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Topic: Extending the life of the projector bulb.
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Gary Crawford
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted January 30, 2017 07:51 AM
Just like miles on your car, you'd be surprised how quick hours on a bulb add up. I'm not sure about this next statement, but someone once told me that bulb life in some cases is tested by turning it on and letting it go until it fails. This, as you know, would give a much longer life, in most cases, than turning the bulb on and off every 10 minute reel, etc.
That surge when turning on can shorten bulb life. That's why some machines like the Elmo's and some Eumigs, when you turn them on, send low level current to the bulb, making it just glow. Supposedly that extends the life of the bulb ..and I'm pretty sure it does. Even so, most bulbs burn out when you turn them on, and far fewer bulbs go dark in the middle of a film.
I would bet also that the cooling system in various projectors vary a lot. Poor fan circulation has to be factored in . And who knows under what conditions the bulb manufacturers tested and rated their bulbs.
I'm sure the engineers on the forum, like Steve Klare, know tons more about this than I do. I'm just speaking from over 50 years of collecting films and messing with all kinds of machines.
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Chip Gelmini
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1733
From: Brooksville, FL
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted January 30, 2017 08:51 AM
I could write a very big post about this, but do not have the time.
One reason why I like running super 8 so much is because I worked in cinema running 35mm for 32 years. Here on the job, there were procedures in the booth per company policy that were done. These tasks kept the equipment in pristine condition if the guys did the work and the company followed through with replacing the parts as required.
One procedure from work which I adapted to super 8 was lamphouse maintenance. Whereas, we kept records of bulb installations, opened up and cleaned the lamphouse once per month, recorded on index cards total of hours burned, and so on. As bulbs darkened we replaced them. During inspection they were rotated so the anode and cathode (the points between the flame) burned evenly. This reduced the flicker.
At home running the GS 1200 and the standard EFR bulb I generally do the same thing. Modified given the smaller format.
Things you can do regardless of your setup:
1. Maximize your reels. Fill them safely to the allowed capacity.
2. Run with changeovers to keep the show going. Less breaks means less lamp on and off.
3. At the end of a given evening, record on a calendar or a spreadsheet with gridlines on a clipboard that you ran a show.
4. When the calendar or spread sheet has one half the total bulb life, consider an early inspection.
5. Upon inspection:
a. if the bulb reflector is pitted or fogged
b. if the filiament glass is dark
c. replace the bulb
d. if running with changeover replace both bulbs
e. when ordering bulbs get the same kind brand name
f. running with changeovers keeps the switch over at equal brightness when the brands are identical
Now all of you might find this ridiculous to do. But let me tell you in 25 years of running super 8 since I adapted these procedures I have NEVER EVER EVER lost a bulb during the reel or show.
If a bulb is rated at 50 hours and I discard it at 35, I would rather eat the cost and gain a brighter non-problematic image. Especially when the bulbs are under $20.00 a piece.
And by the way, I change bulbs about once every 2 years on average.
If it works at the multiplex, it does work at home.
I could go on a little more, but you get the point. Ask questions if you have them.
Seriously guys. This works.
Chip Gelmini
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Mathew James
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 740
From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Dec 2014
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posted January 30, 2017 09:02 AM
Real valuable advice here!!
I am no expert by any means, but so far my bulbs have run pretty long and i do run film quite a bit... Chips tips(hey, that has a good ring to it..."Chip's Tips") are very good indeed to try! I have switched to osram bulbs on all mine.
One thing is that i always run the fan to cool the bulb during and after play.
What i mean is, on my elmoST1200HD for example, you can either turn the machine off completely whilst changing reels or at the end or projection, or you can keep it in fan-on mode(neutral).
I am not sure if this works to prolong the bulb, but i cant see how it hurts to keep things cool. I run my fan after projection until i put my hand above and no more air is blowing warm.
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Cheers,
Matt 📽
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