Chromegatrol Issue

ca1945 · Jan 23, 2016

I just got an Omega D5XL and a Chromegatrol. The lamp won't light in Focus or Exposure modes; all I get is a buzzing sound that sounds like the relay oscillating. Current bulb shows resistance across it's terminals; brand new bulb didn't fix the issue. Multimeter on the bulb socket shows voltage that changes when Focus knob is thrown. This is similar to an issue on jollinger's site, but I'm not a tech and don't feel comfortable poking around uninformed in a stone age voltage regulator with what appears to be a capacitor the size of a red bull. Anyone got any safe next steps I could take to troubleshoot this thing further? I should mention unit is a -40 model.

Sirius Glass · Jan 23, 2016

Welcome to APUG

I too have a Chromega Dichroic II D5-XL. I have not had that problem. Where are you located in Southern California? When I have had problems I talked to Dave and Norma Smith at http://darkroomdoctor.com/Home_Page.php They are located in South Pasadena.

ca1945 · Jan 23, 2016

Thanks. APUG is not letting me reply, even though my messages are plain text. Pasadena is not too far; I am in San Diego. But I would like a better understanding of what's going on on the inside to do future maintenance myself. I understand the theory behind it (a transformer with two taps, one voltage regulated and a timer circuit built with ICs), but can't make the leap from the schematic to troubleshooting.

Sirius Glass · Jan 23, 2016

Do you have a manual? If so check out that you have everything set up. Let me know if you have the manual? If not, I will see if I have one.

You may be interested in this meeting Sunday 24 January. (there was a url link here which no longer exists) I am not sure that I will drive down for this meeting.

Sirius Glass · Jan 23, 2016

Correction (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

ca1945 · Jan 23, 2016

I don't have a manual for it, nor the D5 (which I have another issue with.. my lamphouse levers are hitting hitting a flange at the top of the column, essentially locking my head to a small range of up-down motion at the very top of the column.. a picture would explain best but alas, no pics for me yet!). Jollinger doesn't have either of those.

I'm not available tomorrow for the meetup

Sirius Glass · Jan 23, 2016

I will see what I can find. I know that I have something. The question is where?

George Nova Scotia · Jan 24, 2016

Here are some manuals for you. I have one more but it's too big to upload tonight. It's a Service manual for a group of Omega enlargers. I hope these help there may be several versions.

MattKing · Jan 24, 2016

Welcome to APUG.

You may want to speak with the people at KHB, whose website on enlargers is full of great Omega information: http://www.khbphotografix.com/

They can probably sell you a manual as well.

I have a manual for my enlarger, the Pro-Lab D6, which is the version based on the D2.

You reference the Chromegatrol timer and power supply. Which head are you using with it?

ca1945 · Jan 24, 2016

George: thank you for the manuals. Looking at the diagrams in there, the flange that my lamphouse lever bars are hitting is the counter balance. One more post and I will be able to upload an image of it! The wierd thing is that my enlarger looks like the picture of the D5 but with the counterbalance on top in the picture of the D3. Did the D5XL add a counterbalance to the top of the D5, or was I sold the wrong enlarger?

Matt: I am using a Super Chromega D II head.

MattKing · Jan 24, 2016

ca1945 said:
George: thank you for the manuals. Looking at the diagrams in there, the flange that my lamphouse lever bars are hitting is the counter balance. One more post and I will be able to upload an image of it! The wierd thing is that my enlarger looks like the picture of the D5 but with the counterbalance on top in the picture of the D3. Did the D5XL add a counterbalance to the top of the D5, or was I sold the wrong enlarger?

Matt: I am using a Super Chromega D II head.

Sounds like you actually have a D6 (like mine). See the D6 link on KHB's page for discontinued enlargers.

http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/

ca1945 · Jan 24, 2016

Looking at those enlargers, it's definitely not a D6. It's weird.. the column and the hardware on the column look exactly like a D5XL. But there are the two counterbalances on the top.

ca1945 · Jan 24, 2016

Finally, I can post a picture... this is the second issue I'm having, with the lamphouse levers hitting this counter balance flange preventing it from moving further down. If I take them off and move the head down, I can't put them back on because the column itself blocks the holes.

John Koehrer · Jan 24, 2016

Here's a link that might help:http://www.jollinger.com/photo/enlargers/chromegatrol_repair.html

I can't find a picture of a D5 with the exposed springs like yours but that doesn't prevent me from this:
I think the lifting arms have to be removed, the carrier lowered a little and the arms reinstalled. None of the images online have the carrier up that high and look like they're about 6" lower than the top of the column.

MattKing · Jan 24, 2016

The arms "pop" out of and into the slots that hold them, once the retaining clips are dealt with.

I believe that John is correct - you need to pop out the arms that hit the flange, move the assembly down at least a foot and then pop them back in.

ca1945 · Jan 24, 2016

John/Matt: That was my first thought exactly. Unfortunately, when I move the head down, the column itself blocks the slots for the levers:

So I guess I need to find a way to move the whole assembly forward so that there is clearance for these bars? But looking at the enlarger, I can see no way to accomplish this.

MattKing · Jan 24, 2016

Can you upload a shot from the side that shows more of that assembly and how it is riding up and down the column?

ca1945 · Jan 24, 2016

Here is a wider shot showing the carrier and how the column itself blocks the slots after I've moved it down past the flange, and a shot from the back:

MattKing · Jan 24, 2016

I believe that someone has taken this apart and re-assembled it incorrectly.

I've only a D6 to reference directly, but it seems to me those two larger wheels are intended to ride along the outside edge of the column, with contact being made between that column and the ridge on those wheels, not the outer rim of those wheels.

EDIT: the wheels need to be moved out - see the red arrows below, and the ridge marked in green should be in contact with the column.

ca1945 · Jan 24, 2016

I felt it had to be something with those.. like they were too big or something, because if they were smaller the whole assembly could angle forward more. I will try and disassemble that and see what happens. So instead of butting up against the rack, they should be flush against the edge of the column?

MattKing · Jan 24, 2016

ca1945 said:
I felt it had to be something with those.. like they were too big or something, because if they were smaller the whole assembly could angle forward more. I will try and disassemble that and see what happens. So instead of butting up against the rack, they should be flush against the edge of the column?

This is so much harder to do over the internet than it is in person .

But yes, I think what you are saying is what I think you should do.

I'm concerned though about the geometry though, because if the counterbalance springs being on top is another sign of a "custom" change the angles might be off.

And be cautious of those counterbalance springs - they are quite powerful!

George Nova Scotia · Jan 24, 2016

Matt has you on the right track. Here are a couple pictures from the back of one of mine (an older gray paint). I'm not sure what is going on with yours and the counterbalance springs. When I look at your photo the seems to be a "ghost" from where the springs were. Like Matt said be careful with them. Perhaps they broke at one time and had to be replaced with another type ??

ca1945 · Jan 24, 2016

Thank you guys so much! I was able to get those things back on track and now I can raise and lower the head all I want. Looking at your enlarger George I can tell where those springs should be.. do you happen to have a picture of what the springs attach to at the top on your unit? Maybe I can return this unit to its original configuration if I can see what the springs attach to.

Now if only I could fix the damn Chromegatrol..

Sirius Glass · Jan 24, 2016

One step at a time. Get the structure in the proper form and then we can work one the Chromegatrol.

www.jollinger.com/photo/enlargers/chromegatrol_repair.html

http://store.khbphotografix.com/Omega-Chromegatrol-Instruction-Manual.html

George Nova Scotia · Jan 24, 2016

Re the Chromegatrol. I had a quick look at the schematic. Interesting design, not something you'd see today. Basically a "Hot chassis" no real isolation on the DC timer side. That design could really bite you if you not careful.
But let's save that for another day.

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