“The
fresnel was old to begin with, it is one of the originals from the school. They won't buy us new lighting equipment at all.” - falcon
The
Fresnel fixture has not changed much over the years so upgrades to it is often not cost effective in any real sense.
Wolf & Mayhem - Outstanding info
falcon - was it the lamp that exploded that caused the
lens to break away or the
lens itself with lamp intact? What model and brand of luminarie? (Answered as a
Altman 165Q) What specific lamp were you using (?BTN) and given it’s
fixture maintenance, who was the last one to clean the
lens - and most importantly, with what?
“Small noise, and then the lights flickered” - that’s telling but without reference
point, did the
filament break in now becoming an arc lamp that caused explosion, and if so since a normal
Fresnel lens is designed to be sufficient to hold in this explosion, what was the defect in the
lens or it’s care and using a
fixture with a cracked
lens before this breakage that caused the
lens to subsiquentially break? Two different things here, first the described explosion, and given this, the breaking of the
lens.
“165Q’s” The focus
rail type, now there is something I learned about just this weekend. Didn't think they made any of this type.
I might think that the cracked lenses are in part due to some residue left on the
lens from say bad ideas on how to clean them. Hard to say as to the cause of the
lens cracking, could have been many issues including bad lenses
etc. That’s a direct to
Altman question in furnishing data with what lot number the lenses were. They might replace them due to past problems with that lot of lenses, probably will not. Can be many issues that cause a
lens to crack including cold/wet lenses
etc.
In my tiime on the
stage, I’m yet to have a
Fresnel lens crack (not chip and still work) so I can’t say.
Don't know what caused your
lens to crack and later break as expected, perhaps in some only worth while concept to watching CSI-what ever, you than learn the trade in analizing all info as to what caused it to happen and how to prevent it. Investigate all similar fixtures, try to re-produce the results
etc. in finding the real answer. Until than, speculation is speculation as to what each of us have seen. Might or might not be the cause specific to your case. Follow the scientific theory.
“I've had
Altman 6" lenses on their 1K6AF units crack in half.
The
lens came with the
unit, which is a 1000
watt rated
unit. I was using 1000w BTR's.
Altman informed me that I needed to install Fibertek insulators between the lense and the retaining clip, they sent me the insulators for free, but did not replace the lenses and declined to pay for the labor.
Last
Altman fresnels I buy.” - SteveB
I normally replace or install various fiber insulators between
lens and clip. Such insulators don't last for ever and need replacement with probably each time you remove the
lens. Just part of doing a high temperature
fixture and retaining it's
lens. Lenses at high temperature with failed insulators would tend to fail in use otherwise. Just something about lenses and how they are retained I expect.
I hope this due to labor reimbersement or an upgrade would not
send you away from one
line of
fixture over another.
This would be a shame.
Altman sending the upgrade for free as opposed to me paying $100.00 each for a different Studio
Fresnel upgrade kit that was heavily discounted in dealer cost is a excellent price.
If the cause of the lenses breaking - in something I have not seen with my own 1K6AF
fixture is because of how the
lens is retained, they than would not need to replace the
lens given it’s upgrade to mounting. Much less, now let’s speak brass tacks here, would you really just
throw out the now extra lenses?
As for labor in installing the free upgrade... , I might say some, but in the end it’s not the policy of any company to pay you the labor for the upgrade to the
fixture that was the best attempt at the time for them and found to be in need of re-design.
How many people than could charge for upgraded lamp bases and reflectors to the
360Q series of
fixture that was designed as good as it could be for it's day?
Sorry but it’s not a new car. Read your
manual/contract. With us it’s a constant battle as the only (at some
point) official
Martin repair shop to get labor for upgrades reimbursed, and it’s limited specific reimbursement at that, given very specific paperwork filed.
This given one of two besides them authorized service shops. Are you a authorized
Altman Service Center? Only those companies recognized by the dealer/service center can make upgrades to the gear if such a thing is taken to specifics of paying for labor. They might pay for my labor as more pain in their rear than worth it, but I am a pain in their rear on a monthly basis anyway and am the test market for the upgrade kits. I don’t charge for labor in an upgrade, it’s part of the development of the
fixture. On the other
hand, were I to charge for my labor it might at some
point be more a payoff of dispute than reality in a actual paying for labor type of way. They don't pay for labor, it's really rare anyone will. Get over it and concentrate on the
fixture.
My 1K
Fresnel fixture don't stay in focus, that's a design flaw. That's a deciding factor in not buying more not arguing about labor when parts are provided.
Should you wish you can privately sue the engineer that developed the gear
Altman, and UL to re-coop your losses in labor as a separate issue but it will probably be thrown out of court. Such gear upgrades is a
safety thing and they were as normal at best doing right by you in providing the repair parts for free.
I have the only attempt by them at a #5000L upgrade kit for resale on a shelf at the shop. This after a very long and + $6K smaller wattage
Fresnel upgrade kit for other fixtures. It did not work with all fixtures in standardized mounting holes, and in general had problems.
Instead, we paid shipping one way, and they paid the other way to upgrade the other 5000L fixtures in our inventory to the second upgrade to the
fixture directly at the factory in doing so. Upgrades come from the factory or authorized service centers if you wish for them, or in providing you the parts allow you to save money on the factory upgrade.
As a semi-authorized service center, I might have been able to charge them with my labor for your fixtures, but still will have had you as also normal pay for shipping, it's not the local Ford Dealer. Sorry, but that’s just the way it is in servicing upgrades. You won’t find any better in a free upgrade however no matter the brand. Nobody would pay my as per Union Lead Electrician’s salary to upgrade their gear as opposed to that of a high school kid’s salary in upgrading the same gear. Get the
point here in part in why they don’t pay for your labor to gear bought “as is” and functioning well to the best of their design and UL listing in testing?
Sorry but I fear you are on the wrong
track with this
Altman dispute. They did the best they could in sending parts for free as not otherwise normal to the end user. Given this, and it is gear bought "as is" up to the design tecnology and UL Listing testing of the equipment of the time safe to use.
Altman's a compan, and while I might not buy more 1K
Fresnel fixtures due to a smaller beam spread, upgrades to it is more benefit to me in having a money saving solution that saves money on repair parts than worrying about who pays for it. I assure you that nobody pays you to upgrade the gear you buy unless you go
thru legal or dealer/authorized service center loops.
Heck, Inkie can attest to my having to go up to the top of 55 story buildings at times to fix or replace or upgrade even architectural lighting fixtures that don't live up to warranty. Parts are provided once you fight for them, but labor is assumed. Same as that 1 in 90 lamps that fails before it's rated hours. Can you charge the company both for its "expected life" and for labor in changing, or if almost that expect any compensation?