Minolta Elite Scan 5400 Scanner - light bulb question.

[yossi]

Hello all,

While I was trying to clean the dirty mirror of my Elite Scan 5400 scanner recently, I opened up the light head unit in the scanner and took a closer look at the light source of the scanner - a very tiny fluorescent tube. It looks just like any ordinary fluorescent tube but it is very tiny, only about 6cm (L) and 2mm (dia.) No marking on it.

I observed that the light tube unit of my scanner already showing signs of impending death! The two ends of the tube look grey-ish now. Unless the light tube could be replaced, once the tube is dead, so is my beloved 5400 scanner!!

So I googled. Not much useful information found. Only definitive statement from Minolta years ago is that this light tube is NOT user replaceable!

I am sure this question must have been asked many times before (but I couldn't find any definite answer.) Is there anyone who have experience changing this light tube with success? If so, kindly share your experience here. TIA.

yossi

 

[brbo]

Lately, a lot of those scanners get butchered for the lens and the scanners without the lens are then sold cheaply or for parts. Keep your eyes opened and get a spare light bulb or entire light head assembly. Of course, you won't know how much life is left in that light bulb, but it's still better than having no spare at all...

I haven't had the need to change the lightbulb yet, but it doesn't look like it's too hard to do.

 

[yossi]

Yes, I do observe the same thing at eBay.uk. Scanner got butchered for the lens I asked the seller to ship the light unit to me, and was quoted for a shipping fee double that of the item's price (total £70). Not knowing if the lightbulb in there is still working nor how much life it still has, I chose to pass. Oh well. If only I could find an equivalent/compatible lightbulb new, somewhere.

 

[brbo]

Maybe some UK Photrio member can buy it for you and send it to your address, you are not going to find a source of new Minolta 5400 lightbulbs.

(I'm not from UK so shipping to me + import costs + my country's VAT + shipping to Singapore would probably be just as expensive...)

 

[yossi]

In the event when the KM5400 dies on me, maybe I should just bite the bullet and get a replacement unit (instead of getting a used lightbulb with unknown lifespan now.)
Good thing I still have a Nikon Coolscan 5000ED as backup.