Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Worried About Bulb Dying

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Posted by Bradley J Sime (Member # 9423) on 02-15-2018, 09:29 PM:

I have a CDXL 18-SD lamp running in a Christie 2210 that is currently at 1761 hours. I've ordered another lamp, but it's in transit. Should I be freaking out? I am freaking out.

My temperatures are all okay - Lamp exhaust is 50c, integrator is 56c

The manual for the 2210 says I should change the lamp at 1500 hrs, the warranty is for 1750, and the Christie site for the lamp says 2100...so, should I be freaking out?

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 02-15-2018, 09:46 PM:

Will freaking out change anything? Just go on, it is not likely that this bulb burst while the new one is in transit. I suggest for the future you always have a replacement on site. Do you ignite that bulb multiple times a day, or only once?

- Carsten

Posted by Bradley J Sime (Member # 9423) on 02-15-2018, 09:49 PM:

No, we basically ignite it once a day. I have a few old bulbs lying around that have 1750 on them, as well.
Yeah, I usually have another one here, but it's been a crazy month and it slipped my mind.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-15-2018, 11:30 PM:

Don't freak out. I once had a bulb that I thought had a 1500-hour warranty, that turned out to have a 1000-hour. I didn't realize it until the thing was at 1450 hours. I was sort of freaking out especially when I went to change it, but we were fine.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-16-2018, 06:35 AM:

I wouldn't freak out. Christie/Ushio lamps don't explode that often at all and many go way over warranty. Now if you were running other brands...well...

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 02-16-2018, 07:19 AM:

It has an estimated average life expectancy of 2100 hours and you get a "100%" warranty of 1750 hours. So, there's nothing to freak out about.

It's good that you're a bit worried though, it keeps you on the edge on those things and avoids possible mayhem if you continue to let it slip. [Wink]

As others pointed out, just keep the amount of ignites to a minimum and everything should just turn out fine. Take the usual precautions when changing it. Try not to freak out, a good quality bulb slightly over its warranty isn't much more dangerous than one slightly under.