F-stop timer kit. Has anybody seen this?

I have been printing black and white for a few years and have always lusted after an f-stop timer. Mainly to be more productive in the darkroom (changing paper sizes), and it also makes sense to think in f-stops.

I saw this posting in the rec.photo.marketplace.darkroom group...

http://www.nolindan.com/da/fstop/

It is essentially a kit with all the electronics included. You just build it into an enclosure, and bob's your uncle. The price is what got my attention USD$68. With a StopClock LE from RH Designs in England at GBP115. After foreign exchange is factored in to get it to me in Canada (2.48 ) it would cost me CAD$285.

Has anybody used this or at least looked at it on their website? I am handy enough to get it into an enclosure without electrocuting myself.

Any comments, or ideas??

Roger Bird

Roger,

No I haven't seen this but thank you for bringing it to my attention. I think that assembly should be fairly straightforward if one can solder. That really isn't difficult for those who haven't done it. I see that the whole kit including circuit boards, enclosure and components comes to $108.00. Not a bad price in my estimation.

Jorge O. would be the one to address whether this could be accomplished more reasonably since he is an electronics engineer.

Thanks again.

Donald Miller

Roger, Thanks for the information. I have been using a f stop timing table to manually set my Bessler timer. This would be much easier to use...

I have been working in electronics for about 28 years now as a technician.
It looks like the kit assumes good soldering ability and how to properly
orient the components & mechanical assembly skills. I don't think the instructions will guide you like the old HeathKit products.

I am going to order the entire kit and will let you know how it goes. I would be happy to help if you decide to get the kit yourself.

Would the timer cheaper to bring into Canada as a kit rather than a built product? The factor may be different?

Regards,
John

I think once you add up all the different assemblies the price is over $100usd. Still cheaper than RH Designs, but not having really studied RH's device I can't tell if we are comparing apple to apples. I have the RH Flasher and it is a quality product.

JHannon said:

Roger, Thanks for the information. I have been using a f stop timing table to manually set my Bessler timer. This would be much easier to use...


Would the timer cheaper to bring into Canada as a kit rather than a built product? The factor may be different?

Regards,
John

Click to expand...

I too have been using printed table. what a pain in the a**. I don't mind putting it together so unless a fully assembled kit is only an extra few bucks, I will be breaking out my soldering iron.

Let me know how it goes. Thanks
Roger

Nicholas Lindan posts regularly in R.P.D., and I believe he is a competent designer. There was a thread in which he was asking for suggestions in such a timer kit.

Thre is also one (or more) solutions based in a Palm handheld, but at this time, no kit I'm aware of, just a circuit for the enlarger interface.

Jorge O

I just built the kit and it works very well. Like I said earlier, you need some soldering/electronic assembly skills. The hardest part for me was punching the holes in the chassis. The kit includes all parts and hardware plus parts lists, schematics and drilling templates. Nick is very helpful.

I bought the parts and pc board kit and used my own chassis. No time this week to try it in the darkroom, but I will post updates. The test strip mode should be a time saver..

This is a good buy for about $100 if you like to build projects.

Regards,
John