T R O U B L E S
General
If this equipment, is properly maintained it should rarely give trouble in operation.
All the information given in this division has been carefully prepared on the basis of operating experience gained with large numbers of theatres, and you should make yourself familiar with it so that you can quickly locate and remedy troubles, and continue a program with the minimum of interruption if trouble arises during a show.
Whenever trouble occurs, use the emergency equipment or emergency set-up if one is provided, and endeavor to locate and remedy the difficulty, if possible, by following the instructions given here. If you are unable to do so, notify our nearest representative by telephone, telegraph, or registered mail. Do not attempt extensive repair or replacement work on the equipment, as this usually requires expert knowledge and we maintain service engineers who are quickly available for this purpose.
In this connection, attention is drawn to the following clauses of our standard contract with theatres:
"2.....Nothing herein contained, however, shall be construed as prohibiting the Exhibitor from taking all reasonable steps, consistent with the general intent hereof, either alone or together with Products, to protect, correct, or repair the Equipment in the event of an accident or breakdown... The Exhibitor expressly agrees
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TROUBLES
General
that if at any time the Equipment fails to function satisfactorily, it will immediately notify Products by registered mail and telegraph, and the absence of such notification shall be conclusive as to satisfactory functioning of the Equipment".
The installation has fuses at the following points:
Motor Control Box (10 amp. plug fuses on AC) (15 amp. plug fuses on DC)
Battery Panel ( See illustration ) Box for Film Dry Batteries (1 amp. midget fuses)
Horn Cutout Box (Backstage-3 amp. plug fuses)
The 46-A amplifier has two 3 ampere plug fuses. When one of these fuses burns out, replace it, by a new fuse of the same type, as covered in the instructions which follow, but if it blows a second time, do not renew it until the cause of the trouble has been found and remedied.
Before removing the rear cover of any piece of amplifier equipment, be sure to turn off the power and keep it off till the cover is replaced. Also switch off the power on the battery switching and charging panel before replacing any fuses.
If all conditions appear normal, and still no sound is heard from the horns, and no relief is afforded by any of the procedures that will be described, the indications are that a break or short circuit exists somewhere in the sound circuit. In this case listen in with the headset along with this circuit, starting at the disc or film pick-up with a record playing, and working on towards the horns until the location of the fault is shown by coming to a spot beyond which nothing is heard.
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T R O U B L E S
General
Be sure to use very little gain, as otherwise the headset will be overloaded and possibly damaged, and the quality will be spoilt. Use the same method to locate the source of noise or bad quality.
Use a battery and buzzer to test lines for opens or shorts, but NEVER to test amplifier or reproducer circuits, as this may upset the magnetic characteristics of the coils.
On some amplifiers two or more tubes are operated with their filaments in series; if one tube burns out, the others will then be extinguished. If two or more tubes go dark at once, therefore, it should be realized that only one has burnt out. This tube may be located by inspection, or the replacing tube can be tried in each socket in turn.
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T R O U B L E S
Troubles Occurring When Testing
Charger Not Functioning(AC Supply Only)
On charger used with AC supply, if a rectifier bulb does not light, it may be burned out or a fuse may have blown. Examine fuses inside charger and if one is blown, replace it. If fuses are good, clean tube socket. If tube still does not light, replace 1t by one of spares supplied.
Motor Does Not Start
l. Is line switch on?
2. Fuse may have blown in motor control box.
Reading on Synchronous Motor Control Box Meter Not Within Specified Limits
If reading is too high, on AC, or too low, on DC, it indicates excessive friction at some point in mechanism. If this is not attended to immediately a bearing may freeze, rendering a projector temporarily useless. Stop machine and oil all bearings immediately abnormal reading is noted on meter, particularly any bearing that seems unduly hot. If projector is a Simplex with disc pick-up only, give special attention to horizontal bearing of upper gear box. Make sure it is well lubricated, by filling grease cup and screwing it down till grease is seen coming out, beside pinion inside projector head. If trouble persists, notify our service man at once.
Synchronous Motor Does Not Maintain Regulated Speed
Notify our service engineer at once.
Unsteady Pitch in Reproducing ("Flutter")
With film reproduction, there may be dirt on the sprocket in the film compartment of the attachment. If this cause does not exist, notify our service engineer at once.
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T R O U B L E S
Troubles Occurring When Testing
Reproducer Not Tracking Properly
This occurs when needle jumps from groove. See that reproducer is not dragging on record (See "Replacements-Changing Reproducers") and that it is not hitting rest or otherwise being hindered from free movement. Put in new needle. Try new record. If trouble is persistent, block up reproducer arm by inserting small piece of rubber eraser between under side of arm at rear end and pivot base, so as to raise reproducer clear of record and allow it to swing freely by itself. It should either not tend to swing at all, or should have slight tendency to move towards outer edge of record. If reproducer swings too much, loosen nut underneath bracket to which horizontal swivel base is clamped, and level up bracket so that reproducer swings properly.
Excessive Plate Current
If this is noticed on testing the amplifiers, replace the tube showing this condition by a spare.
No Sound From One Horn
l. Short circuit may have occurred in receiver magnet winding and blown fuse in this line in cutout box back-stage.
2. Line or receiver may be open circuited.
If fuse in cutout box has not blown and sound current and magnetizing current circuits to receiver are not open, replace receiver as described under "Replacements-Changing Receivers".
No Volume From Any Of Horns
1. Are all necessary horn and amplifier switches turned on?
2. One of amplifier tubes may be burnt out. If so, replace with a spare of same type.
3. One horn may have short in line or winding through which sound current passes, thereby causing others to receive no power. Turn off all horns by means of keys on output control panel, or if these are not provided, then by means of switches in horn cutout box backstage,
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T R O U B L E S
Troubles Occurring When Testing
No Volume From Any Of Horns
and then try to locate bad receiver by turning horns on and off one at a time. They should all give volume except bad one.
4. Cheek reproducers by switching from one to the other on fader. If one is bad, replace as described under "Replacements". if neither gives any sound, check fader and circuit by means of headset.
5. If none of horns give any volume, possibly fuses in horn supply circuit from battery have blown.
6. If all fuses are in good condition and all current and voltage readings normal, probably there is an open circuit or short circuit somewhere in the system. Check amplifiers by trying emergency amplifiers, if included in equipment. Try to locate fault with headset, as described under "Troubles-General".
Poor Quality or Noisy Output
This may be due to any of the following:
1. Defective receiver. Test horns one by one, as described in paragraph #2 of previous section "No Volume from Any of Horns".
2. Defective reproducer. Test reproducers as described in paragraph #4 of previous section. See that film is not scratched or dirty.
3. Burnt.out amplifier or rectifier tube. Replace with spare of same type.
4. Storage batteries dirty on top. See that they are kept clean, as specified under "Running Storage Batteries".
Storage batteries put in use too soon after charging, while still gassing. About half an hour is required for gassing to cease completely.
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T R O U B L E S
Troubles Occurring When Testing
Poor Quality or Noisy Output
Storage battery connections loose. Keep them tight, as specified under "Running Storage Batteries".
5. Bad grid battery. Check grid batteries and replace any reading below 4 volts, as described under "Replacements-Changing Grid Batteries".
6. Poor ground, or loose connection at some point in system. Examine connections and tighten any found loose. If trouble still unsolved, use headset as described under "Troubles-General".
Observer's Equipment Does Not Function
If not loud enough to enable observer and operator to hear each other, or if buzzer is weak or inoperative, make sure batteries are in good condition. Replace batteries in same manner as already described for amplifier grid batteries, under "Replacements-Changing Grid Batteries". Open battery box by loosening screw in cover. If trouble not here, check line for shorts or opens.
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T R O U B L E S
Troubles Occurring During Show
Film Breaks (Film Reproduction)
As synchronism between picture and sound is inherent in the film, no loss of synchronism is occasioned by a break. Therefore, deal with a broken sound film the same as with an ordinary film in the same circumstances.
Volume Falls Off During Show (Film Reproduction)
This is due to exciting lamp getting out of focus, or to dirt clogging apertures adjoining film. As soon as reel is through, adjust and clean in accordance with instructions under "Operation". See that filament has not begun to sag.
The photo-electric cell has a metallic coating on the inside, except at one place where a round window is left for the light to enter. This window must line up with the opening in the light gate. It is possible for the projector vibration to loosen the cell in its holder and cause the window to get out of line. If low volume is persistent, check this point and if necessary put cell back in proper position and tighten clamping screws.
Be sure the photo-electric cell does not touch the frame of the compartment at any point.
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T R O U B L E S
Troubles Occurring During Show
Film Breaks (Disc Reproduction)
Douse light, turn fader to zero, and stop motor. The next step will depend on whether the break is above the intermittent or below it, and whether the picture is a feature accompanied only by music or whether it is a short subject.
Splice broken films as described under "Replacements-Patching Film". Break Below Intermittent - Short Subject, or Feature.
Run down film needed for winding around take-up by revolving motor flywheel by hand. Do not disturb film at aperture plate, or record and reproducer. Continue run, bringing fader to regular setting as soon as full speed is reached.
Synchronism will usually be maintained under these conditions. However, since audience will lose some of the subject, it is generally better in the case of short subjects not to wait for restarting as just described, but, to continue performance immediately by showing next, subject, which is set up on other machine. In meantime broken film can be repaired and shown again at conclusion of number which is running on other machine. If break was near end of reel it may not be worth while returning to subject.
Break Above Intermittent, - Short Subject
In this case it is not possible to continue on broken film without losing synchronism, and there is therefore no option except to continue program with next number which is set up on other machine.
Break Above intermittent - Feature Picture
Rethread and continue as previously described for break below intermittent. Synchronism is usually lost, under these conditions, but, this can be tolerated in an emergency, for part of a feature reel, unless there is a direct cue in record, such as a knock, voice or cheers. In such a case, pass over cue with fader on zero.
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T R O U B L E S
Troubles Occurring During Show
Needle Jumps Groove
If the needle jumps back the sound will repeat, and may keep on repeating at every revolution of the record. If the needle jumps forward, the sound will be ahead of the picture. The procedure will depend on the character of the film and on where the jump occurs. Any record on which the needle has jumped must never be used again. Bring fader to zero immediately jump is noticed; the next procedure will depend on circumstances, as directed below:
Short Subject
Stop machine in regular manner and continue with next subject from other machine. Rethread film and repeat as soon as subject on other machine is finished, unless jump occurred so near end of subject that it is not worth while repeating.
Before using reproducer again, see that it is moving freely, as already covered under "Troubles When Testing - Reproducer Not Tracking Properly".
Feature Picture
Keep projector running, and look over reproducer quickly to see if there is any visible cause for jump, such as reproducer body dragging on record, or reproducer hitting something that prevents it from moving freely. If so, remove obstacle or change reproducer (See "Replacements -Changing Reproducers"). This, of course, involves loss of accompaniment for remainder of reel.
If no cause for trouble is evident, then, if needle jumped back, change needle, move reproducer over to a position two or three grooves ahead of where it was when it jumped, and restore
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T R O U B L E S
Troubles Occurring During Show
Needle Jumps Groove
Feature Picture
fader to its regular setting. If needle jumped forward, and if it now seems to be tracking properly, restore fader to regular setting. If needle jumps again, and in any case before using reproducer on next, reel, test it for free movement as described under "Troubles - When Testing - Reproducer Not Tracking Properly".
Synchronism is lost when record is continued after needle has jumped, so in such cases if there are any direct cues in picture, such as knocks, voices, cheers, etc., fader must, be put down to zero when passing over them.
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T R O U B L E S
Troubles Occurring During Show
Quality Goes Bad or Noisy
l. Switch over to emergency system, or emergency set-up, if included in installation.
2. If this does not cure trouble, it may be due to one of receivers having become defective. If separate output control key is provided for each horn, turn off and then on again each horn in operation so that defective one can be located and kept off.
Amplifier or rectifier tube may be burnt out. Replace with new one of same type.
4. If trouble still continues, it is probably in reproducer. On short subject, go on to next machine.
On feature picture, nothing can be done except wait, until end of picture and then change reproducer, or if noise is too bad, cut out music and change reproducer immediately, as covered. under "Replacements-Changing Reproducers".
Output Ceases
1. Switch over to emergency system or emergency setup, it included in installation.
2. Amplifier tube may be burnt out. If so, replace by spare of same type.
3. If this does not cure trouble, and if all filaments are lit and plate currents normal, return to regular set-up, and by means of horn keys on output panel, if available, turn off and then on again each horn in turn. If trouble is due to a short circuited receiver, when that receiver. is turned off volume will come back to normal on others.
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