MSP 3140 strike failure

[Croft]

Anyone out there ever have excessive strike failures on the MSP 3140 and fix it.

This has always happened since new , I adjusted the the voltage on it as  directed with little success.  Usually it will go through spats of always throwing the failure but then will work well for  few.
Now it seems we shoot a screen go to rinse , rinse completely then come back to shoot the next screen and still it will strike fail a couple of times before it lights up.

Its particularly hi lighted now since we got a new Starlight but still need to use this or at least have it working to sell.


Any help would be appreciated

[jupmode]

We have this issue as the bulb ages. When was the last time you switched it out? We need a new one every 6 months or so.

[ebscreen]

Hopefully it's just the bulb, so start there obviously.


But we had what you describe happen and got to replace this guy:

https://www.mrprint.com/store/product/PD29/single-phase-choke-60hz-120v


Twice.

My opinion is internal cooling is inadequate on the 3140's, and to be honest, just about every exposure unit I've seen.
Not a big deal if you are shooting 10 photopolymer screens a day, but at 50 diazo things start to get hot.

[Croft]

bulb is about 3 months old, never really noticed difference between old or new bulbs, we just replace every year

[Croft]

Hopefully it's just the bulb, so start there obviously.


But we had what you describe happen and got to replace this guy:

https://www.mrprint.com/store/product/PD29/single-phase-choke-60hz-120v


Twice.

did it make a difference both times?

My opinion is internal cooling is inadequate on the 3140's, and to be honest, just about every exposure unit I've seen.
Not a big deal if you are shooting 10 photopolymer screens a day, but at 50 diazo things start to get hot.

[ebscreen]

Fixed it both times.

For about a year.


The other super unfortunate thing is that there is no diagnosis for the part other than replacement.
Short of some ridiculous test equipment at any rate.

[Squeegie]

We have had this issue a few times over the life of the unit.  All is well and then for who knows why, it fails to light.
Fought with mine today for a couple of screens...then did 3 more with it striking the first attempt.

I had a gentleman give me support over the phone the first time we dealt with the issue.  The diagnosis was this part;
https://www.mrprint.com/store/product/VE1140/contactor-2-poles-25a-120vac

We tried a new bulb before that part was replaced and it didn't help.
I have replaced this pc twice in the last 10 years.

I may need to replace it again. I am going to look at the other part in the link in the other post...maybe that needs to be replaced as well.

[TL]

It happens more at our shop when the humidity level increases as well. 

[BP]

I had the same problem and it was the bulb. I would start with that.

[Croft]

We have had this issue a few times over the life of the unit.  All is well and then for who knows why, it fails to light.
Fought with mine today for a couple of screens...then did 3 more with it striking the first attempt.

I had a gentleman give me support over the phone the first time we dealt with the issue.  The diagnosis was this part;
https://www.mrprint.com/store/product/VE1140/contactor-2-poles-25a-120vac

We tried a new bulb before that part was replaced and it didn't help.
I have replaced this pc twice in the last 10 years.

I may need to replace it again. I am going to look at the other part in the link in the other post...maybe that needs to be replaced as well.

will look into this part, had a quick look under the hood and couldn't see the exact TYCO part, but there was a similar block. Mines about 10 years old so I'm sure something like this could be worn.  New bulb hasn't changed anything.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

Old thread, I know. (But hey! I'm an OLD GUY!!!)

Croft, if you see this--or anyone else for that matter--I am having the exact same issue on an MSP 2125. Sometimes it strikes, other times nothing I can do works.

Occasionally it clicks many, then will FINALLY strike an arc.

I'd like to fix it on the cheap and throwing non-returnable, multiple hundred dollar parts at it is no bueno.

I'd even buy a decommissioned unit for parts, if I necessary

[gotshirtz001]

There was a trick I read about to increase the duration on the  vacuum timer. I had a couple strike failures and doing so seemed to improve the issue. I have no background on why this works, just that it did.


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[inkman996]

There was a trick I read about to increase the duration on the  vacuum timer. I had a couple strike failures and doing so seemed to improve the issue. I have no background on why this works, just that it did.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That just giving the bulb and any other components a longer time to cool down.

[merchmonster]

funny we are having this issue also right now. and we replaced the bulb with no improvement.

[ABuffington]

When the unit gets too hot it won't strike.  Quite often it needs to be cooled down to strike.  So extending the dwell on vacuum can help, or waiting a few minutes for the bulb to cool down.  Happens on our Tri Light as well when I shoot a long exposure of thick film and try to shoot other screens as soon as it is done.

Al