I want stronger light in my Multigrade head

VincentM · May 7, 2009

Hello,

I am looking into fitting stronger lights in my Durst L1200 with Multigrade 500H.
It is clearly written on the head that the maximum light shouldn't exceed 120V 300W.

I checked inside and nothing is written on the 2 lights except USA 46 so I don't even know if those lights are actually the strongest possible !!

Have you guys tried to upgrade it? Which lights did you fit in?

The objective is to get shorter time when I print big size and lith.

ow and now that I started this thread, do you know guys how to make the ventilator quieter ?? It drives me crazy sometimes !

Marco B · May 7, 2009

I think it is not recommended to go beyond the 2x300W as Ilford prescribes... I have that, and the enlarger head already becomes pretty warm in extended exposures... In addition, the transformer is rated for that maximum too if I remember it well, so going beyond that is definitely not good.

Anyway, I also recommend you to have a close look at the inner paper lining of the diffuser box. I discovered that mine (second hand), was pretty yellowish, due to paper ageing. Replacing it, or covering the paper lining up with bright white carton, may give you some extra light.

Marco B · May 7, 2009

VincentM said:
ow and now that I started this thread, do you know guys how to make the ventilator quieter ?? It drives me crazy sometimes !

Put a radio on...

Actually, I find mine pretty quiet and acceptable, but I don't know if it differs from yours... I have once opened the whole thing, but there is not much to maintain or oil in there... it's just a fixed centrifugal fan.

VincentM · May 7, 2009

Ok point taken, I will keep to it. Is there any Voltage and Watts inscriptions on your lights??

I just checked at the paper lining and it's fine !

VincentM · May 7, 2009

The radio is always ON What upsets me is actually the fact that the fan runs for two minutes more after exposure...

Marco B · May 7, 2009

VincentM said:
Ok point taken, I will keep to it. Is there any Voltage and Watts inscriptions on your lights??

Yes, it says ELH 300W 120V, but also USA 68, which differs from your 46, so, maybe you do have lower wattage lamps.

Just wait till one of the American APUG members chimes in... can't be long

Marco B · May 7, 2009

What exposure times do you roughly have by the way, for a 4x5 negative / diffuser box combination?

L Gebhardt · May 7, 2009

My 500H is very bright. Too bright in fact. I usually use a 2 stop neutral density filter to get the times long enough at F/8. So I would bet your lamps are not the right wattage. Mine are also ELH 300W.

Andrew4x5 · May 8, 2009

As a guide to print times, an 8X10 print using Ilford MG FB, with a typical 4x5 neg requires f22@6-12seconds.

As pointed out by Marco, the correct lamps are 300W/120V (ANSI code is ELH).
600W is quite a lot of heat to dissipate, so using larger wattage lamps - I'm not sure whether such lamps are available - would only be asking for problems. The 600w is also the reason the (rather noisy) fan continues for 2min after the lamps are turned off. Note that some of the noise may be due to other parts of the head that are vibrating (resonance effects). In my case, the front door sometimes rattles.

Marco B · May 8, 2009

Vincent:

I had a slightly closer look at the manual of the 500H head that I have, and noticed there was an extra "supplement" regarding the use of 300W lamps. It seems ILFORD has had two distinct series of this model:

- All units below serial no. 5H11471 were essentially designed for 150W lamps. The problem is not with the transformer / power supply, because that one can power 2x300 W lamps, but with the head.

- All units above that serial no. can take 300W lamps. However, they have a crucial modification to the head: the addition of two black metal "heat baffle plates" to protect the left and right plastic sides of the 500H head.

I have made a scan of this supplement page that explains it. Read the text and see the image showing the heat baffle plates.

So, check your unit for the serial number and if the heat baffle plates are present. If that is OK, you can exchange your lamps for 300W versions. If not, you are stuck with the 150W lamps, or you will have to modify the unit yourself.

Marco

Chazzy · May 8, 2009

One of my heat baffle plates worked loose and I can't find the screw. If anybody knows what size it is, I would appreciate the information. I'm completely un-handy and wouldn't have the faintest idea how to figure it out, short of buying a wide assortment of small screws and trying them until one works. Do screws come in metric sizes in the UK?

Marco B · May 8, 2009

If you still have the other baffle plate hanging properly onto it's screw, why not unscrew that one and take the screw with you to the shop where you're going to buy the replacement?

Andrew4x5 · May 8, 2009

Chazzy
According to the service manual (downloaded from the Ilford site), the screw is M3, 6mm long. You also need an M3 washer. (The manual says it's a "plain" washer, but given that the screw has vibrated loose, perhaps a locking washer would be better.)

VincentM · May 9, 2009

Marco B said:
Vincent:

I had a slightly closer look at the manual of the 500H head that I have, and noticed there was an extra "supplement" regarding the use of 300W lamps. It seems ILFORD has had two distinct series of this model:

- All units below serial no. 5H11471 were essentially designed for 150W lamps. The problem is not with the transformer / power supply, because that one can power 2x300 W lamps, but with the head.

- All units above that serial no. can take 300W lamps. However, they have a crucial modification to the head: the addition of two black metal "heat baffle plates" to protect the left and right plastic sides of the 500H head.

I have made a scan of this supplement page that explains it. Read the text and see the image showing the heat baffle plates.

So, check your unit for the serial number and if the heat baffle plates are present. If that is OK, you can exchange your lamps for 300W versions. If not, you are stuck with the 150W lamps, or you will have to modify the unit yourself.

Marco

Thanks very much Marco, that's very helpful. I am now quite certain that the actaul lights in my head are not the strongest and that my head can actually handle those 300W lamps. So I am good for some chopping now

Chazzy · May 9, 2009

Andrew4x5 said:
Chazzy
According to the service manual (downloaded from the Ilford site), the screw is M3, 6mm long. You also need an M3 washer. (The manual says it's a "plain" washer, but given that the screw has vibrated loose, perhaps a locking washer would be better.)

Thanks very much. Now that I know what I need, I just need to locate a U.S. source for the screw and washer.

Chazzy · May 9, 2009

It looks as if the screws and washers are both available on Amazon.com!

resummerfield · May 9, 2009

Also check your local hardware store. Our little "Ace Hardware" in our 4000 population town has a wall-full of cases of small metric screws and washers.

I want stronger light in my Multigrade head

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