Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Sonic Projector Heating Blanket

This is topic Sonic Projector Heating Blanket in forum Ground Level 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=5;t=002831

Posted by Dave Marlow (Member # 8405) on 09-09-2014, 10:14 AM:

Does anyone know where I can order a heating blanket to cover a digital projector so I don't have to heat the projector room during the winter months?
Thanks Dave

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 09-09-2014, 12:57 PM:

I might be totally mistaken, but I've never heard of anybody using a heating blanket, let alone someone producing a specific version for a projector. I don't know if it would be such a smart idea either.

Besides that, what about the other equipment in the room? Stuff like servers, sound processor(s), amps?

Posted by Dave Marlow (Member # 8405) on 09-09-2014, 01:22 PM:

I Talked to a guy that runs a Drive-In that was using a heater made by Sonic for projectors all our electronics sit underneath the projector, I have never seen one, I thought it might be worth looking into.

Thanks Dave

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-09-2014, 01:33 PM:

Our projection booth isn't heated. We just leave the door open at closing time. It's cool in there but not coldm even when the outside temp goes below zero.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 09-09-2014, 03:42 PM:

Have you ever measured the temperatures in that booth during winter? What kind of winter do you experience there? Are there other parts/areas of that 'building' that need to stay above the freezing point, e.g. water lines?

I guess you could just use a common heating blanket with a wall-thermostat. The projector manufacturer should give you information about suitable storage temperatures.

- Carsten

Posted by Dave Marlow (Member # 8405) on 09-09-2014, 04:50 PM:

Its a Drive-in, we are closed from October till May, all water lines are drained and winterized, temps can fall as low as 20 below 0.

Thanks Dave

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 09-09-2014, 05:05 PM:

The time honored system in drive ins is to use a light bulb, 15-20 watts in the BOTTOM of the rack, the soundhead, and in the lamphouse. Even at 25 below, you would be surprised how warm the upper rack, etc is.

You may not be able to get carbon filament bulbs much longer. They are cheap and easy to get right now. Large wattages are not needed.

You could also wrap the devices in the kind of pads the movers use. They are used In Alaska to wrap aircraft engines.

All of this works just like putting a bulb under your car hood in Winter.

Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 09-09-2014, 06:22 PM:

I've seen em use electric blankets set on low heat, seems to keep the oil in a Brenkert flowing!!

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 09-10-2014, 03:55 AM:

Two drive-ins over this way with Barcos don't do anything except put the lens cap on the lens during the winter months.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 09-10-2014, 04:32 AM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser
The time honored system in drive ins is to use a light bulb, 15-20 watts in the BOTTOM of the rack, the soundhead, and in the lamphouse.

What a bad, bad suggestion, Louis!

These damned bulbs waste up to 5% of their energy consumption on visible light which is lost to heating the rack. There must be more efficient options!

- Carsten

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 09-10-2014, 05:28 AM:

quote: Dave Marlow
I Talked to a guy that runs a Drive-In that was using a heater made by Sonic for projectors all our electronics sit underneath the projector, I have never seen one, I thought it might be worth looking into.

If you say Sonic, the first thing I think off is that blue hedgehog thing from Sega or burgers and fries. [Wink]

What are you using now? A heater? If not, did you ever check how low it actually goes? That 25 deg. F doesn't really sound that shocking, depending on how well your building is isolated I guess.

While it might just work, the idea of wrapping a projector in an electric blanket doesn't make me feel good. Especially because what happens if that thing short circuits or otherwise malfunctions and causes damage from overheating or even fire?

Sure, an (electric) heater could also malfunction and start a fire, but that thing isn't wrapped around your expensive equipment, there is still some distance between your equipment and that device.

Besides that, I'm not sure if an electric blanket will save power in the end. A heater can be regulated to keep the temperature just above freezing. If that happens just a few times in a year, the total power usage should be low. Can you do the same with a heating blanket? Will it not just constantly drain some power while trying to make the projector feel cozy and warm?

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 09-10-2014, 07:52 AM:

Marcel: 25 degrees F. BELOW zero. (-25F) That is cold!

Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 09-10-2014, 12:15 PM:

In the music industry we used a Dampp-Chaser to control humidity. It is very hard on wooden keys and mechanisms with wood,leather and felt all glued together.

They also made heaters for clothes closets and cupboards. Here the problem was control of mold and mildew.

Look here for more information.

http://www.dampp-chaser.com/home.php

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 09-10-2014, 03:01 PM:

quote:
25 degrees F. BELOW zero. (-25F) That is cold!

Meh.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-10-2014, 03:16 PM:

Even -25 would never be that cold inside of a building.

A little space heater in the booth would keep it livable for a projector, I would think, if the booth was sealed up well.

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 09-10-2014, 06:12 PM:

What kind of projector are we actually talking about? A 35mm projector or a digital one? I could see how you could wrap a digital projector in some kind of blanket, but your average 35mm projector and lamphouse?

quote:
Marcel: 25 degrees F. BELOW zero. (-25F) That is cold!

Yeah, I misread that, why not just put a minus sign in front of it? And, yes -25 deg. F is pretty cold.

And on a personal rant, you really should switch to the metric system, it sounds even colder in degrees Celsius!

Ah, and we could finally take the U.S. off of the Measured Axis of Evil (now only containing U.S.A, Burma and Liberia, say hi to your metric-avoidance-coalition [Smile]

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 09-10-2014, 11:02 PM:

On metric conversion...

I know some Canadians that said they weren't used to doing everything in kg when we all moved overseas; they said they only knew their weight in lbs. Think it was people from around Toronto.

And in the UK, they sell gas in liters but their cars have their fuel usage in miles per gallon and they still use stones+pounds...

Posted by Steve Matz (Member # 1890) on 09-10-2014, 11:16 PM:

These Portable little ceramic Space Heaters put out a lot of heat for their Physical Size. This LASKO Model takes up minimal room and should generate enough heat for your Booth

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-11-2014, 09:32 AM:

Well, Sonic... That says a lot right there. Now that they are done with digital conversions they are trying to drum up business of some sort... anything. They were SO RUDE to our people at the last RMT Convention when the NC-900 came out. They knew there was no way they could price compete and we did indeed take away many of the sites they had quotes out on. Too bad Sonic!

None of the drive ins I converted do anything except install a lens cap and cover the equipment with a tarp. It still needs to breathe, so shrink wrap is not re- commended. The glycol in the cooling systems is the good stuff and it isn't gonna freeze. Have your technician come out late spring and get the system back up and running and updated.

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 09-11-2014, 11:16 AM:

quote:
Well, Sonic... That says a lot right there. Now that they are done with digital conversions they are trying to drum up business of some sort... anything. They were SO RUDE to our people at the last RMT Convention when the NC-900 came out. They knew there was no way they could price compete and we did indeed take away many of the sites they had quotes out on. Too bad Sonic!

So, this Sonic operating as Sonic Equipment I guess? Not some kind of heating blanked manufacturer [Wink]

? I suppose they just use an off-the-shelf electric blanket then?

quote: Chris Slycord
I know some Canadians that said they weren't used to doing everything in kg when we all moved overseas; they said they only knew their weight in lbs. Think it was people from around Toronto.

And in the UK, they sell gas in liters but their cars have their fuel usage in miles per gallon and they still use stones+pounds...

Yeah, old habits die hard. It's like when they switched from a whole bunch of local currencies to that Euro thing we all love and cherish so much, about a year or 11 ago over here in Europe. The first years you're constantly converting stuff in your head, but that goes away after a while. But, once you took the pain and switched from measuring speed in the length of someones feet per fortnight to an integrated system that actually makes some sense, a whole new world of logic embraces you [Wink]

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 09-11-2014, 02:50 PM:

Take the projector home for Blu-ray duty. [Wink]

Posted by Cassie Cole (Member # 8490) on 09-22-2014, 01:26 PM:

Sonic Equipment Company sells a Hibernator that goes over the projector and pedestal. These are manufactured by Kneisley. It is 90% more efficient than a space heater. You can get pricing by calling the office at 800-365-5701 or emailing sales@sonicequipment.com.

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 09-26-2014, 03:02 AM:

quote: Dave Marlow
Does anyone know where I can order a heating blanket to cover a digital projector so I don't have to heat the projector room during the winter months?
Thanks Dave

Do you have an update on what you have done?

Posted by Timothy Eiler (Member # 383) on 10-14-2014, 03:12 PM:

After what it cost me for the digital equipment. I insulated the 2 booths and heated them all winter to 50 degrees. My most expensive month last winter cost only $48.00.

Posted by David Buckley (Member # 2600) on 10-14-2014, 04:42 PM:

The ongoing council upgrade to our Town Hall projection room for digital includes a heat pump, that will, apparently, keep the room at 19C all year round.

Posted by David J Hilsgen (Member # 2614) on 12-02-2014, 05:50 AM:

I agree with Tim, at my drive in, in long prairie, i have 2- 8' baseboards 1 is a back up, plus the heat pump from the air conditioner system & a generator in case, power fails plus a alarm that calls out, if the temp falls below 50. i keep it between 55-60.cost about 80.00 a month, i don`t want any frost forming on any circuit boards. last winter i recorded a -62 below windshield outside of the booth.plus i can call in, any time and see what the temp is.