Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Lamp failure on Christie CP2000-ZX

This is topic Lamp failure on Christie CP2000-ZX in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Nate Anderson (Member # 2711) on 08-27-2010, 11:56 AM:

We are running 2 Christie CP-2000 ZX's with Christie CD-XL 30 bulbs for Dolby 3D. These work great for 3D movies but whenever we switch to a regular non-3D movie, we have been experiencing intermittent lamp failures. These usually occur when first starting the movie, but sometimes happen during the feature.

I have tried to compensate by increasing the lamp current and that seems to help, but doesn't completely solve the issue.

Has anyone heard of this happening? And if so, any solutions?

Posted by Phil Ranucci (Member # 3820) on 08-27-2010, 12:25 PM:

Are the lamps failing or just going out? can you re-strike? Perhaps your installer set the current in your 2D macros too low to keep them lit. I'm assuming that the Christie can have different current settings.

Posted by Nate Anderson (Member # 2711) on 08-27-2010, 01:11 PM:

We can re-strike them after clearing the error code on the display. I had the same thought about the macros being too low so I've kicked up the current, but I didn't know if there was something I could or should be doing.

Thanks.

Posted by Phil Ranucci (Member # 3820) on 08-27-2010, 04:59 PM:

What's the error code?

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 08-27-2010, 06:01 PM:

what is the current setting for 2D?

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 08-28-2010, 01:03 AM:

Ya, bulb run for 2D should be, at least, 70% of the maximum amperage. Otherwise, you're killing the bulb with running it so low.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-28-2010, 12:12 PM:

Not sure about your error code... could be a mis-strike from running a higher wattage lamp at too low of current. If your screen is a dedicated 3-D house and you need to run 2-D for up to say two to three weeks then I reccomend just placing a ROSCO neutral density filter in the port for the duration to bring things to the correct 2-D light level. Switching out a high wattage lamp to go to a lower wattage for 2-D and then re-installing the high wattage lamp may proove to be more detrimental to the life span of the lamp than any other single factor.

Mark

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 08-28-2010, 03:07 PM:

If current is too low for cold-striking the lamps, maybe you could use two current-set macros for 2D. Strike them with a similiar current as for 3D, then let them stabilize for a few seconds, then reduce.

- Carsten

Posted by Nate Anderson (Member # 2711) on 08-28-2010, 06:32 PM:

I misspoke when I said error code. The red warning light flashes on the projector and the display reads 'unexpected failure'. I have kicked up the current like Monte suggested and haven't had any issues since.

Thanks you all for the input. I appreciate it.

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 08-29-2010, 09:22 AM:

And... what was the previous 2D lamp setting?

Posted by Randy Bowden (Member # 587) on 09-09-2010, 11:47 PM:

Sounds like your lamp per channel settings are too low for 2D. I've seen them set at 100% in 3D and as low as 45% for 2D. That can cause problems with the lamp staying lit.

Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 09-10-2010, 12:40 AM:

quote:
45%

Somebody needs to be knocked out! [Mad]