Quartz Flash Size v. Max Image Size

[ZooCity]

My understanding has always been to oversize the flash by a few inches on all sides.  Our Chili is 20x24 even though our max print is ≈ 15x18".  How necessary is this?  Does anyone efficiently cure their 15x17 prints with a 16x18 quartz for instance?

I only ask b/c I could get away with a smaller Chili D here, not quite enough amperage available for the 20x24.

[alan802]

I would like for our flashes to be just an inch wider like the new ones are.  Our bulb length is 18 1/4" and I think 19 would be perfect for what we print which is rarely over 14" wide.  The few 15"+ prints required at least 25% more time to flash.  So it sounds like you do about the same as we do and I would not go with the 16x18 size if you want to be able to flash in under 4 seconds.  Those wider prints would have a flash time of at least 4 seconds and likely over 5 until things are REALLY warmed up.  Our average flash time is under 3 seconds for short runs and longer runs with ink deposits under 150/48 mesh require a bit longer starting out but we can get down to 2-2.5 seconds after a few hundred shirts.

Our old centurian had 24x28 flashes and we'd routinely flash in under 2 seconds with really thick deposits and I know the quality of the bulb plays a role in flash time but the width played a role.  I know our 2M flashes were better than the centurians but due to the smaller width they aren't as fast.

[ZooCity]

An excellent point.  We have found that we never use the zones feature on the chili as it increases flash times to much and is nowhere near as consistent as running all the bulbs.  Seems like the more the merrier here as it gives you additional energy to flash with. 

I guess we'll stick to our minimum 2 extra inches on all sides rule.   My prod manager didn't like the idea of the smaller flash either.  We'll check out a Habanero AF or something like that.  I'll run my numbers again but I have a concern that even another 10a draw in here could push us into the danger zone on our service, I don't ever want to trip the panel that has all the big stuff.

[screenprintguy]

Zoo, I wish we had larger flash area for our DB, you aren't over doing it with a 20x24. I feel that little extra you have to play with gives you more than if you came up shy. Even though our Reno is a 16x18, sometimes those 17 to 18" deep prints don't get the heat like the center of the flash. At least with your chili, you can turn zones on and off as you please. Our next set up will have flashes a tad bit larger than we will print for that reason. I hate that some times a huge image with a lot of white near the upper and lower edges needs to cook longer just to get those outer edges flashed. "The things we learn over time" 

[Binkspot]

Your amperage will drop as the bulbs warm up. Put a probe on one of the legs when you first start in the morning, pre heat and you will see a good drop from a cold bulb to a hot one in a very short time.

[ZooCity]

Your amperage will drop as the bulbs warm up. Put a probe on one of the legs when you first start in the morning, pre heat and you will see a good drop from a cold bulb to a hot one in a very short time.

Totally.  Actual pull is really not bad at all on the 20x24 quartzes it's just the first couple dozen fires.   I'll get more solid numbers on our current Chili and see if it pans out.

On paper, we could absolutely put another 40a 3ph flash in here.  I'm just a cautious cat.   The panel I have most of our gear hooked into is fed from a run that has slo blo fuses instead of a standard breaker (it is all up to code with a shutoff, it's an old service run for a 200a sheet metal brake, hence the different setup).  Looking up the curves for the fuses, I'd say we'd be fine but man, I do not want to deal with replacing those if we somehow blow them as we may have to have the utility co. come in and shut it down to replace.  There doesn't appear to be anywhere up stream to disconnect and popping those in live?  Hell no. 

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

When my main gig was electric signs (in another life) we always carried plastic pliers in the bucket truck. Loved them! They were perfect for live circuits. 

But I've never seen a pair that were big enough to handle main fuses. I've got a panel like that too and would wet myself pulling them out hot. I've looked in there and wished I had a big pair of those things. It's the first box on my side of the service loop, directly inside of the weatherhead.