[David Grantham]

Just noticed this excellent string after rigging a system for DFN for a regular location with relatively large S-facing wood-framed residential windows. (My -sort of budget – method’s described at the bottom of this post)

I’ve got training in architecture, and – for what it’s worth – a thought below about the (theoretical, at least) risk of heavily gelling multiple (and possibly single) pane windows on sunny days when weather is extremely cold.

The risk is that the light-absorbing gelled assembly gets so incredibly hot against the window that it causes the superheated inner pane to expand much more than the frigid outer pane. Like a two-strip thermocoil, the window then is subject to curving forces. This could cause the window to break. Or it could bend and thus crack the seal at the bottom, damaging the window’s performance by a) compromising the insulating vacuum between the panes which also b)causes fogging and droplets to form on the colder outside pane. This wasn’t a risk in a summer assembly for me, but I’m planning to use it in winter for a few days at a time when the outdoor temp could be -40 celsius. I”m quite sure the temperature differential on a winter day across the window pane could be at least as high as 80 degrees celsius, and I’m not sure that wouldn’t stress even a single pane of glass to the breaking point.

Maybe someone can confirm or refute this possible risk (I hope I’m wrong) but I know there are severe limitations to how differently manufacturers will treat inner and outer panes for this reason. I’m going to ask window manufacturers, but I think they will almost certainly say there’s a risk so as to indemnify themselves against liability.

If this is a genuine risk in very cold cimates (I’m sure it’s not a problem in mild ones) the cumbersome solution would be to sandwich the layers of soft gel material between 2 layers of plexiglass (or stretch them all tightly enough to sell them as looking like glass) mount it on spacers in front of the windows, and perforate the assembly at the top and bottom well enough to allow for circulation of air to moderate the temperature at the inside face of the glass. (An unvented space probably wouldn’t work as convection currents conduct the heat to the oustide very efficiently.) Would have to figure out how to let air – but not light – through the assembly into that gap. Fussy, time-consuming and expensive, but I’m thinking about it to ensure the windows are safe in a Canadian winter.

For my recent (summer) DFN assembly I used 3 layers of ND9 – wish I’d known about that cheap vinyl – under a layer of ND9 plexiglass. (Not $$$ hard gels but std – much cheaper – 1/8″ plexiglass which is avail in the same transmissivity ranges.) Held this assmbly wrinkle-free against the windows with 3/16″x3/16″ window stops stuck to the window sash with outdoor carpet tape. Looks perfect no matter how close the camera was to the window. (Stops need to be pushed against window sash every couple of hours as carpet tape softens with the accumulated heat.)

[David Grantham]

after two monhts of crashes I barely have a sense of reality.

[David Grantham]

I wish the manuals had been of some help with some of the current concerns I have had on my system.

[David Grantham]

Well, as long as all are plugging their favourites, i should report how Ipressed I am with Screen cast. I had some minor issues usin the Screencast site ( mainly due to my own mistakes) and an email to their tech support about my free account was almost immediately replied to with an offer to check it all out. I’m quite impressed with them.

[David Grantham]

It appears that circumventing my wireless modem and going directly into the adsl via cable enabled the upload. Thanks for your comments.

[David Grantham]

Thanks Mike, I don’t have a website.

Just trying to upload something for a client to see. THought I could do it on one of the many service providers. THere’s reference to SCreencast in another post, and I set up a free account there, but the upload gets interrupted about 50 megs in, as it has with other providers. They’re looking into that. I’m pretty sure I’ve down and up loaded bigger files of other types to other sites before from this computer via wirelss router to an ADSl-connected modem, but this doesn’t seem reliable for this particular purpose.

[David Grantham]

The most current version this project is compatible with is 2.0, so I’m considering the change if I can find a copy. Likely better or same translation problems?

[David Grantham]

Someone local has been suggesting that upgarding to 2.0 might solve the problems, which stil remain on a replacement computer.

Anyone have any thoughts?

[David Grantham]

Im’ rocking all right. To the point of sea-sickness.

TUrns out computer may not be the problem, because inconsisten crahses remain with a replacement.

Even more Srcupulous testing reveal that if it’s going to crash – whic sometimes int doesn’t – it will do so near where certain clips show up;unfotuatnely one scattere irrregularly through the piece well-desguising this pattern. Made more difciult to diagnose by the inconsistency of the problem. Strating to modfy those places helps.

[David Grantham]

The state of my problems is that a new machine seems to result in the same type of crashes, though when not crashing the system feels much smoother.

SO either the editing card is faulty or suffering universal compatibility issues, the project is corrupted or overtaxxing these machines, or some of my video is corrupted. I am transfrerring my 310 GB of clips from a drive with 100 GB free to a drive with about 700 GB free. (All 7200 rpm SATA) to remediate any drive-related problems.

TROublshooting is bieng discussed on tech forums. Premiere Pro and Matrox.