The C-Element Project

Changing C-Elements

Here is a little explanation of how I did the C-Element change. First I removed the tubes from the projector, and then removed the draining screw and I drained the tubes in to a plastic container. The glycol chamber contains about 0.6 liters of glycol and I highly recommend changing the glycol, the pictures shows why you have to change it.

To get all the old glycol out of the chamber I recommend that you fill the chamber 1/4 with glycol cleaning fluid or distilled water and shake it a few times and drain it and do the same one more time then it should be clean.

When the tube is drained I mounted the draining screw again and placed the tube in a jig to hold it level, use some paper towels or similar to absorb any spill. Then I removed the four screws on the adapter ring that holds the C-Element and o-ring in place.

It's very important that you newer touch the C-Element on the lens just hold it on the outer ring, you should also be very careful with the o-ring that seals the liquid coupling and control that it's not damaged.

Carefully remove the adapter ring and then lift out the C-Element, now refill with new glycol a little bit more than you drained of and carefully press the new C-Element back in place. There will be a little spill around the C-Element but there are small chambers around it to take up small spill. Remove as much as you can of the spill in the small chambers around the edge while you still are pressing the C-Element down.

When the spill is removed you can fit the adapter ring and carefully mount the screws back and cross tighten them, and remember don't over tighten them. Now lift the tubes out of the jig and check that there is no visible air bubble in the top of the glycol chamber because that will make reflections in the picture.

Now it is important to let the tubes rest on a paper or something to see if there are some leaks, there can be a small leak from the small spill chambers around the edge of the tube but that will stop when they are empty after a few hours. If you let them rest to the next day and there are no more leaks you can safely mount the tubes back in to the projector.

After the C-Element are changed the projectors gray scale is not very accurate so you have to calibrate it with a colorimeter.

I have only done this is on a BarcoGraphics 1209s other projectors maybe require other procedures.

The Red and Green C-Elements.	The tube is removed from the chassis.	All tubes removed.	Draining hole.	Draining the tube for glycol.
Her you can clearly see why you should change the glycol.	Here is the Jig i used to get it level.	A lot of paper towels to absorb any spill.	Her the C-Element is removed.	The red C-Element with the adapter ring that holds the C-Element in place.
The C-Elements are in place.	The tubes tested for leakage.	Tubes back inn chassis.	This is before changing C-Element	This is after changing the C-Element.