Line conditioner - specific or not?

Pavel+ · Nov 29, 2010

I took a walk to my local camera shop this afternoon and found an item that I have a seriou knowledge deficit on. They only wanted $10 so I chanced my lunch money and bought it.

It is a Beseler dual dicro/dga stabilized power supply. The lamp output is 24v-250 watts (450watts max) and is part number 8191.
What have I got here and are these made specific to a particular enlarger or can it be hooked up to either my Omega d2 or Ilford 500H?

Is it of any benefit, I mean does it improve the line voltage? Where I live the power is pretty good but I imagine that it could always be improved so if there are no down sides ( like smoke coming out of my 500H ) will it be worthwhile?

Thanks for any advice. I've always read about line conditioners but don't know enough except to be dangerous and that they are normally expensive.

fschifano · Nov 30, 2010

It's good if your lamp is a 24v lamp. It's useless if you're running a standard tungsten lamp like the PH212. I have one for my Omega Chromega II lamp house and it does help even out any fluctuations in the line voltage. I could use one that outputs 110 volts for the Beseler 45 with a condenser lamp house.

Nicholas Lindan · Nov 30, 2010

fschifano said:
I could use one that outputs 110 volts for the Beseler 45 with a condenser lamp house.

Try a Sola CVS constant voltage transformer. There is usually a selection on ebay. There is no point in getting any more wattage than you need - the rating is given on the nameplate as "VA" (volt-amperes). Also, don't get one rated at fewer watts than the lamp as they are also current regulated. A 60W(VA) CVS transformer will supply 60VA to a 150W lamp - not what anyone wants.

They are heavy beasts - shipping can sometimes cost more than the transformer.

Mike Wilde · Nov 30, 2010

What Nick said.. I have a 250VA Sola CVS bolted with a pair of lag screws into a stud in the wall, to feed the analyser/timer, and the omega supply that feeds my Chromega II head.

I found it for $60 used at a local camera shop, and lugged it home. I would not want to pay freight on this thing.

The down side is the hum. I switch it off to shut down the noise of the tx, and tx in the omega p/s as well as the fan in the colour head. I like processing my films in silence. It is virtually the only silence I get all week.

Pavel+ · Nov 30, 2010

Thanks everyone! If anyone local to Raleigh wants it - it is free to a good home.

Jeff Bannow · Nov 30, 2010

Pavel+ said:
Thanks everyone! If anyone local to Raleigh wants it - it is free to a good home.

I'm not in Raleigh, but could use it if you are willing to ship it.

Pavel+ · Nov 30, 2010

Jeff I'd be happy to ship it to you. You can have it for your cost of shipping.
PM sent - let me know.

Sirius Glass · Nov 30, 2010

A line conditioner maintains a consistent bulb brightness. Even though you do not see the fluctuations in voltage, the fluctuations are there. You may notice them in brown out conditions.

It would be wise to keep the line conditioner and use it.

Steve

AgX · Dec 1, 2010

Sirius Glass said:
Even though you do not see the fluctuations in voltage, the fluctuations are there. You may notice them in brown out conditions.

Steve, What do you mean by that?

jp80874 · Dec 1, 2010

Mike Wilde said:
What Nick said.. I have a 250VA Sola CVS bolted with a pair of lag screws into a stud in the wall, to feed the analyser/timer, and the omega supply that feeds my Chromega II head.

I found it for $60 used at a local camera shop, and lugged it home. I would not want to pay freight on this thing.

The down side is the hum. I switch it off to shut down the noise of the tx, and tx in the omega p/s as well as the fan in the colour head. I like processing my films in silence. It is virtually the only silence I get all week.

Thanks Nick and Mike. I have a transformer and battery backup in my office for my computer gear. The safety is required, but the noise does bother me. Is there another technology or brand that is quieter, that would address both the clean power need and the sound problem?

John Powers

Pavel+ · Dec 1, 2010

I'll be shipping it to Jeff - he has a way of keeping it in service (or whatever he plans to do) and to me it is a paperweight. I'm mostly using the ilford 500H and I've been told by Richard of RH Designs that it would destroy the enlarger to plug it in - so it's a done deal. Shipping is more reasonable than I would have guessed.

I will send it on Friday Jeff - or try to.

Jeff Bannow · Dec 1, 2010

Thanks again!

Sirius Glass · Dec 1, 2010

AgX said:
Sirius Glass said:

A line conditioner maintains a consistent bulb brightness. Even though you do not see the fluctuations in voltage, the fluctuations are there. You may notice them in brown out conditions.

It would be wise to keep the line conditioner and use it.

Steve

Click to expand...

Steve, What do you mean by that?

Even in the best electrical supply system the voltage varies. The line conditioner keeps the brightness of the bulb constant [and also extends the live of the bulb] therefore both through out a session and from session to session the exposures will be consistent. That is why, as an electrical engineer, I recommend that you keep the line conditioner and use it..

Steve

ic-racer · Dec 1, 2010

Sirius Glass said:
keep the line conditioner and use it..

Steve

Actually what he has is not a 'line conditioner' but a regulated power supply for a different enlarger than he has. Best to pass it on to someone who can use it to put another enlarger back into service.

Sirius Glass · Dec 1, 2010

ic-racer said:
Actually what he has is not a 'line conditioner' but a regulated power supply for a different enlarger than he has. Best to pass it on to someone who can use it to put another enlarger back into service.

Ok. [I knew it was a regulator, but I did not want to add confusion by bringing in a new technical term.]

Steve

Pavel+ · Dec 3, 2010

My GF sent it this afternoon - you should get it about tuesday next week. I hope you enjoy it!

Line conditioner - specific or not?

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