Should my new MOP have turned yellow?

[JRS7]

Trying to build a Mag85 and an ROP, having some problems. The MOP reflector I just got looked really shiny and bright, but after experimenting trying to get my lights going, the reflector is now grungy and yellow colored......is this normal?

I have read here about 'cooking' a new light, I did notice a bit of smoke coming out, but I had the glass lens off, and I assumed that was all I needed. I can't imagine it would be the smoke. I didn't have it turned on very long, and there wasn't that much smoke?

What made it turn yellow, and any way to clean it?

 

[tebore]

You tried to clean it didn't you? What's happened is you've taken off the polish. You'll need to repolish the reflector.

I've read your threads, I think you should slow down and read just a bit more as you go. Basically take a measure twice cut once approach.

 

[JRS7]

Read more????? I've sat in front of my computer for WEEKS reading about the ROP and the Mag85........Never seen anything about a reflector turning yellow....

I think my wife already thinks I'm an idiot (and maybe I am), for the $160 worth of parts I'm just about ready to throw in the trash, but your kind of smug fatherly advice doesn't help me any.....Hey, wait a minute!! Dad, is that you????

 

[vortechs]

Trying to build a Mag85 and an ROP, having some problems. The MOP reflector I just got looked really shiny and bright, but after experimenting trying to get my lights going, the reflector is now grungy and yellow colored......is this normal?

I have read here about 'cooking' a new light, I did notice a bit of smoke coming out, but I had the glass lens off, and I assumed that was all I needed. I can't imagine it would be the smoke. I didn't have it turned on very long, and there wasn't that much smoke?

What made it turn yellow, and any way to clean it?

That is not normal. I don't know what made it turn yellow, but here are some threads about cleaning reflectors:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=127058
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=145017

 

[65535]

Sounds like a busted bulb that released a tungsten compound of yellow color (at the tempurature the bulb runs at on the filiment it is vaporizing tungsten which forms compounds with air easily xenon or other noble gasses are used that don't bond with the tungsten when broken air will fill the bulb and the tungsten will for compounds usually oxides)

 

[Icebreak]

JRS7 -

I'm not sure why it smoked.

I clean a custom Al reflector much the same way I would clean a pair of glasses. Not all of these steps may be necessary.

Clean your fingertips with dish soap and water until the oils are gone.

Start running warm water over the reflector the drizzle some dish soap on it. The trick is to float the water and soap attempting to lift the deposit off of the surface of the reflector. Keeping the reflector soaked and soaped creates a cycle to continuously remove the deposits. Once this cycle has been established you can gently swirl a thumb or fingertip over the reflector to further encourage the debris to lift off and leave.

Rinse it thoroughly. I like to finish up with a drenching of distilled water. Then I dry it with a hair dryer. It won't be absolutely perfect but it should be pretty good. This also works for the windows (lenses) we use.

I see vortechs posted some links.

Why it smoked could be many things I've read about. Could be factory shmutz or oil in the bulb holder. Maybe high resistance in the holder is causing excess heat which is melting the plastic pedestal. ProGold may cure this. It could be other things.

The first time I saw a Hotwire bulb explode I was tempted to teach that torch to fly. Don't do that. Your Hotwire has some things going for it. You are using a Pelican 3854 and I can't recall hearing about one exploding. Your power source must be delivering juice pretty well. Also, your Hotwire's owner has a sense of humor and that always helps.

I hope this was of some help.

 

[JRS7]

Yeah, I didn't realize that you couldn't just clean these things like anything else. You can rub for all your worth where it's turned yellow, and nothing. I must have rubbed the polish off, anybody know if there's a way to re-polish it? Or is it just toast?

 

[jwl]

Icebreak - I had a Pelican 3854-H (ROP HI) bulb explode. I think the hole wasn't large enough in the reflector and the bulb made contact with the reflector while it was running and . It did leave some dings and nicks in the reflector. Also, some of the stippling 'popped off' and now there are yellow spots where there used to be stippling. The reflector still works fine though.

LRS7 - If you have any way to post a picture of the reflector that would help with diagnosis of the problem. By your description it sounds as though your reflector may indeed be toast, a picture would help though.

 

[Icebreak]

Icebreak - I had a Pelican 3854-H (ROP HI) bulb explode. I think the hole wasn't large enough in the reflector and the bulb made contact with the reflector while it was running and . It did leave some dings and nicks in the reflector. Also, some of the stippling 'popped off' and now there are yellow spots where there used to be stippling. The reflector still works fine though.

That's right. I forgot. Thanks.

 

[Gene]

A reflector turning yellow is a new one to me. I'm no expert by any means but I've had a few hotwires smoke on me when I first turned them on and one that smoked like a campfire! It always fogged the reflectors but never turned them yellow. It sounds like this particular reflector has a problem. I would check with whatever distributor you purchased it from and ask them to replace it.

 

[nightstalker101]

I've had mine get kinda blue. But that was from not haveing a lens on it while making paper smoke.