Enlarger – colour head bulb question

[Mark]

May 22, 2009 at 12:04 pm

I’m picking up a Durst M605 with colour head later on today (its not the one I bought in the UK for anyhow
who knows the ongoing saga) from a friend. He bought it some time ago and never used it.

Anyhow, there is an issue: the colour heads normally run off 12V power via a transformer; however the original owner appears to have modified this to run off the 240V mains which should be alright except that my mate has a 12V lamp which he bought for it – so right now, if you plug it into the wall, the lamp will blow up…

It seems that there a number of possible solutions:
1) Get a 250v lamp/bulb – What impact does a stronger light have in general on the printing process??
2) Undo whatever was done to the transformer in the first place
3) Get something called a ‘domestic dichroic lamp 12V 100VA transformer’

Any thoughts oh wise ones ? :)

Thanks

[jb7]

May 22, 2009 at 1:24 pm

A 220v lamp might be the cheapest option-
it might not be brighter than the original though-
50w is the most powerful domestic dichroic…

Do you have an original lamp?
is it 100w?
My enlarger was an M601, and recollections are hazy…

A 100w transformer (any type, cheapest) and the original lamp might be the best option-
Durst transformers were huge heavy lumps-

[Seoirse]

May 22, 2009 at 2:11 pm

Mark,

Might be able to advise you here.

Just a bit caught for time at the moment.

I will pm you later.

[Mark]

May 22, 2009 at 4:09 pm

Thanks JB + Seoirse !!

OK, just picked it up :) At last an enlarger :D Although my poor wife isn’t terribly impress lol

The bulb I have for it which is still in its box is 12v/100w.

I have the transformer. Seems that the original lead which was coming out of the
colour head was cut and a regular 3 pin plug attached, hence the original unusual plug
which fitted into the transformer is missing.

Might do a search online. If I find a similar styled lead, I could just remove the 3 pin plug
and ‘join’ it to the correct lead…

If not, I’ll have a look for a standard 100w/12v transformer as you suggest JB

Thanks lads

[Seoirse]

May 22, 2009 at 10:39 pm

Mark

Welcome to the dark side. :D

It might be a good idea to phone a guy called Terry who is in charge of Durst spares in a company in Leeds called Northern

Photo Electrical Services.

Website : http://www.northernphoto.co.uk

Very reliable and he answers email enquiries really promptly.

[Mark]

May 23, 2009 at 8:08 am

Thanks Seoirse,

Just got an email back from Terry, seems he can sort me out on Tuesday ! :)

[Seoirse]

May 23, 2009 at 9:11 am

Mark wrote:

Thanks Seoirse,

Just got an email back from Terry, seems he can sort me out on Tuesday ! :)

That’s great Mark. He’s a top bloke for getting back in double quick time.

You will really enjoy printing your own pics.

You will just feel so involved in every step of the process.

[Mark]

May 27, 2009 at 5:10 pm

Right Seoirse, Terry has sorted me out, cable in the post. What a nice bloke to deal with!. Cheers.

Also, thanks to Paddy Barker who pm’d me to offer to help me out with a cable also!