Anyone know how to use the Durst RCP 40 Vario?

mnemosyne

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Just a very general hint: IIRC the Durst RCP units were at the time (late 70s?) engineered and manufactured by German company Thermaphot. Later Thermaphot started producing their own brand table top RT processor (the ACP series). As the owner of Thermaphot is still around and offers parts and service for his machines, those of you who are looking for specific parts like cogwheels, pumps, rollers etc. might contact him. I have no idea if he is able or willing to support the RCPs, but in desperate cases one could at least give it a try. The contact details / email address can be found on the Thermaphot website.
 
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bottlegardener

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Hey thanks that's a great tip! I was a bit worried about what to do if one of the pumps were to die.
To answer Roberta's question: The RCP 40 is very easy to use. I'm a beginner and I had no problems at all after I learned the proper volume of chemistry.
 

AgX

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mnemosyne said:
Just a very general hint: IIRC the Durst RCP units were at the time (late 70s?) engineered and manufactured by German company Thermaphot. Later Thermaphot started producing their own brand table top RT processor (the ACP series).
Click to expand...
Thermaphot started with industrial roller transport processors. It may be that via tollmanufacturing for Durst they came into the amateur/small-professional market.
 

RMB10

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finally I was sent some photos of the RCP 40 VARIOSPEED I was telling you about ( whose engine doesn't work, but the rest seems to be in perfect condition ).
Any comment or advice would be highly appreciated....
Thank you!!!!
 

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bottlegardener

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Hi Roberta, again, I'm no expert, but it certainly looks cleaner than my RCP 40. I wonder if the seller would be willing to unscrew it and take a couple pictures of the insides? Perhaps it a really obvious thing like the drive belt off the pulley?
 

RMB10

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Hi, I finally got to meet the seller this morning and got the RCP 40 Variospeed ( with the broken engine!) for 80 euros...
Bottlegardener I will unscrew it and send a photo of the inside.
Before I buy the manual here https://www.camera-manual.com/model.php?modelid=3293, I was wondering if anyone has it (possibly in English ) and doesn't mind DM it to me?
Thank you very much!
 

RMB10

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Hi, here some photos of the inside. bottlegardener, the drive belt seems fine.
 

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AgX

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Looks good. It actually has 4 motors and the ventilator, contrary to what I thought, is seperate.
Pull the plug (well, you seemingly already took off the wiring of the vent), check by sight all cables, contacts and the fuse filamant, if there is a fuse.
If all seems ok, set it on and report back... The 3 pumps though better should not run dry I assume. So only try for a moment or fill them. What of course makes checking the underside difficult...
 
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AgX

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You can also check with the plug pulled if the gear train is working and not stuck somewhere.
Also check whether the rollers in the racks you pulled out can be rotated.
 

RMB10

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Thank you Agx, I will run on the checks and report here.
I think when I plug it in, I will fill the baths with water just to be safe.
I already noticed one of the rollers was kind of stuck and needed some strength to be rotated.
I guess a bit of oli should do. I will get some today.
Regarding the RCP40 Variospeed instruction manual, do you know if this german one is the only one available to buy?
https://www.camera-manual.com/model.php?modelid=3293,

Unfortunately I can only read English and Italian!

Thanks again!
 

AgX

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You can try and run the processor without the racks inserted, and then with just one inserted. By this you could nail down a problem related to one specific rack.

That link with those manuals shows covers with titles in English. What makes you believe that the manuals are in German?
You might contact Durst for an English manual.
 

RMB10

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You are right, looks like it's in English! I'll buy it now. I got confused with the previous posts saying the manual was in German!
 

RMB10

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The manual comes to about 15 euros including delivery and takes a week to arrive.
I was hoping for an online version. Any recomendations?
 

RMB10

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Hi AgX I just noticed one of the green cables ( where you see the red arrow in the ph ) was not connected to anything. But I don't really know where it should be going.
 

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AgX

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Yellow-Green by standard is the Protective Earth.
One end should go to the mains cable, to its protective earth wire. UNLESS your cable is to connect as earthing two components, then your free end should go to another component. I cannot find out from that photo.
But the type of connector may give an indication were not to put it.
 

AgX

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In your preceeding photos the now free end was behind the lower right pump assembly, what might be the place were it was connected. (The other pump assembly is also connected to three wires, but I cannot see details.)
 

RMB10

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[
AgX said:
In your preceeding photos the now free end was behind the lower right pump assembly, what might be the place were it was connected. (The other pump assembly is also connected to three wires, but I cannot see details.)
Click to expand...


perhaps it goes here. I can see the third connection on the far left is not taken.
 

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AgX

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That is the temperature control. Earthing does not make sense, in this case.*
(Unless its counterpart at the left, or above in the photo, has such, what I do not see. Also that earthing wire would be too long for use at the right/lower temperature control.)

*Basically earthing of such control (thermostat) would make sense, as its probe goes into the processing bath. However the probe is clamped to the heating tube and the tube's cover is connected to earth.



Earthing of the pumps though would make sense to me.
Though it seems both pump assemblies already got an earth wire at their base plates.
 
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AgX

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My last guess would the steel frame the base plate is mounted on, if so. Then there might be a connector to that frame, likely on top of the base plate, the side were the vent is located.

Otherwise I am clueless.
 

RMB10

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it' s hard to tell. I wonder if the instructions manual has a map of the electrics...
I just bought it and I'll find out soon!
 
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RMB10

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I'm waiting for the instruction manual to arrive. But was wondering if any of you knew if the RCP 40 Variospeed manual also contains a page with the technical drawings of all the electrics so that if it breaks an electrician can repair i. I think that would be what I really need now.
 

AgX

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-) no resp. Durst manual I know got a schematic included
-) Durst published seperate service manuals
-) so far no one came up even with an operating manual, thus I only can repeat my advise to contact Durst
-) I myself beyond of my hints on possible wiring am clueless. Though I consider my last hint most likely.
 

mpirie

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The green/yellow wire is the earth for the metal baseplate which was removed for the photo's.

There should be a flat tag bolted to the base to attach that wire. If not, then you need to make one because you are mixing liquids and electricity.....not a good mix if there is a leak while the power is on.

Mike

BTW.....looks VERY similar to my RCP20 except the '20 has only one motor.
 

AgX

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It feels good to have it got right at the end...

Thank you for solving that enigma. The photos we got were not the best.
But still the whole shebang was quite simple and I was getting mad by not solving it.

That base/frame thing was my best bet, as I not even was sure it was made from metal.
With all other components seemingly already protected the large free lenght of that cable did hint at something to be removable.
 
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RMB10

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Thank you Mike. I will have a go and let you know how I get on.
 
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