How many power sockets do you have and...

[Jamie A Cowan]

Hey Internet friends...

How many power sockets do you have in your darkroom and..
how many would you want if you could start fresh?

I am building a darkroom and this is the list I have come up with so far.
NOTE: It's my first darkroom, what have I missed? (I would like to be future proofed).

1. Enlarger
2. Enlarger timer - does this get power from the enlarger?
3. Laptop (Digital processing)
4. Computer Display
5. Printer
6. Pakon 135 scanner
7. Drobo Hard drive
8. Wireless Router
9. Telephone iPhone charger (?)
10. Wakie-Talkie Charger station (to talk with the wife)
11. Air ionizer
12. Dehumidifier
13. Music - player / speaker
14. Safe lights x 2 or 3?
15. White Light ceiling rack
16. White light wet print viewing station
17. Light Table
18. Dry heat press
19. Dry mount Tack iron
20. Ventilation - maybe mains wired?
21. Film Fridge
22. Chemical heater tray
23. Neg Dry case

 

[bsdunek]

I have six. My darkroom isn't that big and I don't have so much stuff. My safelights and white lights are hard wired to wall switches, so none needed there. I don't have any computer equipment in my darkroom - don't want to pollute the film/printing process. For a large darkroom, you're right - you need a not.

 

[Jamie A Cowan]

Thanks Bsdunek.
Mine will not be large 3m x 3m ...and I don't think I will have a socket space for everything mentioned, I don't want to be left short in the future.
Yes, my man cave will double as a print finishing room and a computer room. (Space is expensive in London).

Anything I should be thinking about when it comes to power? (I'm a complete novice in this regards, i will be hiring a pro to do all the work)

Jamie

 

[Svenedin]

I have 2 electrical sockets and a trailing extension which provides further sockets (if it has a light make sure you cover it with black tape). Yes, the enlarger timer takes power and then the enlarger plugs into the timer. Some timers (e.g. the RH Designs Analyser Pro) also have a socket for a safelight. I am also in London. My darkroom is about the same size as yours and I only have one 20 watt safelight and no running water. I place prints in a bucket of water and take them to the bathroom to wash.

 

[Ian Grant]

I have eight sockets, 4 doubles, but then I have three extension leads with 4 or 5 sockets one with power surge protection for the computer etc. There's a safety breaker for the dish warmer.

Not everything is in use all the time. Safelights are wired togetrher and the main lighting is on a pull cord stretching across the darkroom so can be accessed easily from most of the darkroom (approx 3x4m)

Ian

 

[Jamie A Cowan]

Svenedin - Thanks, I will make sure i tape up all those LED's!!! and tahnks for the heads up RE the timer, I will earmark a socket. I think I will have water, but not 100% sure. if not I will run a hose from the garden. (I will be in a shed/Laboratory in the garden)

Ian - 8 sockets + 15 (3x5 extension) I count about 23 in total. And you say you dont have everything plugged in all the time? what do you have in all the 23?
I like the idea of a corded main light, can I steel that idea?

Jamie

 

[Rick A]

I have four duplex receptacles in my darkroom, the one for the enlarger/timer is isolated to avoid any issues if anything else powers up during exposures. Overhead lights are on a wall switch, print and negative viewers are separate, main safelight is controlled by the timer, second safelight has its own switch. All computer gear is in another room, as is my UV exposure unit. No music, no phones, no walkie talkie or other non essential garbage. I don't have a need for a film drying cabinet, though I do run a small electrostatic air cleaner. My film freezer is in the basement next to my beer fridge. No eating or drinking or other distractions allowed in my DR.

 

[Svenedin]

Svenedin - Thanks, I will make sure i tape up all those LED's!!! and tahnks for the heads up RE the timer, I will earmark a socket. I think I will have water, but not 100% sure. if not I will run a hose from the garden. (I will be in a shed/Laboratory in the garden)

Ian - 8 sockets + 15 (3x5 extension) I count about 23 in total. And you say you dont have everything plugged in all the time? what do you have in all the 23?
I like the idea of a corded main light, can I steel that idea?

Jamie

Shed sounds like an excellent retreat from the house but you'll have to consider heating requirements and also how you are going to keep the shed from getting too damp. Dampness is a very bad thing for lenses, boxes of paper, film, negatives and delicate equipment made of ferrous metal etc. You could consider storing lenses and paper in the house and only taking them out when you are actually going to work in the darkroom. Also sheds tend to get very hot in Summer depending on where it is in the garden and this is a problem for paper and chemicals (and the occupants).

 

[Jamie A Cowan]

'Executive' shed with heating and running water.

Not moved in yet, I get the keys to my new house next Thursday. the shed came as an added bonus! CANT WAIT !

But thanks for the heads up about heat, I never thought about that.

I dont think damp will be a problem, its very well made.

 

[Svenedin]

'Executive' shed with heating and running water.

Not moved in yet, I get the keys to my new house next Thursday. the shed came as an added bonus! CANT WAIT !

Excellent. You will just have to lightproof it. That is easier said than done but perfectly possible. Thick, lined, curtains might work. My darkroom is not quite perfectly light tight so I tend to work in there at night.

 

[Jamie A Cowan]

I have a loooong list, including lightproofing, which is first on the list.

The fun starts next week.



[]Blackout material ( + paint mat white and Black) window size = x cm
[]Fan Ventilation
[]Sink
[]Shelves
[]Work tops
[]Cupboards for storage
[]Storage for family
[]Rubber floor
[]Lighting - Unsafe White Light
[]Light box table
[]Red light / Safe Light
[]Paper safe
[]Light box
[]Inercom - walkies Talkie
[]Print viewing station - easel or magnets

Wet
[]Hot and cold plumbing Water outlet (warm cold 20 degrees) Photography sink
[]Dev. Stop. Fix. trays
[]Tongs
[]Squeege Negs
[]Glass and window cleaner
[]Water Filter
[]Print washer (Gravity Works $300 ebay) Patterson 9.5x12 washer $130
[]Drying racks (upside down with nets)
[]Drying Clothes line with pegs
[]Drying shelves
[]Negative dry locker - Drying wardrobe

Equipment Large

[x]Enlarger Leitz V35 [x] 40mm F2.8 Enlarger Lenses
[]Enlarger timer
[]Foot switch ?
[x]Easel (4 bladed easel) vs multiple size paper easel.
[]Glass (flat weight for paper when printing Contact prints) - Anti newton ring Glass
[]Grain focuser - Peak
[]Loup 10x or 12x enlargement
[]Negative ion generator (Dust)
[]Heat press / Dry mount
[]Dry-mount tack iron
[]Dry mount paper
[]Film fridge

Equipment Small

[]Light tight ‘photo bag’ Dark bag (changing bag)
[]Film leader retriever - ($16,99) Matin & Jack the hat
[]Film cartridge cassette opener $12.99
[]Photographic paper
[]Wall at an angel for sticking prints
[]Print (full size squeegee)

[]Film hanging clips
[]Printing trays - x3 plastic different colours
[]Tongs x 3 differing colours
[]Anti static little brush
[]Canned air - Scuba tank

Chemicals

[]Apron
[]Developer (Rodinal Agfa)
[]Stop
[]Fix
[]Gloves
[]Chemical bottles (consertenaed bottles)
[]Measuring cylinders - chemical mixing
[]Thermometer
[]Funnel measuring cylinder
[]Paper weights
[]Paper
[]Paper Vault
[]Tank - Patterson black plastic tank
[]Fixer (TF4) and TF5 photographers formulary 1 part tf4 3 parts water
[]Big gallon bottles (Glass)
[]Syringe
[]Darkroom clock
[]Contact sheet (box)
[]Storage
[]Book way beyond Monochrome- research

Matt cutter
Paper Cutter
Cutting Matts

 

[Jamie A Cowan]

I have four duplex receptacles in my darkroom, the one for the enlarger/timer is isolated to avoid any issues if anything else powers up during exposures. Overhead lights are on a wall switch, print and negative viewers are separate, main safelight is controlled by the timer, second safelight has its own switch. All computer gear is in another room, as is my UV exposure unit. No music, no phones, no walkie talkie or other non essential garbage. I don't have a need for a film drying cabinet, though I do run a small electrostatic air cleaner. My film freezer is in the basement next to my beer fridge. No eating or drinking or other distractions allowed in my DR.

Rick - No music No beer.

Why Isolate the timer/enlarger (and what does that mean)? what issues and what could power up?

jamie

 

[Saganich]

I have no power outlets in mine. I have a long extension out the door to an outlet in the hallway and a power strip inside to power 1 duplex, one enlarger (with f-stop timer), and 1 small desk light. Everything else is either wind-up or battery operated.

 

[MattKing]

Rick - No music No beer.

Why Isolate the timer/enlarger (and what does that mean)? what issues and what could power up?

jamie

Definitely no beer - inside the darkroom.
Having the enlarger and timer on a separate circuit - preferably with voltage stabilization if it is available - helps prevent inconsistency due to voltage changes/surges.
That can be particularly important if you print colour.
That being said, most of us are able to work successfully without that.
I have one GFI dual outlet and one extension cord coming from outside in my temporary darkroom/bathroom. The general illumination in the bathroom comes from a switched light fixture. And there is a wired in switched ventilation fan.

 

[Jamie A Cowan]

Definitely no beer - inside the darkroom.
Having the enlarger and timer on a separate circuit - preferably with voltage stabilization if it is available - helps prevent inconsistency due to voltage changes/surges.
That can be particularly important if you print colour.
That being said, most of us are able to work successfully without that.

Thanks Matt, I will see what this will cost to do and judge accordingly.
But serous question ... why no beer, have i missed something?

Jamie

 

[MattKing]

Thanks Matt, I will see what this will cost to do and judge accordingly.
But serous question ... why no beer, have i missed something?

Jamie

Don't eat or drink in the darkroom. Darkrooms are best if kept clean, and you don't want to be reaching for something to put into your mouth in a room where it may be difficult to see, and there are bottles of stuff that you shouldn't drink.
Outside is fine!
If you have a separate circuit for the enlarger and timer that alone will help prevent voltage fluctuations, and make it easier to add stabilization later, if necessary.

 

[Jamie A Cowan]

Thanks Matt, understood, but no promises will be made in writing.
Jamie

 

[Fujicaman1957]

Uhhhh...odd as it sounds,28. I bought a Mil-surplus aluminum workshop and turned it into a darkroom, It had outlet strips that plugged into outlet that were on GFI breakers, but the strips were in the wrong place. So I torn out the old strips and bought some 12 outlet strips from Harbor Freight Tools and installed them where I needed them.

 

[Jamie A Cowan]

Uhhhh...odd as it sounds,28. I bought a Mil-surplus aluminum workshop and turned it into a darkroom, It had outlet strips that plugged into outlet that were on GFI breakers, but the strips were in the wrong place. So I torn out the old strips and bought some 12 outlet strips from Harbor Freight Tools and installed them where I needed them.

...and are they all used?

If so, with what? I listed 23 of the top of my head but i have yet to start building so do not want to underestimate.

what have you got plugged in Fujicman

best

Jamie

 

[Svenedin]

Thanks Matt, I will see what this will cost to do and judge accordingly.
But serous question ... why no beer, have i missed something?

Jamie

It’s a general rule not to eat and drink when handling chemicals. I don’t drink when developing film. It’s too time-critical and a mistake could cost however many rolls of film are in the tank. When I’m printing I do sometimes have a beer (or gin) but I use a slot processor so there are no open trays and I don’t store any chemicals in my darkroom. If I mess up a print I can make another one. Don’t have any liquids where they could spill onto your negatives or anything electrical. Make sure all of the electrical circuits are protected by an RCD at the consumer unit (“fuse box”) or if not present protect them with an RCD in the darkroom.

 

[Jamie A Cowan]

Make sure all of the electrical circuits are protected by an RCD at the consumer unit (“fuse box”) or if not present protect them with an RCD in the darkroom.

Svenedin thanks I have added this to the list for the electrical engineer. & Gin, Like your style.

 

[Ian Grant]

Ian - 8 sockets + 15 (3x5 extension) I count about 23 in total. And you say you dont have everything plugged in all the time? what do you have in all the 23?
I like the idea of a corded main light, can I steel that idea?

Jamie

It's not a new idea, Ive seen it in a few darkrooms it just makes sense.

Ian

 

[Rick A]

Rick - No music No beer.

Why Isolate the timer/enlarger (and what does that mean)? what issues and what could power up?

jamie

I think Matt answered this very well for me. There may be other large appliances in the home that may cause fluctuation of current down line when they start up, such as a refrigerator or washing machine. I have a circuit wired directly to the fuse panel solely for my enlarger and timer. As for no beer or food or other things, I go to my darkroom to be left alone and do not want distractions. Some processes can be done outside of or with door open to darkroom, then it doesn't matter. Hell, when I was much younger I smoked and drank in my DR, many times a pizza would grace the counter and there would be two or three of us "working". Of course, most times our work would would reflect those habits.

 

[AgX]

Instead of installing more mains outlets in your darkroom than other people have in their whole homes... you might use few semi-stationary power strips. You could move them along the edge of table/wall and finally when things have settled fix them in position with screws.

Installing a residual-current circuit breaker just for that darkroom might be another thing to consider.

 

[Pieter12]

I have 2 duplex outlets with 3 power strips connected. That gives me an outlet for the timer, which has a safelight and the enlarger connected to it, a timer and small electroluminescent panel for flashing, lightbox, cordless phone base, stereo, a second safelight and a white inspection light over the wet area, a large digital clock for timing, and an exhaust fan. That leaves me a couple or three empty outlets available for whatever else I might need to plug in as needed (hotplate to warm water for mixing in the winter, vacuum to clean every once in a while, etc.) Mounting and trimming are done outside the darkroom.