Exploding Projector Bulb

When projector bulbs at the theater wear out, we get permission to destroy them. The most interesting way is by throwing rocks at them until a crack is created; then the air rushes in and the bulb goes BOOM. However, though the camera was set up to get this on tape, this bulb blew up in a slightly different manner: with me and Stephen holding on to it.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• exploding
• projector
• bulb

[ValforWing]

@BankaiIchigo12345

i dont't know what type of bulbs they were...but one of my coworkers tossed one down the stairs in several garbage bags and it exploded everywhere.

[BankaiIchigo12345]

@ValforWing

I've seen the IMax 15k ones, and ones that are over 10k don't have a hard plastic case, but rather a foam rubber case, likely because over 10k ones develop such high pressures just from the operating temperature alone that a high initial pressure isn't needed, thus no hard plastic safety case is needed.

[BankaiIchigo12345]

Manufacturers web pages say more like 4 to 10 ATMs of pressure. Don't know where that one guy got the 25 ATMs from, but that's a bit high for a cold fill pressure. However the pressure will easily double when running at full power.

[ValforWing]

@TheMonkeyInDaCloset

yeah the IMAX bulbs are worse. we have a kevlar suit in the IMAX projector room.

[akashmer]

Devitrification of the glass and thermal stresses cause them to blow when old. Always Always use protection Full face shield welding chest leathers and heavy gloves. ....then shoot them with a BB gun.

[otm831]

Ouch.... Theres a sign in our projection booth that says, they have an internal 8 bar pressure when off, that rises to 30bar when ignited. not nice, I aggree with DSM1G90 though, or better yet one of the really big IMAX ones, thoes things are like a rubgy ball!!!

[Cunt3113]

Just changed a 6K xenon bulb from a Christie 30K (with full body and face protection) and looking at the state of the bulb I'm rather glad it didn't cut me or anyone else to bits. Dispose of these very carefully people!

[plateshutoverlock]

****nudge and hold it slightly,

and it turned in to a freakin grenade?! Are those really that volatile

that just a slight nudge will set them off?!**** Yes they can, especialy when old and worn out.

They are usualy shipped in a safety case. Imax projectionists are required to wear full body armor when changing the massive Xenon bulbs used in their projectors because of this.

[plateshutoverlock]

Xenon projector bulbs contain over 300psi of gas pressure. Thats what makes them so dangerous

CRTs (picture tubes) contain a near vacuum and they can implode (then explode in an instant) because of atmospheric pressure. The explosion that comes right after is due to the peices colliding and bouncing off each other. I,ve heard of a picture tube that (im/ex)ploded in one set that sent shrapnel through the wall into the next room , right where the family would have been sitting!

[LianellEsorrasilome]

So wait, what did they do? Did they just nudge and hold it slightly, and it turned in to a freakin grenade?! Are those really that volatile that just a slight nudge will set them off?!