I started putting my box together the last couple days. Having to rework my measurements is midway through after a bad cut is always fun. Got my projection lens hardware today, as well as eyed a proview 15.4" lcd (1280x800) for $200 at Staples, but decided against using the visa.
Got home, started mounting my mogul socket, and decided it was time to test my electronics to make sure that they still worked. So I temporarily wired up the bulb to see just how much light this puts out. By temporarily, I mean clipped together some pieces of wire (grounds, AC, and the ballast outputs) and tied it into a powerstrip to use as a switch. Then I hit the power on
Took like 5-6 seconds for it to turn on, maybe even longer. And when it did it wasn't the light of a million suns that I was expecting. Sure staring at it for a while would've probably caused a problem, but the welding goggles I was using had no point at all.
Did I do something wrong? Does the ballast output(I'm using the Lumen Lab one) matter which point on the bulb is connected too? Do my connections have to be stronger?
Got home, started mounting my mogul socket, and decided it was time to test my electronics to make sure that they still worked. So I temporarily wired up the bulb to see just how much light this puts out. By temporarily, I mean clipped together some pieces of wire (grounds, AC, and the ballast outputs) and tied it into a powerstrip to use as a switch. Then I hit the power on
Took like 5-6 seconds for it to turn on, maybe even longer. And when it did it wasn't the light of a million suns that I was expecting. Sure staring at it for a while would've probably caused a problem, but the welding goggles I was using had no point at all.
Did I do something wrong? Does the ballast output(I'm using the Lumen Lab one) matter which point on the bulb is connected too? Do my connections have to be stronger?
You may have a weak/faulty starter.
When I flick the switch on my rig (150w cdmt) it starts immediatley. The first on is quite bright for a moment, then it dims and the bulb takes about 3 minutes to heat up to full brightness.
If its very bright after a few minutes its still ok, but im not sure why it would take seconds to start??
When I flick the switch on my rig (150w cdmt) it starts immediatley. The first on is quite bright for a moment, then it dims and the bulb takes about 3 minutes to heat up to full brightness.
If its very bright after a few minutes its still ok, but im not sure why it would take seconds to start??
the lumenlab kit doesn't have a starter, but I translated the instructions from english to english(from the original chinese). I think my mistake was having the light and ballast power at the same time. Must the ballast be powered on first, then set up another switch for the light?
I think I've figured everything else out - the frames are going to use some sort of vinyl track used for windows, only grasps a bit of the screen. This was after trying to cut a groove. My inside dimension is 15 inches tall by 14 inches wide. The lens is 12.5 inches wide, meaning each side must be placed 1.25 inches inside. Sounds easy, but my carpentry skills suck, lots of error involved.
After I have my frames figured out-also need to place my piece of lexan (and the lcd), the last step is setting up the projection lens which judging by how many bumps I've had so far, I bet will be a bitch too.
Oh I am taking pictures as I go, hope to have them up someday - I estimate another weekend or so before I'm set to go.
I think I've figured everything else out - the frames are going to use some sort of vinyl track used for windows, only grasps a bit of the screen. This was after trying to cut a groove. My inside dimension is 15 inches tall by 14 inches wide. The lens is 12.5 inches wide, meaning each side must be placed 1.25 inches inside. Sounds easy, but my carpentry skills suck, lots of error involved.
After I have my frames figured out-also need to place my piece of lexan (and the lcd), the last step is setting up the projection lens which judging by how many bumps I've had so far, I bet will be a bitch too.
Oh I am taking pictures as I go, hope to have them up someday - I estimate another weekend or so before I'm set to go.
I don't have the electronic ballast (magnetic is what I have), but I can just plug mine into the wall with everything else hooked up and it lights right up. Make sure the bulb is seated in the socket well. My first try, I got nothing but a hum because I didn't get the bulb in the socket far enough. Check connections, fuses, wires, etc..
and I finally had some more time to mess with this today. I went out and bought proper connectors from radioshack, came home, then found out I didn't have wire heavy enough to use said connectors (Mogul Base comes with 14ga, Ballast 18ga - all I had was 14ga and 22ga wire). So made another trip and bought an excessive amount of 18ga wire. I put everything but my rocker switches together with nice solid connections. Safe too - no exposed metal. Then I flipped on the power strip and 15-20 seconds later it started to power up.
Takes a helluva long time to power up, but when it did it just kept getting brighter and brighter, last weekend my father laughed at me when I bought the welding goggles, but we'll see who's laughing now. The smell of freshly cut plywood filled my nose. My thermometer read 130 degrees with the probe about an inch away from the center of the bulb. The lumenlab ballast is very quiet, could it be that 18ga wire holding me back?
Still waiting on my LCD. I've devised a method of holding the fresnels and lcd, but have to wait until sunday to build them. After 2+ months of planning, I am finally making progress.
Takes a helluva long time to power up, but when it did it just kept getting brighter and brighter, last weekend my father laughed at me when I bought the welding goggles, but we'll see who's laughing now. The smell of freshly cut plywood filled my nose. My thermometer read 130 degrees with the probe about an inch away from the center of the bulb. The lumenlab ballast is very quiet, could it be that 18ga wire holding me back?
Still waiting on my LCD. I've devised a method of holding the fresnels and lcd, but have to wait until sunday to build them. After 2+ months of planning, I am finally making progress.
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