Advice on how to get correct E6/C41 temperature on Jobo CPP3?

Hi,

I have a Jobo CPP3 and I'm having difficulty getting the correct 38 degree temperature as I use the auto mode. If I let the machine do its thing and I start off with room temperature chemicals, it will take several hours before it can warm up the chemicals to the correct temperature. If I start off with chemicals that are closer to the 38 degrees, the machine still takes its time to warm up the bottles once the chemicals are inside them. So far, if I want to process E6/C41 within an hour, I have to warm up the chemicals with hot water from the sink until they are ready to be used. Does anyone have a better or more efficient way to process E6/C41 that doesn't take hours?

Thanks!

You could add an additional heater, like an aquarium heater. However those with integrated temperature control do not go up to 40° and would have to be modified before. (I myself though still did not succeed in getting the cap off from such glass tube...)

I have a CPP3 and a couple other Jobo processors. First I run in manual mode. Secondly, I fill the machine from a mixing valve, so I start at at least 40°C. I have always pre warmed my chemistry. For small amounts I use a microwave oven, I've been doing this for decades. If you are using 500mm only takes a few seconds.

I have a Jobo TBE tempering box for 1 liter bottles and it holds 6 graduates. If I am in a hurry I plug this in the night before then everything is pre warmed.

The CPP3 has a lower (read safer) water level than the earlier processors, I don't have a problem, but it is a bit of a challenge to get the machine full of water. You need to fill twice. Another fellow on this forum has made a handy device to raise the water level, as long as you don't flood the head of the unit this is fine. Personally I'm not going to try to out guess the Jobo engineers.

The Auto feature is a simple process timer that's built-in to the machine, in the old days these were sold separately, I still use a ordinary timer.

With E6 I always use an oversized tank, pre wash several times to insure that the tank, lift, everything is up to temperature. I try not to use less than 500mm of solution, the greater the mass the less chance for temperature drift. Because of the pre wash you may need to adjust 1st developer time a bit. I haven’t had too, no issues with the Tetenal or Fuji kits.

If you are trying to use a 1520 tank on that big machine with the lift you need to be very careful. A warm darkroom helps.

LIke above, I fill the Jobo with tempered water, I mix dilute chemicals with tempered water and if needed I'll put chemistry in the TBE box beforehand.