Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: NEC 1200C lamp question

This is topic NEC 1200C lamp question in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 11-20-2013, 08:43 AM:

For some reason, 2 of my NC1200c's will automatically power on the lamp when when turning the projector on. Why does this happen? How can I change this?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-20-2013, 12:01 PM:

With the projector in the "Stand By" state...that is, power to the projector but otherwise off. Press the lamp button and you should see the LCD screen change from Lamp On to Lamp Off. If it says Lamp Off in the standby state, it will power up with the lamp off.

Posted by Ian Freer (Member # 1940) on 11-20-2013, 09:53 PM:

If you have the DCC software on a local PC it can also be corrected there in much the same manner.
With the projector in Stand-by, the Lamp On button will be active, click to Lamp Off while the PJ still in stand-by and from then on it should be good.

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 11-20-2013, 11:29 PM:

Thank you!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-23-2013, 02:43 PM:

This is probably my most asked question since I have so many NEC's out there. I wish NEC would move this to a technician setting in DCC on a future firmware upgrade.

Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-23-2013, 03:23 PM:

Speaking of the NC1200C...and this is a divergence from the original question but it does apply to the thread title...

We have just done a set of lamp changes in the NC1200C...the lamps were Ushio DXL-20SN. They went the full 2400 hours but....

The lamps didn't have the characteristic "clear" new-lamp look to them when they came out. The lamps had darkened over, quite a bit (sort of Osram like). But even more puzzling...the electrodes looked HORRIBLE. They were all snotted up...with 3 or more "tits" on them too.

The exhaust in this theatre is more than adequate for a 2KW lamp too (about 500cfm). And even if the exhaust was inadequate, that may explain the darkening, it wouldn't explain the electrodes. That has always meant that the power to the lamp is bad.

Now I could understand if one out of 5 was bad...but 5 out of 5? That isn't just a bad lamp or power supply...that is something intrinsic. I have too many Ushios out there in Barco and Christie (but under the Christie badge) to think Ushio is the source of the problem.

Now that Ushio offers 1200 and 1500-watt versions of the lamp...some of the screens will be moving to a more appropriate sized lamp so it will be interesting to see how they fare. Also, lamp wise, we will be on a different batch of 2KWs too.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 11-23-2013, 11:36 PM:

Does this mean you have to start looking at traditional power issues like inrush, ripple, maybe even look at it on a scope after the bulb fires?

I suppose I should take a look at how my bulb (2K, Osram, film-style) is faring.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-24-2013, 12:33 AM:

I suppose but it is a switch mode power supply. NEC also ramps up its lamps...one would think that it shouldn't be so hard on the lamps on the start ups. Again, whereas I'm seeing it uniformly across several units...I thinking that something is up in the design of it.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-24-2013, 10:32 AM:

I haven't seen that happen around here in the 1200's myself. Nor has anyone had any issues reaching lamp life, a few even run them beyond warranty. Except with Osrams lamp's and they always fail early no matter what.

Posted by Richard May (Member # 2627) on 11-24-2013, 11:44 AM:

I just changed about 15 Ushios in the NEC1200 within the last few months. They were all changed at around 2300 hours. All of the lamps were clear with no abnormalities on the electrodes. I'll keep watching.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-24-2013, 12:16 PM:

Thanks...good info. It just struck me as VERY odd.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-24-2013, 03:26 PM:

How many amps were your lamps running Steve?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-24-2013, 04:33 PM:

In the middle to lower end of the range. Two of them we have switched to 1500-watt because we don't need the light.

"Feedback" was enabled bu it never got close to 100% power. Depending on the theatre...between 53A and 67A. Not exactly pushing a 2KW lamp rated to run up to 85A.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 11-24-2013, 04:42 PM:

In all ours the 2000Hs Ushios come out looking almost new but we do run them at around 75 amps at start and 85 at the end
they stay in for about 3000hrs