TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
This section was created to help diagnose possible
causes of equipment failure, and may be useful to read before sending equipment
in for service. Technical repairs should only be done by qualified personnel.
If you have any questions regarding a Frezzi repair, please call (973) 427-1160
between the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm EST.
Troubleshooting Mini-Arc HMI Lamps
Troubleshooting Mini-Fill and Micro-Fill Lamps
Troubleshooting
Plug-In Wall-Mount Trickle
Chargers
Troubleshooting Frezzi Mini-Arc HMI
Lamps:
Warning: Always test and/or use lamp with front cap
assembly in place in order to prevent serious injury.
Warning: High voltage present at lamp socket- do not attempt to measure
unless using appropriate test equipment.
Mini-Arc HMI lamps with early style ballasts have LED
indicator (normally red) which goes on when lamp is misfiring (fault indicator)
Mini-Arc HMI lamps with later style ballasts have LED
indicator (normally blue) which goes on when lamp is on (power on indicator)
Lamp does not light at all, power indicator does not come
on -
Check:
1. that DC power connector is inserted correctly
-
a. if equipped with Power Tap connector, check capacitor
filter inside
connector housing for short circuit, if connector had been
inserted incorrectly (with polarity reversed)
Polarity for lamps with XLR power connectors:
XLR-4: pin 4(+), pin 1(-)
XLR-5: pin 3(+), pin 1(-)
Lamp ignites, brightens, then dies out-
Check the following:
1. Power source is working and rated to provide adequate
power to lamp
a. Batteries are fully charged and have good capacity
b. Sony SX and DVCAM cameras w/ Power Tap receptacle have
an internal regulator which limits power output at lamp connector to 30 or
50 watts depending on model (Frezzi 18 watt HMI version lamp recommended for
use with these types of cameras.)
2. bulb may be failing - check that a known good bulb will
work in lamp.
3. ballast may need repair or replacement
Lamp ignitor audibly buzzes, lamp does not light-
1. certain dry conditions may require supplying small amount
of humidity to bulb, to allow bulb to ‘start’. With front cap and bulb in
place, try directing small amount of humidity from breath through vent in
front cap to bulb. Back away from lamp, then apply power.
2. bulb may be improperly seated or damaged
3. HV may be arcing to bulb socket springs or other adjacent
metal surface inside lamp
4. internal HV wire(s)or insulating materials may be damaged
or broken
5. bulb socket may be damaged
Some general operating guidelines for Mini-Arc HMI lamps:
1. Once lamp is shut off, lamp should be allowed to remain off
for at least 30 seconds before restriking (applying power)
2. Lamp should be allowed to run for 2-3 minutes before
shutting off-
Failure to operate the lamp within these parameters may result
in damage to the bulb.
Troubleshooting Frezzi
Mini-Fill and Micro-Fill Lamps:
This section was created to help diagnose possible causes of
equipment failure, and may be useful to read before sending equipment in for
service. Technical repairs should only be done by qualified personnel.
Warning: Always test or use lamp with front cap assembly in
place (except for step 4 below) in order to avoid serious injury.
Lamp does not light at all-
(for dimmer control lamps)
Check the following:
1. DC power connector is inserted correctly
a. if equipped with Power Tap connector, check capacitor
filter inside
connector housing for short circuit due to DC power polarity
reversal
(for dimmer and on-off lamps)
1. Power source is working and rated to provide adequate power
to lamp
a. Sony SX and DVCAM cameras w/ Power Tap receptacle have
an internal regulator which limits power output at lamp connector to 30 or
50 watts depending on model (Frezzi PTS version lamp recommended for use
with these types of cameras.)
2. Batteries are fully charged and have good capacity
3. a known good bulb will work in lamp.
4. voltage at lamp socket (remove bulb for test, set power
switch to ‘on’ position)
a. on/off switched lamps should equal power source voltage
b. dimmer control lamps should be within 0.6 V of power
source voltage depending on dimmer control setting.
Bulb lights when lamp is switched on, but then stays at
constant brightness or starts to dim as Dimmer Control is turned up before
reaching max. setting - power source may not be adequate to supply full amount
of power to lamp-
1. check that power source is rated to provide adequate power
to lamp
2. check that batteries are fully charged and have good
capacity
3. try using a lower wattage bulb instead
Troubleshooting Frezzi plug-in
wall-mount Trickle Chargers:
This section was created to help diagnose possible causes of
equipment failure, and may be useful to read before sending equipment in for
service. Technical repairs should only be done by qualified personnel.
Charging time- all models-
NiCd batteries up to 72 WH should fully charge within 14 hours. Allow up to 23
hours for 130 WH NiMh batteries to fully charge. (@ 450ma charge rate)
chargers with indicator lamp- charge
indicator lamp should come on when charger is connected to AC power and battery.
Lamp normally will not go off at full charge.
Trickle charger failure diagnosis:
1. Check battery voltage with voltmeter- certain
types of trickle chargers may not be able to recharge a dead or near-dead
battery, and in some cases may be damaged if used this way. Frezzi brick-type
batteries- check internal user- replaceable fuse, spare fuse is also
included inside battery. Return battery for service if battery will not work
after replacing fuse.
Over-discharged batteries may need to be ‘rescued’ by
connecting to an automatic type charger (such as our ‘M’ series of chargers).
Batteries that cannot be ‘rescued’ have reached the end of life and should be
recycled- contact Frezzi for more information about our trade-in allowance.