Enlarger Not Working - HELP!

HowieP · May 5, 2016

Hi, I feel like I'm losing my mind. I've been working with a Beseler 23CII and a Gralab 300 timer for some 30 years. Suddenly, the enlarger stopped working. I replaced the bulb, still not working. When I plugged the enlarger directly into the wall outlet, it lit up, so it must be the timer, right? I bought another Gralab 300 timer on eBay and THE SAME THING HAPPENED. Enlarger works fine plugged in directly and not at all when plugged into timer. Both timers do everything else that timers do so what am i doing wrong? I tried different outlets with same results.

Rick A · May 5, 2016

http://www.gralab.com/pdfs/300.pdf

Ian Grant · May 5, 2016

It's quite possible there's a blown fuse.

Ian

MattKing · May 5, 2016

HowieP said:
Hi, I feel like I'm losing my mind. I've been working with a Beseler 23CII and a Gralab 300 timer for some 30 years. Suddenly, the enlarger stopped working. I replaced the bulb, still not working. When I plugged the enlarger directly into the wall outlet, it lit up, so it must be the timer, right? I bought another Gralab 300 timer on eBay and THE SAME THING HAPPENED. Enlarger works fine plugged in directly and not at all when plugged into timer. Both timers do everything else that timers do so what am i doing wrong? I tried different outlets with same results.

Check that you didn't accidentally switch the switch on the Gralab that switches between the enlarger and safelight outlets.

HowieP · May 5, 2016

Thanks all. Ian, the outlet clearly works. The enlarger, plugged in directly, lights up. The timer counts down the seconds and buzzes when time expires. A lightbox attached to the same outlet also lights up. An overhead flouescent light also lights up. The only thing that doesn't work is the enlarger when it is plugged into EITHER timer. Matt, there is no switch on the Gralab that switches between the enlarger and safelight outlets. The safelight, whive I've never attached to the timer anyway, comes on automatically when the timer gets to zero. The only thing that doesn't work is the enlarger when it is plugged into the old or new timer. What would explain that?

bdial · May 5, 2016

If the enlarger's plug isn't molded on, it may have a loose connection. The same is likely true if the plug is molded, but it would be harder to spot.
With the timer turned on, for focusing, for example will the enlarger light if you wiggle the plug or wire?
Did the plug get disturbed somehow immediately before the failure?

MattKing · May 5, 2016

HowieP said:
Matt, there is no switch on the Gralab that switches between the enlarger and safelight outlets

It is the switch on the top left of the face (as seen here):

HowieP · May 5, 2016

bdial said:
If the enlarger's plug isn't molded on, it may have a loose connection. The same is likely true if the plug is molded, but it would be harder to spot.
With the timer turned on, for focusing, for example will the enlarger light if you wiggle the plug or wire?
Did the plug get disturbed somehow immediately before the failure?

bdial, Not sure what a molded plug is, but this one looks pretty standard. I bought the enlarger in the early 1980s if that's any help. If it had a loose connection, wouldn't it also not work when plugged directly into the outlet? I tried much wiggling of the plug and the wire but cannot get it to work when plugged into either timer. To my untrained eye, the plug looks to be in good shape. The plug did not get disturbed in any unusual fashion; as you can imagine, I've been doing this for 30 years so my techniques are pretty standardized from one session to the next. Thanks for your help!

HowieP · May 5, 2016

MattKing said:
It is the switch on the top left of the face (as seen here):

Oh got it Matt, since I don't plug my safelights into the timer, I think of that switch as the one that switches bewteen Focus and Timer. I've tried every possible combination of focus and timer and on and off and, no matter what, I can't get the enlarger to light when plugged into the timer, the old one or the new one. Thanks again.

Rick A · May 6, 2016

If you have followed the instructions for connection the enlarger to the timer, have set the timer controls correctly(vis-a-vie the online manual) and still not working, have you checked the inline power switch on the enlarger. IIRC, 23C's have a switch in the power cord to control power without a timer.

jvo · May 6, 2016

short in the plug or cord resulting in intermittent connection - coincident with plugging into timers?

HowieP · May 6, 2016

silveror0 said:
Is the Power switch at the top right of the timer's face turned on? Had to ask; yeah, that's pretty basic and not likely the solution since you've been using the timer for 30 yrs

Yes that's not the solution but thanks for trying. You never know, right?

HowieP · May 6, 2016

Rick A said:
If you have followed the instructions for connection the enlarger to the timer, have set the timer controls correctly(vis-a-vie the online manual) and still not working, have you checked the inline power switch on the enlarger. IIRC, 23C's have a switch in the power cord to control power without a timer.

Rick, I'm pretty ignorant of electrical subjects but I cannot find anything resembling an inline power switch on the Beselar 23CII. The power cord is entirely uniform from the point where it emerges from the enlarger until the plug, no switch of any kind. Did I miss something?

HowieP · May 6, 2016

jvo said:
short in the plug or cord resulting in intermittent connection - coincident with plugging into timers?

jvo, pardon my ignorance, but the problem doesn't seem intermittent. It works every time when plugged directly into the outlet, and never when plugged into either timer.

Luis-F-S · May 6, 2016

I'd try a different type of timer in the remote case that you have two bum timers. If you plug a lamp into the timer does it work?

DWThomas · May 6, 2016

Hmmm -- somehow I got that other stuff plugged into the timer apparently worked -- or am I misunderstanding post #5? If that's the case (if not, ignore me!) I would suggest grabbing a short extension cord. Plug the enlarger into the cord, then plug the cord into the wall receptacle and try it. Then try it plugged into the timer. (And try the cord inserted between the timer and a light that has worked directly.) Sometimes plugs or receptacles get some twists or bends in the contacts and don't mate well. My idea with the extension cord is to connect to the timer with a different plug. Some receptacles, especially the types built into various timers and switches, don't really have full wiping surface contacts as one might expect and are prone to getting screwed up over time. (Disclaimer: I have zero experience with Gralab products!)

Edit: Question also -- anybody know if the Gralab has an internal fuse?

I have seen cords with molded plugs where there is an internal break in a conductor that is barely held in contact by the surrounding plastic. Such a plug will sometimes mostly work, but act up when the cord hangs off the plug at a different angle. The obvious cure for that is replace the plug.

Jon Shiu · May 6, 2016

Are you saying the timers work with other lamps, just not the enlarger?

DWThomas · May 6, 2016

Further musings ...
These appear to be electro-mechanical (so at least we're not looking for dropped bits in a ROM!) anybody know if they use direct contacts on the timer clock mechanism? Or do they use a relay? In either case, contacts might be pitted and burned and unhappy. In some cases careful, tedious work with a fine file or emery cloth might burnish them enough to get more years out of them. Or if a relay, replacement could be possible. Some of this sort of stuff can be strung along pretty much forever, but one might question the time required to do so.

MattKing · May 6, 2016

If you were local, I would give you a working Gralab 300.

mgb74 · May 6, 2016

So:
The enlarger was working with the original timer but stopped working.
The enlarger doesn't work with 2 different examples of the same model timer.
The enlarger works when the timer is bypassed (i.e. enlarger plugged into the wall).
Another device (lightbox) works when plugged into both timers when they are set exactly as with the enlarger.

Right?

Here's what I'd do:
Test the timers with a load closer to that of the enlarger (say a 75-100w incandescent trouble light). I don't think there's anything electronic in those timers, but worth a try.
Test the enlarger with an extension cord, first into wall then timers (per DWThomas). This should eliminate plugs/receptacle as an issue.

paul ron · May 6, 2016

Just plug a table lamp into the socket on the timer marked ENLARGER n try it also using the switch set to focus n time. Do the same hook up to the SAFELIGHT socket on the timer n play with the switch n timer.

ALso play with that knob near the bottom.. thats the buzzer?

The switch in the upper right corner is for? play with that?

There is no electronics in the timer at all. Its purely mechanical.

Luis-F-S · May 6, 2016

Jon Shiu said:
Are you saying the timers work with other lamps, just not the enlarger?

Of course

Jon Shiu · May 6, 2016

No, I'm asking the OP if the timers are working correctly with other lamps, or not. He never explicitly said so. Just a reference to other lamps on "outlet". I take outlet to mean wall outlet.

HowieP · May 6, 2016

I just spent several hours trying everything suggested and then some. I figured out what the problem is but don't know how to fix it: Apparently the enlarger plug is defective. If I wiggle it into the timer recepticle with the timer on and running,I can get it to light up but not stay lit. I tried an extension cord but the problem remained (because, I guess, the enlarger plug doesn't seat properly in the extension cord just like it doesn't in the timer recepticle). Both timers are fine: They light lamps, the safelight connection works flawlessly. So now the question is: what can I do about the enlarger plug to make the connection with the timer socket work? I'm willing to devote time to fixing the plug but lack the expertise to do anything electrical.

MattKing · May 6, 2016

HowieP said:
I just spent several hours trying everything suggested and then some. I figured out what the problem is but don't know how to fix it: Apparently the enlarger plug is defective. If I wiggle it into the timer recepticle with the timer on and running,I can get it to light up but not stay lit. I tried an extension cord but the problem remained (because, I guess, the enlarger plug doesn't seat properly in the extension cord just like it doesn't in the timer recepticle). Both timers are fine: They light lamps, the safelight connection works flawlessly. So now the question is: what can I do about the enlarger plug to make the connection with the timer socket work? I'm willing to devote time to fixing the plug but lack the expertise to do anything electrical.

Cut it off and wire in a new plug.

Make sure first that the problem isn't higher up the cord.

Enlarger Not Working - HELP!

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