Identify the lamp of the Zone VI cold light head

Hi, everyone:

Again, I post another problem about my Zone VI cold light head:

I have purchased a Zone VI cold light head and a Compensating Timer (Please see the attachments) for my OMEGA D5 XL enlarger. And I want to use them print on the ILFORD VC paper.

But I heard that there are two types of lamp in this head, the old type lamp (W45) for graded paper and the new type lamp with a wider spectrum(V45) for the VC paper. But I can't identify the lamp in this my light head is which one (the W45 or the V45?) Because there isn't any mark on the lamp...

So I would like to know is there anyone know how to identify this lamp? And is there any method to test it to tell it?

If it is the old one (W45), could I use it for the VC paper?

I am looking forward to you feedback.

Thanks!

--Li

Look on the tube for identifying marks like these. If you don't have any marks, just try it and see how much separation between the high grades you can produce.

If you have a W45, the Ilford filter grades 3 to 5 bunch up so there is not much difference between them. To spread out the high grades, Ilford recommends adding a yellow filter and this works well. http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2006130201152306.pdf

ic-racer said:

Look on the tube for identifying marks like these. If you don't have any marks, just try it and see how much separation between the high grades you can produce.
View attachment 97278
If you have a W45, the Ilford filter grades 3 to 5 bunch up so there is not much difference between them. To spread out the high grades, Ilford recommends adding a yellow filter and this works well. http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2006130201152306.pdf
View attachment 97279

Click to expand...

Thank you very much!

Very useful advice!

I believe the new Aristo tube is V54. But do Zone VI heads use Aristo tubes? They probably never came from the factory with a V54 installed. And can you install an Aristo V54 in a Zone VI? You might be able to still buy one of the newer runs of V54 tubes from the company that took over Aristo but it will cost you.

The color of the light output is different. The W45 is quite blue and is the original tube for graded paper. The V54 is blue/green and quite bright for the VC paper. Of course it may be tough to decide which is which without two to compare. I have 3 of those Aristo D series lamp houses. Two have the original and the other has the V54. It is a Zone VI branded lamphouse. I expect that these lamps and houses were manufactured by Aristo for rebranding as Zone VI. The lamps should be the same and are currently available here; http://www.light-sources.com/specialty/products/aristo-replacment-lamps, sold as the D2-HI Replacement Lamp. The last time I checked on these the price was $165 for the lamp.

Steve

ChuckP said:

I believe the new Aristo tube is V54. But do Zone VI heads use Aristo tubes? They probably never came from the factory with a V54 installed. And can you install an Aristo V54 in a Zone VI? You might be able to still buy one of the newer runs of V54 tubes from the company that took over Aristo but it will cost you.

Click to expand...

Hi, thanks for your reply. I saw some posts on the internet showed that the tubes of Zone VI cold light head was made by Aristo. So I think it can be install in this head.

scheimfluger_77 said:

The color of the light output is different. The W45 is quite blue and is the original tube for graded paper. The V54 is blue/green and quite bright for the VC paper. Of course it may be tough to decide which is which without two to compare. I have 3 of those Aristo D series lamp houses. Two have the original and the other has the V54. It is a Zone VI branded lamphouse. I expect that these lamps and houses were manufactured by Aristo for rebranding as Zone VI. The lamps should be the same and are currently available here; http://www.light-sources.com/specialty/products/aristo-replacment-lamps, sold as the D2-HI Replacement Lamp. The last time I checked on these the price was $165 for the lamp.

Steve

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Hi, Steve:

Yes, indeed I tough to decide which tube is because I don't have two to compare. So I post this question on there. The information that you offered is very useful. Thanks a lot!

---Li

The W45 has three finger`s, and the W54 has four finger`s. (I look at a finger as where the tube does a 180 degree turn) The four fingered one is the latest.---I think?