Correction: HID conversion kit for Elmo GS-1200/ST-1200 available from The Reel Image

[Simon McConway]

Dominique is absolutely right. On the GS1200, the douser arrangement is perfect for the HID lamp needing to be lit all of the time. On the Elf, the douser is already there too. You simply pull down the clutch and the dowser prevents damage to the film. I actually wired a simple relay to the mains switch on the Elf, so that the lamp is switched on exactly as it would be if the old halogen lamp was fitted. To rewind, you simply pull down the clutch, lift the rewind lever, and off you go with the lamp remaining on. The only flaw...in reverse, you'd need to go to "off" first, thus the lamp would need to go off too. But, as an old cinema projectionist once warned me, no projector should be used to reverse film! Just his opinion. And he was good friends with Glen Miller!

[Douglas Meltzer]

Due to a misunderstanding on my part, I titled this topic incorrectly. The HID conversion kit available from The Reel Image is for the Elmo models GS-1200 & ST-1200, not for Eumig projectors as I originally wrote. I apologize to all for my mistake, particularly to the projectors themselves who do not appreciate being mistaken for each other.

As Alan Gouger mentioned, the kit includes a 150 watt Xenpow lamp, all in one ballast/starter, project box, power cable, on/off switch, rubber feet for project box, spool of wire and instructions.

The total cost of the kit is $290 ($225 plus $65 for the lamp).

Please email or call Steve if interested. This product is not currently on the website.

[Brian Fretwell]

Usually machines that can do still frame projection have a filter that can be changed for a metal plate to form a douser.

[Paul Browning]

I have tested a motor car hid lamp with an external power supply with the gs1200 , and this arrangement was almost as bright as the standard beaulieu 708, as measured at the screen. In its standard setup the beaulieu is much brighter, but hid lamp temperature gives it the edge over the 708. Lamps are relatively cheap, just need to modify the lamp reflector, in my case i used a spent fuji lamp, correct one for the elmo gs. There are other options too, look for martin lighting as the do a range of night club lights that use hid lamps, and can be picked up cheap as chips on ebay, lamp also now from china cheap too. These lights come we all you need inside to retro fit into any projector..........

[Graham Ritchie]

Fantastic everyone

The screen size Brian looks about right, If the image is not in any way washed out on that size, then I think a HID conversion for home use would be fine. "being to bright was my main concern" One thing I notice is when dividing wattage by volts, the amps drawn would be very low compared to a Xenon lamp, even the common 24v 200/250watt would appear to draw more amps, glad to hear that it works fine when fitted to most projectors.

Just curious what is the lamp used for?

Simon thanks for that link, it does appear though, to show the lamp giving a image to be more of a "cold blue look" is that the camera taking the video?

[Maurice Leakey]

Here are the two main items required for an HID 150 conversion:-

1) Xenpow HID-150 Discharge Lamp (stagesuperstore.co.uk)

2) Ventronic Electronic Square Cable Clamp 150 Watt (bltdirect.com)

My 16mm Bell & Howell 644 has these installed.

[Paul Adsett]

I am very tempted to get one of these kits, my only concern being the safety issue. We are dealing here with a 5KV ignition pulse so the wiring had better be right, there will be no second chances. So any advice on the safety aspects of this conversion would be greatly appreciated.

[Lee Mannering]

My Elmo HID GS1200 is fitted with a 2 blade shutter by our dear friend Mr Parsons and I converted it to HID in one afternoon. The Elmo's best friend my HID 860 Superlux Eumig it sits next to also has a 2 blade shutter I fitted (big job) and we all use the shutter blade as a dowser, but being a 2 blade on mine you have to know what you are doing if stopping mid show with only a second to scorch a frame. Works fine tho in the right hands and those who have purchased my machines seem to be getting on OK.
We did our Scope SW's screening on a big wall screen with the 860 in the end and it performed very well indeed, amazing for the old girl reely.

[Graham Ritchie]

Thanks Maurice for those links.

What caught my eye in one of them was the "Colour Temp Chart"

I had a close look at the lamp specs which states 6500 and when I looked at there chart, it looked to me that the lamp was giving out a blue tinge, not a pure white. I again looked at the you-tube video and just about every screen image showed it to be the same as that colour chart.

I am not knocking the HID conversion, each to there own. I have even tried 12volt HID car conversion a while back, but returned to my usual Osram Xenophot ELC because I did not like the look of the HID light on the screen, so I "have" tried different things over the years

Anyway I do feel its a interesting subject and advice on safety like Paul mentioned above is important so hopefully folk here will continue to discuss this on this subject of HID.

PS. Here is that colour chart I was talking about and look at where the 6500 lines up.

My apology to Stuart as it was his link to the video not Simon

[Thomas Knappstein]

Graham did you test your Conversion with the Osram 64655 EHJ 24V250W Two base Pin Lamp in your cutted Mirror?
How was the Result on the Screen?

[Lee Mannering]

Hi Graham. That is the reel beauty of the HID lamp the blue hint that is. It has a hint but hardly visible so I would'nt rely so much on charts. With films pinking it reely helps and have to say my old Derann B&W films from the 70's look gorgeous with the lamp. The irony is is I regularly came into contact with these lamps having to adjust my cameras filming pro stage shows/DJ around the country using HID for stage lighting but it never crossed my mind to try one in a projector. Preoccupied I guess.

I'm going to take my own HID Eumig to a UK film fair so they can see it in action. I'll leave the HID Elmo at home as its getting heavy with the extra ad on's.

Over here much respected Bill Parsons is the HID man and great with Elmo machines 2 blade shutters and the like, we have been blessed in the UK with some talented repair specialists.

[Maurice Leakey]

Following on from Lee's comments I would say that the blue tinge is only really apparent if there is no film and you have a clear screen.
With black & white films there is a "punch" in the image, Technicolor looks just like the cinemas of yesteryear, and as Lee says, it does help a lot with colour fade or even pink films.

[Graham Ritchie]

Lee

You are indeed fortunate to have someone in the UK that can fix and modify projectors like the GS1200, you comment about the weight of the GS1200 made me as I was moving mine just the other day, and the first thought that came to mind....they are "HEAVY"....very "HEAVY"

[Dominique De Bast]

On the Elf, the douser is already there too. You simply pull down the clutch and the dowser prevents damage to the film. I actually wired a simple relay to the mains switch on the Elf, so that the lamp is switched on exactly as it would be if the old halogen lamp was fitted. To rewind, you simply pull down the clutch, lift the rewind lever, and off you go with the lamp remaining on. The only flaw...in reverse, you'd need to go to "off" first, thus the lamp would need to go off too. But, as an old cinema projectionist once warned me, no projector should be used to reverse film!

Simon, since the lamp has to stay on all the time, how do you do when you have to put another spool ? On my Eumig, the HDI lamp has its own on/off switch, so I can easily stop the forward mechanism, while the lamp and the fan are still on, to put another film (I have several empty take up spools ready, I use one for each film, to limit overheating risks and I rewind everything after the show on a separate rewinder). I wonder how you do on your system, if I understood well how it works, when you want to project a second film (or the second part of a film) with a short break.

[Lee Mannering]

On my Eumig HID self named by me HID 860 SuperLux in memory of the prototype 850 Xenon the beloved company came up with tho not produced you can switch the lamp on and off mid show if you choose but the manufacturer warns it will shorten its life somewhat. If you do switch is off and want to restart leave it 5 minutes and you will be able to restart it.
All the HID Eumigs I've sold have been PAT tested for safe use in public buildings as well. (UK Portable Appliance Testing)

When I give my forthcoming farmers field Camping show with my Eumig of cartoons I'll be splicing some old unexposed Kodachrome 40 between each cartoon as I like to say something about each one to the children and will guard against damage to prints if I miss the shutter stop. Its all about being a projectionist reely, sorry really and protecting our movies. A bit off topic but under 10's seem to enjoy Popeye the most which some of the parents even remember.

Yes Graham we have been blessed to have Mr Bill Parsons over here a gentleman who has been a great help to many like myself. Bill is pretty much semi retired now I believe and one of the good guys in our hobby.

Watched Jurassic Park on the Eumig yesterday and some of the new Scope REEL IMAGE releases on the Elmo HID side by side.
Really wonderful after all these years to be able to project Scope to this level at home isn't it.