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sunray

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Just received a phone call scrounging my Patt 23's which are on their way. A Showtec Profile 26' was being focussed and the front end has fallen off, they describe it as 'everything forward of the hanging bracket but not including shutters'.

Fortunately it landed in a box of costumes, so 'not damaged' but they can't make it fit back on.

I have had only a little experience of using these and don't know them intimately by any means.

I've downloaded the manual and it looks like the barrel includes the shutters.

Does this sound feasible/repairable?

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I am not familiar with this lantern and the manual does not help, but as the lens tube or barrel is interchangeable, it seems that they did not fasten it on correctly.

 

Hope to get there on Thursday, they had the manual at the time and couldn't sort it so I'm not sure what has happened.

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It's identical to a normal source 4 lens tube as far as I could see when using one last week. There's 2 screws hold it in and allow you to rotate the lens tube. The whole thing becomes very wobbly if both screws aren't tight so it should be fairly obvious that it's not secure.
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It's identical to a normal source 4 lens tube as far as I could see when using one last week. There's 2 screws hold it in and allow you to rotate the lens tube. The whole thing becomes very wobbly if both screws aren't tight so it should be fairly obvious that it's not secure.
I am not aware of a 'standard version', Looking at the manual I think the only difference between the various versions is a different lens and/or in a different location within the lens tube.

 

As I see it [and I didn't stop to study this] the top screw is screwed tight with a screwdriver into the reflector housing and it rides in a groove, ie it doesn't reach the bottom of the groove in the barrel or otherwise clamp onto the barrel, and the bottom thumb screw also locates into the groove but when done up it does reach the bottom of the groove to lock the barrel and stop it from turning.

 

Anyway the top screw was missing which meant when the bottom screw was slackened [a lot further than necessary as it happens] the barrel was able to slip out. Anyway a replacement screw has been cut down to length so all is well now.

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Sounds like someone may have lost the proper fixing bolts then and replaced them with something incorrect - all the ones I've seen have bolts with plastic knobs on so you can tighten without a screwdriver.

These 4 have a posi-headed screw in the top and in the bottom is the big black knob, as described in the handbook. So it looks like there are different versions on them.

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More update, I cleaned the 4 of these today.

The 2 halves have a 'bayonet' sort of arrangement with 4 lugs entering 4 gaps then turned, the fixed screw [bottom - not the top as I stated yesterday] restricts the amount the 2 halves can turn and prevents the lugs reaching the gaps.

The big black plastic headed lock bolt at the top does the same job but is longer and will bottom out to lock the 2 halves together.

I found the hard way that the fixed bolt is on bottom, the 2 threaded holes are at different distances from the edge of the reflector housing and if they are in the wrong holes [or 2 long bolts are fitted] the longer bolt will miss the area it is supposed to clamp onto and it will dislodge the shutter spring.

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This does raise an interesting point. Now I think of it my Selecon Pacific units have two point fixture for the interchangeable tubes. There is no secondary safety and I must say it didnt cross my mind that one was needed. Looking at the tale it suggests one might be required to cover someone doing something "stupid".
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There is no secondary safety and I must say it didnt cross my mind that one was needed. Looking at the tale it suggests one might be required to cover someone doing something "stupid".

 

You don't need secondary safeties on anything, only primaries. If the Showtec is like the Source 4 then you need to remove a handwheel and a screw (which needs a screwdriver) before you can remove the lens. So someone would need to do two stupid things before there is an issue. If you kit is maintained in the same condition that it left the factory then you are fine.

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There is no secondary safety and I must say it didnt cross my mind that one was needed. Looking at the tale it suggests one might be required to cover someone doing something "stupid".
You don't need secondary safeties on anything, only primaries. If the Showtec is like the Source 4 then you need to remove a handwheel and a screw (which needs a screwdriver) before you can remove the lens. So someone would need to do two stupid things before there is an issue. If you kit is maintained in the same condition that it left the factory then you are fine.

This is the same system and the screw was missing, even then the barrel is secure as long as the handwheel is not opened too far as it will hit a similar set of stops as the fixed screw. I agree it does not need an additional safety, any more than the lamp holder unit at the rear which is held on with 2 screws.

In this case they did open the handwheel too far and apparently then turned the barrel to the 'sweetspot'. Fortunately no harm was done as it fell into a large box of costumes.

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If the screw is missing then it does not meet CE requirements and must be taken out of service until fixed.

CE requires that both screws are fitted - in essence, it must require two things to fail for it to fall.

 

Fit a new screw, it should be very easy to get the right size screw.

 

You've just had a near-miss incident due to this. Next time you might not be so lucky.

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If the screw is missing then it does not meet CE requirements and must be taken out of service until fixed.CE requires that both screws are fitted - in essence, it must require two things to fail for it to fall.

Fit a new screw, it should be very easy to get the right size screw.

You've just had a near-miss incident due to this. Next time you might not be so lucky.

 

You are of course correct and yes it has been fixed, it is a black 'flat' round headed [gutter] bolt as original but with a posi drive. And I cut down a silver version wit a flat screwdriver slot from my tool bag which was too long.

 

this system is a bayonet fitting with 4 lugs and has to be in one of 2 positions [45 degrees from upright] in order to attach or remove the barrel, it is then turned a little and the bottom fixed screw is inserted and driven hard home to create a pin which prevents the barrel turning more than say +-30 degrees or so [so it cant get as far as the 2 positions mentioned].

At that point the barrel can turn freely between its 2 stops but it can't fall out.

 

The top thumb screw/hand bolt is a similar thread but longer than the fixed screw so when it is inserted and screwed tight it binds on the barrel and prevents it turning. Other than that it behaves exactly the same as the fixed screw, ie; if slackened it will allow the barrel to turn and reach a pair of similar stops and as long as it is only slackened a turn or 2, the fixed screw may be safely removed without any chance of the barrel turning and falling out.

 

As you mention it does need 2 failures to allow it to be a nasty hazard and I think everyone involved has realised how lucky we have been safety wise and additionally that it landed in a box of clothing.

I have been using the hall for 8 years and I don't think the group realised the lights could be refocused in all that time, until I got involved a year ago. Accordingly this could have been missing for a long time.

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