Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003
posted September 15, 2015 03:04 PM
Tonight i was watching a film on my Elmo 1200HD. Some of you may be aware of my lens fungus question not too long ago. Well, that's been sorted, i put a poor contrast down to that problem without giving any thought at all to the bulb simply because the one that's in there is only a few months old. However, during a cartoon tonight the picture got dimmer and dimmer until the bulb went out. Upon removal i was well annoyed to see that one of the pins had broken off and was lodged in the bulb holder.Luckily with the aid of a pair of good long tweezers i got it out. Nothing appeared to be wrong with the contacts so i cleaned them up anyway with a little emery cloth and some electrical cleaner. Obviously i put an old cloth under to stop any bits going into the machine or film path then cleaned out the entire machine using compressed air. Popped in a new bulb and is well and my films are brighter than i can remember, almost like a new lens has been put in. Is this something any of you have encountered before? its a first for me but looking at how shiny and clean the pin still on the bulb is compared to the burnt out broken one. I've checked to ensure there is no arcing or sparking in the contacts & it all seems OK.
Posts: 540
From: Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
Registered: Nov 2013
posted September 15, 2015 03:25 PM
Hi Tom, Never happened to me but I can imagine how puzzling and annoying it was. Obviously the lamp pin got hotter and hotter before it eventually failed with the volts applied to the filament dropping progressively leading it getting dimmer before the circuit was broken. Either the lamp holder and pin made a poor contact but this is unlikely as I would expect to see blackening on the lamp holder or it was a manufacturing fault inside the lamp where the pin connects to the filament. I would say this was the most likely from your pictures. Your new lamp should be OK if the holder is all right. Run a long film and check all is well after an hour's operation. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012
posted September 15, 2015 05:36 PM
Its a simple fix. See past solutions, very well documented on here by myself and many many many others.... No Drama with this one!!
Oh for the power of research!!!!
-------------------- "C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"
The epilogue to this is you need to buy a decent replacement socket: I bought a cheapy and it died and took a lamp with it in about 6 months. After that I bought one recommended by the guy I buy my lamps from. Based on the experience I actually bought a couple of spares too.
While you are at it, make sure to clean the rear element of your lens as often as the front. I was astounded the difference this made.
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
-------------------- The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection, Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj
Posts: 92
From: Bellwood, IL USA
Registered: Dec 2010
posted September 16, 2015 12:57 PM
I had a similar problem, but not with the pin. My bulb turned into various colors: yellow, blue, black and burned out. I believed that somehow air got into the bulb, and blew.
Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003
posted September 16, 2015 02:54 PM
Does anyone know where you can get the complete socket with metal bracket so i can avoid having to do any modifications?