CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

gnnash · Joined: 10 Jul 2013 Posts: 216 Location: Lake Elmo, MN

Does anyone know of any certain defect of a projector that would cause it to break tubes?

I bought a new green tube for my 1209s from Curt back when he first got a bunch in. About 30 or so hours into it, it cracked. We thought it was a fluke, maybe weak glass in the tube, so he graciously replaced it.

There was a bit of a shipping issue in the middle, and I then remodeled my basement, so it didn't see any use for a long time.

Now, I finally had it back up on the ceiling, and about 30-40 hours in, once again it cracked.

I don't get it. I've always left a nice bubble for expansion, the image has always been at least 5-6mm away from the edges of the tube faces, I never drive it over 60% contrast. Both times were with a relatively static bright image when browsing the internet trying to troubleshoot issues I was having with my HTPC.

I think this is going to be it for me and CRT. It's just too fragile (apparently quite literally), and I can't keep pumping money into a machine that I got for free. I think I'm just going to have to cut my losses and start saving up for a JVC, maybe getting a cheapo to tie me over in the meantime.

It's just really the pits, especially after remodeling my theater, replacing my screen a week ago, and now I have no projector, and can't afford a proper replacement.

I do still have the original tube, but it has terrible wear from a previous bad setup, only using about 60% of the width of the phosphor. I know that it would be upsetting to spend the 2 weeks of effort and waiting to remove this tube, repaint, put the old tube back in, and let it cure, just to have a crummy image.

Oh well I guess.

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

That's too bad to hear about your tubes, but I can understand where you are coming from on wanting to switch to digital due to the hassle. My NEC XG green tube cracked on me (due to the pressure from the glycol, which is now something I regularly keep an eye on). I've since replaced the tube and haven't had any issues with it other than getting some slight phosphor burn from a game I played waaaaaay too long on the projector (200 hours in less than 2 weeks!), so I consider myself lucky! I'd really miss the NEC if it crapped out for good.

I like digital for the ease of things, but I also like having the CRT on hand, it'll be here forever if I can keep it running Very Happy

Also, don't know what your budget is for a digital PJ, but you can pick up a nice used Sony or JVC LCoS for less than $900 these days. I don't know how the JVC's look, but some of the Sony's I've had (VPL VW40, VW50, VW60 {sadly not my VW200 yet}) have pretty impressive displays for the price, and I think you'd be pretty satisfied with their image quality.

Best of luck on what you decide Thumbs Up

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 3:45 pm Post subject:

Did I sell you the whole tube with LC assembly, or just the raw tube? If the raw tube, did you put those plastic spacers back in in front of the tube, that holds it off the metal LC housing by about 1/4"?

If not, then the tube is sitting on metal, and will crack if sitting right on the housing due to tube expansion as it heats up.

The only CRT projector really known for cracking tubes is the NEC XG, but only if the V board fails.

If your HV was too high, then your focus would be a mile off as well.

Not sure what can cause that, other than bad luck.

gnnash · Joined: 10 Jul 2013 Posts: 216 Location: Lake Elmo, MN

The plastic spacers were properly installed both times. There was nothing odd with the picture up until the crack, just a big pop before it all went black.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a guy to take the easy way out. I love CRT, the image it provides, and even the need for somewhat constant tweaking and always room for just a little bit more improvement.

But I've had this projector for over two years, and it has spent over half that time either broken or otherwise out of use. I now don't trust it, certainly won't trust it with another tube.

I'd love to try another CRT, but I don't know if I can justify the trouble I feel it will cause. I know of one of the brand new Marquees available for about $1,000, but I'm just not sure if it's worth it, and I'm afraid of the greater noise compared to mine, and the money I'd be tempted to spend on constant tweaks and upgrades that seem to surround marquee ownership.

It's a bummer, it won't be quite as fun without tweaking and flexibility, but I think a digital probably is the best decision for me at this point...

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 4:35 pm Post subject:

I do have a cheap option for you, maybe. I have a slew of tubes form flight sims. They're not perfect, they have VERY slight 'windshield wiper' wear pattern, but definitely usable. I'd sell you one of those for cheap if you want.

Last time I sold you tubes out of the new Marquees that I got, right?

It might also be an idea to change the EHT board, just in case somehow it's spiking the HV, but I doubt it. I've got piles of those as well though for almost nothing.

Send me an email if interested. I'm out of town for 2 weeks, but will respond when I get back.

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 5:50 pm Post subject:

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

At this point even the most die-hard CRT would not fault you for going with a JVC DILA machine. The $1K brand new MArquee is tempting though, considering VDC sold it to the gummint for $40K . Be aware that all of these came with HD10L lenses though, so you will need to swap these. AFA noise, the MArquee's aren't too bad, not as quiet as the 1209 but quieter than Sony G70/90 or NEC. The 2 noisy fans can also be swapped out pretty cheaply.

If it was me , I would get the marquee for $1K, but it's just because I know them like the back of my hand.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 7:58 pm Post subject:

No extra housings, sorry at this point.

barclay66 · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:13 am Post subject:

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

gnnash · Joined: 10 Jul 2013 Posts: 216 Location: Lake Elmo, MN

Thanks all for the recommendations.

I ended up pulling the trigger on a used JVC DLA-RS45.

I'll be pretty sad to leave CRT behind, but I just can't ignore the limitations, and knew this was probably the direction I'd head sometime in the next couple of years anyway. I just wish I had known this before I re-did the room, there's a lot of RG-6 in my ceiling that I won't be needing anymore!

Hopefully I don't get too bored for lack of tweaking. On the other hand, this will probably give me a chance to work harder on finishing the room itself, once I recover from the unexpected expense!

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I bought the JVC x500 earlier this year.........I watch it twice maybe three times. The Blend has had more use since then even with its limitations.
Something about CRT I just love over digital.

Nashou