UF-55 Projector flickering problem

[bertster]

One of our SMART BoardTM 600i3 uf-55 projectors has started to flicker. This happens even when its not connected to a computer. Its an irregular flicker but occurring constantly.

 

Projector is around a year old, but bulb life is at 1042 hours. Manual refers to tracking but this only applied when a computer is connected.

 

Anyone any ideas? Thanks

[jamesreedersmith]

Its a faulty colour wheel in the projector - ring Steljes (the uk agent fot Smart) and get them to swap it out - i had one projector that had to be swapped three times in the space of a month for the same fault - the engineer admitted it was a design fault and they keep going - be careful though as they normally send recon units and these kept going wrong and in the end it was only fixed when they agreed to send a "new" projector that was apparently a later model that was less cerceptible to this fault.

 

Cheers

James

[wizzard74]

Bertster

Here's the number for them

 

Steljes Technical Services - 08450 724 999

 

Give them the seriel number and they will help you out

[dleiker]

We've had a score of SmartBoard UF55 projectors with that problem in our school district, and the projected waiting time is 2-3 weeks to get a replacement. Once you add the time it takes to work through the troubleshooting and RMA process a system is down for about a month. That's a very long time in the flow of a classroom.

[jamesreedersmith]

Smart have now "upgraded" the UF55 with the use of a rubber bung over one of the air vents on top! and a filter of some kind that cant be cleaned, is not visible and will eventually no doubt clog up and cause a different issue!

[Giblets2]

Thanks folks, old thread alert but helped me out a treat!

[exim]

Yep helpful when within warranty, if not, as was the case with one of our projectors recently, you're stumped.

[TSAndrew]

We have had this fault on 3 projectors that we support & we have found it is due to colour wheel irregular speed . We have found that removing the upper case & cleaning the dust out of the unit including the air vents cures the problem. be carefull around the colour wheel as it will break very easy as is made of thin glass. if youdo not have the skills to dissmantel the unit then contact a projector servicing site & ask for a deep clean . hope this is some help.

[exim]

We have had this fault on 3 projectors that we support & we have found it is due to colour wheel irregular speed . We have found that removing the upper case & cleaning the dust out of the unit including the air vents cures the problem. be carefull around the colour wheel as it will break very easy as is made of thin glass. if youdo not have the skills to dissmantel the unit then contact a projector servicing site & ask for a deep clean . hope this is some help.

 

Where's the colour wheel and how do you get to it?

Will need to give this a go.

[exim]

...just found out about this official cleaning kit - essentially a blower that pokes inside the unit that they put out to address the issue - apparently free to owners of this model. Anyone tried it, does it actually work?

 

Cleaning your SMART UF55 or SMART UF55w projector (146144) - SMART Technologies

[AVMan86]

I just called Canada / SMARTtech yesterday to order the kit, I'll let you know if it helps my UF-55

[AVMan86]

My cleaning kit came Thursday. It's neat that it clips on top with a straw that aims the air from a bulb down into the color wheel. It seems to have fixed the problem so far!

[exim]

Has anyone got the link to that product page for that projector mounting bracket that converts the UF55 arm for use with other projectors?

 

It's here somewhere, but the forum search isn't working

 

Cheers.

[exim]

... figures, the moment I post that I find it. Nevermind.

[dankgus]

Has anyone got the link to that product page for that projector mounting bracket that converts the UF55 arm for use with other projectors?

 

It's here somewhere, but the forum search isn't working

 

Cheers.

 

That is exactly what I need. I tried doing a search but came up with nothing. Can anybody point me in the right direction?

 

THANKS!

--Dan

[meastaugh1]

Anyone tried it, does it actually work?

 

We use a can of air to clean this sensor, it's fixed the problem the handful of times we've had it.

[exim]

That is exactly what I need. I tried doing a search but came up with nothing. Can anybody point me in the right direction?

 

THANKS!

--Dan

 

Here it is

RA Smart Unifi 55/65 Retro Fit Projector Mount Kit [RA4.3-Unifi-55/65] : RA Technology, Projector mounts and cages

 

They do a fitting for the UF45 too.

[dankgus]

I contacted RA this morning about the projector mount. Given the exchange rate, the shipped price to the US is $242.76. Does anybody know of any less expensive alternatives?

 

THANKS!

--Dan

[exim]

Don't know if anyone else tried the universal mount adaptor for swapping out a smart UF45 or 55 for a third party short throw projector, but I have and here is my feedback.

I was able to utilise the existing smart IEC power cable, and even the VGA, and just cut off the unnecessary cables that are moulded in. Of course you can't use the smart ECP, but I had some pixies spare to install. Otherwise existing cables might be tight, it would be easy enough to extend or replace the cables if you need to.

 

I was recommended the NEC M260XS as a swap unit for both UF45 and UF55. Though it was straight forward for the UF45, this model was far from suitable as a replacement for the UF55, simply because of the lens position not being central, therefore trying to centre the projection to the board is extremely problematic due to the weight distribution. Every time you need to make a position adjustment, the whole thing pretty much needs removing and dismantling to try again in a trial and error fashion. After hours of fiddling I got it in a sorta OK position.

All this despite RA advertising the mount as being suitable for projector or any lens alignment. Sure it has adjustments to support this in theory, but in practice it's just not feasible.

 

That said, the NEC M260XS is an excellent projector in itself and a massive improvement upon the original Smart units.

 

Bottom line, if doing this for the UF55, use a projector with a central lens.

Edited November 7, 2013 by exim

[MButkus]

I had a UF-55 with the flicker problem. Air compressor.. get it to about 65 PSI (U.S.) and take off the top cover. Don't overspin the side fan (even poke in something to keep it from spinning) and then from every side including the top center down (right by that spinning color wheel). There will be DUST.

There are no replacements as they were not made right in the first place. You can get a heavy discounted UF70 for the UF-55 / 65 until Sept. 2014 (U.S at least)

There are some brackets from the U.K. or I'm looking at an Epson very short throw at $1100 (US).

I have a lot of UF-45 with the mirrors that I have to look at too..

[SabalTradingCo]

Regarding swapping out projectors: I have a mount that will allow an NEC, Epson or Casio Projector to be mounted on the SMART UF55 and UF65 booms. You can get a great updated projector with more features and a longer warranty than the SMART projectors being offered. Take a look at JDP Retro Mount Kits on the Sabaltrading site. I am the US distributor for these. See my blog post at Sabal Trading Company - Engagement Through Better Technology

 

As to the UF45, I recommend completely replacing it. For the price you pay for the mount and the labor to upgrade/cut/modify the boom you might as well just go with a new short throw. I have talked with many US integrator about this and it is the consensus. Sorry.

 

Paul Thuneman

Sabal Trading Company

[runcmd]

I created my own cleaning kit using a rocket air blower from my photography kit and a load of blue tack to form the seal around the vent.

[speckytecky]

I just stumbled upon this very useful thread - it offers an explanation on a couple of units we have one being SMART the other a Hitachi. By far my favourite make of projector is NEC.