Strand SL problem

[blighter]

SL cracked refletors might not be a problem with the reflector. After our first year with the SL we found 30 or so relectors with the hairline crack in them and Strand replaced them for us because they said there was a flaw in that design. However, the new reflectors end up slitting into several pieces and not able to be used at all ( the hairline cracked reflectors can at least be used until replacements arrive). With the replacement reflectors breaking in a worse fashion leads me to believe that it might not be a reflector problem.

During this years maintenance, I have discovered that the lamp socket is not truly centered in the cap. I've tried all the screws and knobs and no amount of trimming the bulb can truly centre it in the cap. The bulb is then closer to one side of the reflector which I believe is causing the crack. The old reflectors also moved slightly in it's housing, the new reflectors are snug causing resistance hence, the large cracks. The bulb socket in the SL does not have a heat sinc as the Source 4 socket does so dispursion of the heat does not occur properly.

On ocassion I have taken apart the entire lamp to get at the shutters so to clean out the glass from the shattered reflector or blown bulb. There's a days work for you!

Other times I have had to take the lamp apart is to get the ceramic powder out of the shutters. Bulbs that have a metal base covering the ceramic that holds the bulb have caused this problem. The ceramic over time crumbles leaving a mess and a lit wobbley filament. Bad bulbs or too much heat, who knows? We have switched to a full ceraminc base for this lamp.