Converting Super Chromega II to 120V

ic-racer · Oct 31, 2009

This project is about fixing up a surplus Omega Super Chromega II head without power supply.

The plan is to eliminate the power supply and plug straight into a standard timer.

If all goes as planned I'll probably donate to a local fellow APUG user that is just starting a darkroom.

Many thanks to BobNewYork for donating the Chromega for this project.

ic-racer · Oct 31, 2009

Without a power supply, what is missing?

Well, the bulb is 24v and the 'standard' power supply ( 412-021) is just a box with a 24v transformer. I can get a 10A 24v transformer from mouser for about $12, but then I'd need a box and a 6-pin female connector and some AC sockets. Alternatively, I could seek a busted power supply for free or $10 and just use the box and the sockets.

Perhaps the cheapest way is to try and change the bulb to a 120V bulb.

The specs on the original bulb are:
ELC 
BASE:GX5.3 
WATTS:250 
VOLTS:24
MR16 Halogen

It happens that the EXX is 250W and has a GX5.3 base. It runs from 120V

So, it seems that bulb can just plug right in.

All I need to do is wire a cord straight to the bulb.
Then, remove the cord with the 6-pin connector and wire a second cord for the fan and utility lamp.

Bob-D659 · Oct 31, 2009

The fan in the Chromega head unit off a D5XL that I have is 120 vac. I didn't check the wiring for the small bulbs.

ic-racer · Oct 31, 2009

Bob-D659 said:
The fan in the Chromega head unit off a D5XL that I have is 120 vac. I didn't check the wiring for the small bulbs.

Yes, and it looks like the small bulb is 120VAC also.

I just opened it up and even though there is a 6-pin connector on the end of the cord, it is a 4 wire cord:

Green = Ground
Black = Hot 120 VAC
Red = Hot 24VAC
White = Common

The wires go to a buss bar using spade connectors. Things are a little tight because the fan is right there.

To re-wire it would involve running two 3-wire cords and re-doing some of the spade connectors so it would be theoretically a reversible modification, or at least look like factory-original wiring. Though, I will need to make an additional hole in the chassis.

ic-racer · Oct 31, 2009

Fan: gets one wire from Black and one wire from White
Small bulb: gets one wire from Black and one wire from White (though both wires going to the bulb are physically black).
Main Bulb: gets one wire from White and one wire from Red.

ic-racer · Oct 31, 2009

Some mechanical problems to manage:

Rear panel caved in like it was dropped.
Some numbers are worn off the number wheels.
All the foam is gone.
Magenta does not 'zero.'
Small bulb is gone.

ic-racer · Oct 31, 2009

Now if I can find some batteries for my "D" camera I'll post some pictures.

Mike Wilde · Nov 1, 2009

My chromega head refurb efforts

ic-racer said:
Some mechanical problems to manage:

>Rear panel caved in like it was dropped.

can be fixed; pound it out once all is disassembled

>Some numbers are worn off the number wheels.

redo with a sharpie once all filters are aligned, or when all wheels are out; swap the cyan wheel as an option

>All the foam is gone.
replace it; any old camera reair skill is easily scaled up here.

>Magenta does not 'zero.'
I changed the spring in mine to swap it with the cyan spring, since Cyan never was stretched/used.

>Small bulb is gone.
try old sewing machine bulb; I am pretty sure it is the same base and envelope; you may need a resistor in line to cut the amount of light it emits though

my comments are buried in the quote above

Steve Smith · Nov 1, 2009

Mike Wilde said:
you may need a resistor in line to cut the amount of light it emits though

Or a diode if you are running on AC. Something like a IN5404 will do. A resistor will dissipate the same power as the bulb and will get hot a diode will not.

Steve.

Neal · Nov 1, 2009

Dear ic-racer,

I actually modified an old Chromega head once. I'm pretty sure you will need a different socket for the 120V bulb. They are pretty easy to come by. Everything else is pretty straightforward.

Neal Wydra

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

Neal said:
Dear ic-racer,

I actually modified an old Chromega head once. I'm pretty sure you will need a different socket for the 120V bulb. They are pretty easy to come by. Everything else is pretty straightforward.

Neal Wydra

This bulb will fit in the original socket.
http://www.bulbdirect.com/products/product.php?item_id=2759&cat_id=68&page=5

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

The main problem was the dichroic filters and levers.
I took the assembly apart and cleaned everything.
The dichroic filters were in good shape and needed to be re-guled to the lever arms. I used silicone glue.

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

The stacks of separating washers were different at the pivot and the sliding ends of the moving filter levers. This was rectified.

The springs were buggered and they were straightened at the ends and put on the correct hooks, so they don't interfere with each other.

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

The number counters were not making contact with the filter wheels. This was easily rectified.

Some of numbers are rubbed off (How, unless someone kicked this thing around on the ground without that cover plate in place????)

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

The back panel was straightened and re-painted in a few areas.

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

Here is the finished product. Well, almost finshed. I need to do the foam light seals, but I'll wait until I get if fired up so I can test the seals as I go.

I re-painted the numbers by hand with white enamel and a 000 brush (Hey, I do have an art degree, after all).

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

The small bulb is a 6s6, I found one place that has them for $0.97

Product/ANSI Code#: 6S6/DC 120V 
WATTS:6 
VOLTS:120 
EI PC#:40804 
PH#:373761 SY
PC#:16782 
GE#:11592 BASE:BA15d

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

OH, wait, what about the 120V conversion???

Well, after thinking it over, I thought it best to do the conversion in a separate box, like the original power supply. This would allow the use of the original single cord that exits the lamphouse. Things are so tight in the head that extra wires could be problematic. Also, by keeping the head original (except for the bulb), it could easily be hooked up to the correct power supply if needed.

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

The ideal conversion box will be a trashed power supply, as it will have the appropriate 6 pin connector. Anyone out there have one?

Also, a 24v transformer can be had for like $10, so it might be worthwhile to just go ahead and put a transformer in my box. I'll see what kind of a box I can come up with.

The ELC bulb is about $10 wheres the EXX bulb is $20. So, in the long run it might be actually cheaper to buy the $10 transformer and use the cheaper 24v bulb.

ic-racer · Nov 1, 2009

Also, I took the mixing box apart and inspected it. It seemed OK, only a slight yellowing. The the diffusion plastic was quite dirty. I cleaned this well and re-assembled the box.

Erik L · Nov 1, 2009

Hey Ic, that looks like it would fit my d5xl perfectly, I wish I had one I never new they were 220 v. good work.
erik

ic-racer · Nov 4, 2009

Ok, so it looks like someone from the large format forum is going to pitch in a burned out chromega power supply. So my plan at this time is to use that Chromega box and put the $10 Hammond 24V 10A transformer (from mouser.com) into the box.

I'll post the progress...

BTW this head and power supply are getting donated to be put on an Omega D3 that was donated by fellow APUG users for a friend that is starting a 4x5 darkroom from scratch. Kind of a community project. Thanks to everyone that has pitched in!

ic-racer · Nov 11, 2009

Well, I made a mistake on my power calculations for the transformer. The $10 transformer is ten times too small. The size I need is in the $75 to $130 range. I need 120V input and 24V output and 250VA rating (not 10VA as I had initially calculated).

So, I'm looking at a transformer like this for about $80: Dead Link Removed

Now things have shifted in the other direction, looking like the $20 bulb that runs from 120V might be a more cost effective solution.

bdial · Nov 11, 2009

You could use a household dimmer. Hook it up to the head, or an equivalent load (better maybe, probably easier), move the slider 'till you get to 24 volts. Mark the position or super glue it in place. The method worked well for me as a temporary solution to a failed enlarger power supply.
I used one that had an on-off switch separate from the dimming slider.

ic-racer · Nov 12, 2009

Interesting solution. So instead of a transformer, usa an inexpensive triac circuit to chop the waveform.

Converting Super Chromega II to 120V

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency