to your expectations.

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 09-29-2010, 09:58 AM:

Unless it is very inexpensive, I would stick to better known brands. One failure or explosion will eat up all the difference in price, not even counting the lost show(s).

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 09-29-2010, 04:38 PM:

Name brands have many sources. You might try any U.S. dealer. Sometimes pricing is different in each country. Some U.S. dealers specialize in export.

You may be surprised when you get a quote on a major brand (Osram, Christie, etc). Louis

Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 09-29-2010, 05:35 PM:

Just hearing that ASL took over the ORC factory is enough to send shivers down my spine.
Previous experience with ORC lamps has/was been terrible at best.
Early flickering, drooping anodes, instability at 'very' low hours, bubbles in the quartz envelope - the list goes on.

This is not to say ASL's will suffer from the same bugbears, but if anyone is game enough to try them, at least check to see if any advancements have been made on the designs and Q.C.

..and for Pete's sake, avoid any lamp with the foil seals.

Posted by Joe Elliott (Member # 4006) on 09-29-2010, 10:36 PM:

We used ASL at our theater for a number of years. Over about 6 years we have had 4 or 5 explode, and have had to return 6-8 for unstable arcs. They do have a 100% warranty, rather that pro-rated, so they are worth looking at, but if you have projectors with glass reflectors, I would avoid them. It does seem their catastrophic failure rate is higher. We have metal reflectors(Christie), so only minor damage to the reflectors.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 09-30-2010, 09:13 AM:

Not to jump on you, BUT there is no such thing as "minor damage to metal reflectors." You are actually better off with glass, since they don't deteriorate like metal and, when the bulb explodes, it eliminates the ambiguity for management. (No micro-management here!!) Louis

Posted by Lindsay Morris (Member # 1430) on 10-01-2010, 01:01 AM:

Thanks fellas,

All food for thought... But Ian what is a "Foil Seal" on a Xenon?

Lindsay

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-01-2010, 09:46 AM:

Foil seals were a method of allowing for the difference in the rate of expansion of the electrode rod and the surrounding quartz
Some manufactures use a graded quartz to glass seal others use foil ribbons to join the electrode rod to the end of the lamp
all of these methods have their advantages and their disadvantages

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-01-2010, 06:13 PM:

ASL only uses foil seals on their smaller lamps (1600 watt and such). On the standard 2K lamps, they are graded seals. All of the lamps with a graded seal will have a "G" in its part number. Those with a foil "Ribbon" seal will have an "R" in their name.

http://www.aslamps.com/products.asp

Steve

Posted by Lindsay Morris (Member # 1430) on 10-04-2010, 03:20 AM:

Steve,

Thanks for that info I had wondered what the G bit was all about so now I know and am looking for a 2K lamp anyway so on that basis no need to worry re foil seals. [Smile]