Projector Maintenance - How do YOU do it?

[Bluetooth]

Hello all!

 

I have a quick question, for everyone.

 

I look after 7 Primary schools in and around dewsbury/batley.

 

All in all we have 65 projectors with smartboards and IWB's.

 

Now, i have taken this job over and in the last year i have had to do a lot of work revamping systems and getting networks/anti virus's up to date since the last technician was a tad lax.

 

Either way, i want to know, what do you guys do, please just list whatever you do, im looking to see how you guys handle your maintenance in your own schools etc.

 

Also i would like to know if you buy in support for the maintenance and how much you pay. Thats only if you buy it in, if you do it yourself no need to list your hourly rate to brag ;P

 

Thanks in advance guys.

[kpms123]

Hi There,

 

With regards to maintaining projectors if they are LCD the best thing is to make sure that you clean the filters once every three months unless of course they are DLP in which case are sealed units so you dont need to bother.Obviously advise all teachers to switch of there projectors b4 going home, i supply this type of kit all day to schools and when visiting schools to offer advise etc i am suprised after school how many units are left switched on hence burning tdown the lamp time.

 

Contracts are generally available although a site survey is required b4 any quotations can be given as i am sure you will realise that all schools have different equipment in classrooms. Wr are in Leeds although i cover the Wakefield area, if you need further help please get in touch

[Pete10141748]

Here we clean the filters about once every 2 months (usually just before a half-term break). We've also planned take them down and give them a thorough clean at the end of each year (july time) though we've not been here a year yet so no idea as to how that will go

 

Overheating is a big problem as well, so keep advising staff to turn them off whenever they don't need them (90% of the time this will fall on deaf ears, but some will take notice )

[elsiegee40]

Filters are cleaned at the end of every half term and the projectors are given a good dusting at the same time (99p powder brush from Superdrug does wonders!)

[Bluetooth]

Filters are cleaned at the end of every half term and the projectors are given a good dusting at the same time (99p powder brush from Superdrug does wonders!)

 

*To Superdrug checkout girl*> Yes id like to purchase this makeup brush please. Its for work.

*Superdrug Checkout Girl*> Ah i see (shes actually thinking "you crossdressing freak!")

 

 

Also on the issue of filters, how do you clean them? just air duster them or do you wash them?

 

Also do you open the unit and check lenses etc?

[steve_nfi]

You don't need an air duster just blow them out. They are only thin.

I wouldn't wash them.

You could wipe over the lens with a dry lint free cloth if it looks dusty or smeared.

[Bluetooth]

i have done the blowing them out thing but frankly, no thanks, i have just taken over the job and they have never been maintained so im looking at 2 - 3 years or more dust

 

ive had gob fulls of dust and dont cherish the idea of sweaty childrens dead skin cells in my mouth thanks =P

 

air duster ftw =P

[ChrisH]

I use an air can and wear a mask

[elsiegee40]

*To Superdrug checkout girl*> Yes id like to purchase this makeup brush please. Its for work.

*Superdrug Checkout Girl*> Ah i see (shes actually thinking "you crossdressing freak!")

 

 

Also on the issue of filters, how do you clean them? just air duster them or do you wash them?

 

Also do you open the unit and check lenses etc?

 

 

Fortunately, I'm female so there's no need to explain the make up brush!

 

I don't open the unit unless I have to, which fortunately is VERY infrequent. (not for a couple of years)

[CyberNerd]

Make sure you are compliant with the working at height regulations.

We all got sent on training courses.

[FN-GM]

I just do a few every week with a paint brush i stole from art

 

By the time i have got round them all i start again. I cannot stand doing loads at one time.

 

Z

[Bluetooth]

Lol@Elsie.

 

Lucky for some eh?

 

I have a contract in the works thanks with a company that i have known and my schools have used for the past 6 years so thanks for the offers.

 

About this working at hieght stuff, is there really a course about that? Your kidding me right?

 

I usually just stand on a chair and take the cage apart on my own etc

[elsiegee40]

About this working at hieght stuff, is there really a course about that? Your kidding me right?

 

 

I share my office with our H&S Officer... and have had to undergo full training! Fortunately she's part time... while I'm very careful, I do climb on the tables occasionally.... just not on days she's in! ;-)

[Bluetooth]

Good lord.

 

Well thats interesting. i have never used a pair of stepladders ever. I just use chairs or tables or whatever is in the room at the time to sort the projector out.

 

Sounds to me like i need more money for all this hassle

[plexer]

Anyone working at height should be a competent person and the easiest way to prove that competency is by attending a course and getting a piece of paper, our lea does them several times a year.

 

I've had ladder and portable scaffold tower training.

 

Working at height is as soon as your feet leave the ground there is no minimum now.

 

If you are standing on a table you have nothing to hold on to, if you need to use both hands to perform a task then you should be using a tower with the relevant guard rails.

 

Ben

[speckytecky]

Bit of a key thing I found is wherever possible having the bulb set on low.

[sparkeh]

Unfortunately I just don't have the time to perform regular cleaning which is a bit annoying.

 

Therefore the teachers report whenever they get a warning message and its done then. Although quite a few teachers are cleaning them themselves which is nice.

[CyberNerd]

Good lord.

 

Well thats interesting. i have never used a pair of stepladders ever. I just use chairs or tables or whatever is in the room at the time to sort the projector out.

 

Sounds to me like i need more money for all this hassle

 

Your site legally must have a person responsible for health and safety.

if you had an accident, the HSE would want to see a risk assessment, the risk assessment would say that you need to be 'competent' (this means trained) and have the necessary equipment that was in good order. If none of this is complete then the appointed H+S manager is *criminally* liable. The downside is that if you have the training, and equipment and still have an accident then it's all your fault and you don't get to sue anyone.

 

The working at heights regulations are extremely important - there are around 70 deaths and and 4000 major injuries in the UK every year attributed to this.

[Bluetooth]

Yea indeed.

 

It looks like im going to have to do some training sessions with all my staff and try to get them to understand why this causes problems etc.

 

Although id rather just have the schools fork out for the cleaning and maintenance contract then i dont have to go through all this stupid crap.

 

im suire £55 per projector is easier than training me to climb a ladder buy all the kit and do whatever other courses there are out there that are required to do the job.

[Pete10141748]

H&S training for working at heights, eh?

 

The techie and I usually just jump up on a couple of tables to sort out projectors!

 

Use Air Duster to clean them, fortunately I am tall enough to reach the projectors to do this without the need for my feet to leave the floor

[Bluetooth]

Heh if only, i had to work on a projector yesterday that looked like it hadnt been cleaned for years, it had a thick layer of dust on it, i blew it out and i swallowed a gob full of horrible old child skin, not nice at all

 

but i had to take out 4 security bolts on a projector cage that basically when loose just dropped to the floor, taking out 4 bolts and holding it at the same time was a peice of masterful dexterity on my part i think ;P

[Bluetooth]

Right, i went to see my line manager today to discuss the contract i had proposed and all the details i have found out from you guys and other sources.

 

Basically he told me to STFU.

 

Its the first time he has been around as he has been off for 6 months or so and now he is back he has said that everything i've found out is utterly stupid (his quote) and that i shouldnt be so stupid (again his quote)

 

It basically turned into an arguement and i wanted to walk out but i had to see someone else.

 

i feel really disillusioned now and really feel like my line mamager doesnt give a toss about me, i have brought things up in the past that i thought were in my schools best interests and he has done this before having a go at me shouting etc calling me stupid.

 

Think this might be a P45 month.

[contink]

There's no reason for you to have to put up with that kind of unprofessional attitude.

 

I'd seriously consider going over his head to his line manager and explain your proposal in detail, wait for them to ask what your direct line manager said and explain the exact terms he used.

 

Of course, the only downside to this is that you're really going to fubar your chances of getting a reference unless your senior management can provide one that doesn't involve your line manager.

[Bluetooth]

i have 7 primary school headmasters who wouldnt think twice about giving me a reference.

 

im just so f**ked off.

[contink]

i have 7 primary school headmasters who wouldnt think twice about giving me a reference.

 

im just so f**ked off.

 

As someone who never allows his emotions to get in the way of his work *cue: my fiancee falling over and laughing her socks off* ;-) I'd recommend sleeping on it and then re-approach the issue with a calmer, more professional head.

 

Having re-read the thread it seems you're part of a company or an LEA style support department in which case you could be looking at some other form of management. Either way, just be careful what you do and how you do it..

 

Best of luck...