Hi all,
I picked up a surplus unused KXL-550HF xenon short arc lamp last week and was thinking about using it in my proposed projector design. This would mean that I would need a 550W DC power supply good for 25A at 22.5V plus an igniter circuit and a current control circuit. Anyone here built one of these or know where to get one cheap? Can you suggest any good web resources for designing one?
Thanks,
Michael
I picked up a surplus unused KXL-550HF xenon short arc lamp last week and was thinking about using it in my proposed projector design. This would mean that I would need a 550W DC power supply good for 25A at 22.5V plus an igniter circuit and a current control circuit. Anyone here built one of these or know where to get one cheap? Can you suggest any good web resources for designing one?
Thanks,
Michael
Here's a page with tons of info on short arc lamps:
http://members.misty.com/don/shortarc.html
A small arc welder should make a good supply for this lamp, if it can run continuously. Another option is to modify a microwave oven transformer by removing secondary winding and replacing it with a low voltage high current one. You'll have to add a bridge rectifier because the lamp requires DC. You'll also have to figure out something to generate a starting pulse, which could be 30kV or higher.
These lamps generate large amounts of ultravoilet light. You'll need a UV filter to stop it from damaging your LCD panel.
David
http://members.misty.com/don/shortarc.html
A small arc welder should make a good supply for this lamp, if it can run continuously. Another option is to modify a microwave oven transformer by removing secondary winding and replacing it with a low voltage high current one. You'll have to add a bridge rectifier because the lamp requires DC. You'll also have to figure out something to generate a starting pulse, which could be 30kV or higher.
These lamps generate large amounts of ultravoilet light. You'll need a UV filter to stop it from damaging your LCD panel.
David
electronic ballast
David,
Thanks for the link and the ideas. I am hoping to be able to design an electronic ballast/regulator if I can figure out what parts to source. It seems the life of the lamp is greatly extended if careful attention is paid to the current fluctuations and ripple currents. An ignitor circuit seems pretty easy to come by, but less straightforward to incorporate into the whole circuit. I believe this lamp was originally intended for use in an Elmo slide projector for auditorium size shows. Fortunately for me, this is on my long term project list and not something I have to get down tomorrow. Will need to get a panel with high enough contrast ratio to stand the light as well.
Michael
David,
Thanks for the link and the ideas. I am hoping to be able to design an electronic ballast/regulator if I can figure out what parts to source. It seems the life of the lamp is greatly extended if careful attention is paid to the current fluctuations and ripple currents. An ignitor circuit seems pretty easy to come by, but less straightforward to incorporate into the whole circuit. I believe this lamp was originally intended for use in an Elmo slide projector for auditorium size shows. Fortunately for me, this is on my long term project list and not something I have to get down tomorrow. Will need to get a panel with high enough contrast ratio to stand the light as well.
Michael
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