JOBO ATL3 shenanigans

[David Mackovic]

Hello everyone and happy new year !

Im still working on my ATL3 and I have already posted this question on facebook page so I will copy the text here :


Im still fiddling with my Jobo and now im neck deep in problems with electricity. I will copy here my text i posted on Jobo facebook group.

Hi to everyone
Im working on my ATL3 and im running into issue where when I turn the machine on sometimes it trips RCD in our house and electricity goes off. Today I was fiddling with it again and it tripped but it did it when i moved the SET/RUN switch. My machines is very old and it still uses plastic wheel switch, not as newer machines which have key instead as shown on the image.

So my question is, what was the reason that Jobo put the key there instead of wheel ? Can this be source of my problems with tripping ? Any info much appreciated ! <3

Question 2 :
I have found in my box of parts another upper control board ( one with set/run and programs ) but after searching online i have found that it is board from ATL2+ which also has more programs than ALT3 ( 16 vs 10 on ATL3 ) And my question is, do anyone know if i can swap ATL3 board for ATL2+ ? Maybe it will help with my tripping issues and i will gain acess to more programs , like on newer ATL3s or ATL2+ ( the newer ATL3s have key instead of wheel for SET/RUN and also have more programs )

Thank you so much for any kind of help

 

[Kino]

I would assume the key was placed there to only allow "authorized" persons to run the machine.

Since these are lab grade machines, it would make more sense to have a way to prohibit casual use.

Are you sure the circuit on which the machine is connected has enough amperage to operate the unit? If your circuit is heavily loaded, the inrush current could trip the breaker even if it should have just enough reserve current as specified on the nameplate.

Here is the manual for the machine from an older Photrio thread:

Jobo ATL-3 manual in English

I recently acquired an ATL-3 and it came with what looks to be a complete manual in a blue Jobo binder. I've seen other people (via google) searching for this manual in English online and it looks like it doesn't exist out there... so I scanned mine and here it is for the next person looking...

www.photrio.com

http://www.backglass.org/duncan/darkroom/jobo_atl3/jobo_atl3_manual.pdf

Which model do you have?

If it is the first with the heater, you need to have a dedicated line with at least 20 amps service @220 volts.

 

[David Mackovic]

Hi @Kino and thanks for reply !
Im 100% it is not overloading problem but problem with ground contacting the live wires. Thats at least what my uncle electrican told me.
Anyway, My machine is the complete one but i have removed the heater unit completely so it is basically like the lower ones.