Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: installation time

This is topic installation time in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-09-2007, 10:14 AM:

The Carmike/DLP thread in the Ground Level forum has raised an interesting question: what is the approximate time needed by an experienced, professional technician to install a) a 35mm booth and b) a DLP booth.

Perhaps this should be broken down as follows:

- new multiplex install, per screen (single 35mm projector, platter, automation, two picture formats, 1-2 digital sound formats, standard equipment throughout multiplex)

- new art-house/special venue install, per screen (two projectors, maybe automation, 4-6 picture formats, 1-2 digital sound formats, maybe variable speed, maybe 16mm and/or 70mm, maybe a small video setup, single screen)

- new DLP install (single projector, no 3D, with server)

- DLP upgrade/retrofit (single Christie/Barco/etc. projector, existing porthole/space available, existing sound system usable without upgrades)

Better yet, it would be good to separate the time spent on sound racks and speaker installation (which shouldn't be much different for film vs. DLP) and projection equipment (which would vary). This would include everything from when the technican/installer first arrives on site until everything is installed and tested and ready to operate with all formats.

I realize that these times vary depending on scheduling and other factors (availability of carpenters, electricians, etc.), but I'm just curious about ballpark figures for install time, not including planning and consultation.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-09-2007, 12:06 PM:

Although I can only pretty much generalize here I would say one and a half stand alone digital booths replacing film per day with an electrician doing the AC connections. This would take into account for a half day to remove the existing equipment.

I am in the process of doing three booths all keeping the existing film projectors(DP-70). We bought a used BARCO for one of the screens and it needed both BARCO and T.I firmware revisions installed... the projector has firmware version 1.2 still on it and the T.I stuff was so old it would only do MPEG. In the process of uploading the BARCO firmware the projetor died with all sorts of fans gone and a screen full of errors! The techs at BARCO had never heard of this before so we took just the three BARCO boards out to another DP-100 and swapped them out... Boards ran ok there in a similar vintage machine! We came to conclusion that it was software incompatibility with one of the SMPS boards... there are two. Backgrading just the ver. 2.5b SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply) software in the files back to 1.09 and it brought the projector back to life. It still has all the latest other BARCO software and the T.I ver. 11.1 software upload went just fine... the second time around. Both are somewhat lengthy to do, equivelent timewise to upgrading a couple of XD-10's with the full O.S.. Also in this projector the lamp module either has to be installed or the module present microswitch taped down to be able to upload firmware upgrades.... During the T.I upload I pulled the lamp module out to install the lamp and it killed the upload. This is something that none of the 20+ other DP-100's around here seem to do. So with each projector you may find a few quirks common to just that projector throwing in more added time.

The last batch of NEC 2500's that came to town there were three out of the box that wouldn't function correctly... more time added. Like I said its more like installing new broadcast gear where its a 50/50 chance it will work properly out of the box.

The three systems going in are being set up in our shop first so we can be sure on site time is at a minimum. I don't expect any problems with the Dolby Servers. If we do have problems Dolby's excellent support is a phone call away and there are also a number of highly experienced techs with the Dolby here in SLC.

As far as installing a prepackaged film booth... a day and a half per booth (less auditorium) is possible and still do a nice neat job but it takes an electrician thats on the ball... something thats touch anda go in this part of the country. More complicated systems like Steve installs are far more time consumming.

Mark

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 11-09-2007, 08:21 PM:

Support from other trades (including electrician) are so variable that we no longer will quote other than by-the-hour. If the owner has personal involvement, he can get others to move the equipment, mount screens and speakers, etc all under our supervision. If we have to purchase electrical hardware, rent scaffolding on the local economy, hire movers, etc, it can easily turn a 1 day job into an eleven day job. We are the highest paid trade, so it is in the owner's interest to have lots of (low-paid) labor on hand to help. Louis

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-09-2007, 08:32 PM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser
We are the highest paid trade

I hope you mean highest paid on the job site.....

Mark

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 11-10-2007, 08:42 AM:

Yes, of course. Louis

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 11-11-2007, 03:27 PM:

You mean we get paid [Confused]