Durst L1840 and RH Designs StopClock...can't get there from here?

[Mark Carstens]

I have an RH Designs StopClock (f-stop timer) that I acquired for another enlarger. When I picked up an L1840 Durst a while back, it became clear that these two units may not work together, at least not in the "plug and play" sort of way (as the StopClock does with my Saunders).

So, my question...is there a way to control the Durst light source via the StopClock by circumventing the controls on the Durst? Be forewarned, I can turn a wrench as well as the next guy, but I know nothing about things electrical.

I put a query into RH Designs to which they responded promptly, and at this point, unless there is a way to tap into the light source, it appears I'd be confined to using the StopClock as an elaborate calculator for the Durst.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and ideas.

~Mark

 

[ic-racer]

I have an RH Designs StopClock (f-stop timer) that I acquired for another enlarger. When I picked up an L1840 Durst a while back, it became clear that these two units may not work together, at least not in the "plug and play" sort of way (as the StopClock does with my Saunders).

So, my question...is there a way to control the Durst light source via the StopClock by circumventing the controls on the Durst? Be forewarned, I can turn a wrench as well as the next guy, but I know nothing about things electrical.

I put a query into RH Designs to which they responded promptly, and at this point, unless there is a way to tap into the light source, it appears I'd be confined to using the StopClock as an elaborate calculator for the Durst.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and ideas.

~Mark

You can easily bypass the timer in the Durst control box. Just hook the RH Designs unit up to your light source. Which light source or head are you using?

If it is a CLS head, then the timer input on those is pretty foolproof. It accepts 120v or 220v from your timer, but that voltage only operates an on-off switching funciton. The 1000w or 2000w CLS power supply will draw its high amperage current through its other cord to the mains supply and not fry your timer.

Let me know which components you have; it should be an easy hookup.l

 

[ic-racer]

So, based on what I see on the "Stop Clock" instructions at the RH site and if you have a CLS head you would do the following:

Hook the Stop Clock "Mains input connector" to your mains
Hook the Stop Clock "Enlarger Connector" to the "timer" input on your EST1000 or EST2000 power supply (I believe this will work with either 120v or 220v)
Hook the "power input" connector on the EST1000 or EST2000 to the mains.

You will no longer need a cable from the enlarger's power supply's (between the feet) "timer output" to the "timer input" of the EST1000/2000.

 

[ic-racer]

If you can use a screwdriver and wire stripper, you can construct the needed european style cable ends from mouser.com let me know if you need part numbers.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showpost.php?p=534776&postcount=135

 

[Mark Carstens]

So, based on what I see on the "Stop Clock" instructions at the RH site and if you have a CLS head you would do the following:

Hook the Stop Clock "Mains input connector" to your mains
Hook the Stop Clock "Enlarger Connector" to the "timer" input on your EST1000 or EST2000 power supply (I believe this will work with either 120v or 220v)
Hook the "power input" connector on the EST1000 or EST2000 to the mains.

You will no longer need a cable from the enlarger's power supplies (between the feet) "timer output" to the "timer input" of the EST1000/2000.

It's alive! It's alive!! Thanks so much, IC!

• I hooked the StopClock "Mains input connector" to my wall outlet via a 3-prong extension.
• I hooked the StopClock "Enlarger Connector" to the "timer" input on my EST1000 power supply (there were no sparks or blown fuses, so I think you were right about the 120v connection)
• I hooked the "power input" connector on the EST1000 to the mains (a socket marked "AUX").
• I crossed my fingers and powered up.

It works!! Yeah, baby!! I'm in business!!

Side note: I ended up cannibalizing the socket connection cable from the enlarger's power supply's (from the "timer output" to the "timer input" of the EST1000) to connect the StopClock to the EST1000N power supply. I had a heavy duty 3-prong cable laying around that I'd pulled off an old projector cart "just in case"...this case. I did an internet lookup first as the wire colors are blue/brown/green rather than black/white/green.

Anyway, I'm off and running!

Thanks again. And thanks too, IC, for the "Durst L1840...Everything you wanted to know..." thread on LFPF. I've learned a lot there.

Best regards,
~Mark

 

[RH Designs]

Glad you got it sorted Mark, and thanks to you and IC-racer for posting the info. It's often difficult for us to come up with a definitive answer to how to connect to an unfamiliar enlarger type so experiences like this are valuable.