Omega D5500 Dichro Head

[Absinthe]

Just picked up a D5500 Dichro head with the Controller and dual footswitch.

With no manual, can someone give me a quick block of instructions to figure out if this thing works or not.

 

[ic-racer]

Which controller do you have? The bigger 'Translator' controller goes into 'white' mode with the light on when you first turn it on. The smaller controller goes into 'print' mode with the light off when you first turn it on.

What does yours do when you turn it on?

 

[Absinthe]

Well it seems to flash all 8's then eventually shows something that looks like:

d 00 56 75 9.6

Now, the lamp is burned, so I am in the process of trying to find one. Not sure if it will go through its steps properly without a working lamp, but I can try, eh?

I have this one: http://i22.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/e0/df/e8c9_1.JPG

 

[ic-racer]

Ok, I see the link. You have the 'standard' controller. It will 'remember' the last settings. So, the last time it was used it was set to C00 M56 Y75 and 9.6 seconds.

So far it seems ok. I have had at least one unit that would not make the light go on (even with a new lamp). So we can't say for sure it is working correctly yet.

They upgraded that membrane keypad because of some failures. I have at least one controller with this older membrane pad and it still works OK.

So, once you get the new lamp, check out all the buttons on the keypad.

There is a way to zero your lightbox. I'll presume the unit will work OK with the new lamp so here is the description:

There are 3 little trimmer potentiometers on the right hand side of the little bulge thing on the front of the light mixing box. You can use a small screwdriver to adjust them.

For the adjustment, turn the enlarger on and press "White" and let the motors come to a stop (if they won't stop...well, lets just hope they eventually do stop).

Now press the "0" key and the display should show how far each color is off in calibration. You can then adjust the trimmer screws so that each color reads 00. The manual says that plus or minus 25 is still OK. After the adjustment, press 'focus' to get back to the regular display.

 

[Absinthe]

Ok, well the lamp shoudl get here just in time for me to leave on holiday

 

[Ed Sukach]

Ok, I see the link. You have the 'standard' controller. It will 'remember' the last settings. So, the last time it was used it was set to C00 M56 Y75 and 9.6 seconds.

Not quite. the "d" indicates that the first filter, cyan was not used, and that the neutral densty filter was being controlled at that location.

My D5500 will not operate without a good lamp - "EYA".

 

[Absinthe]

Well if this thing is not functioning properly, can I interest you in a brand new "EYA"

 

[ic-racer]

Not quite. the "d" indicates that the first filter, cyan was not used, and that the neutral densty filter was being controlled at that location.

Press "White" then "Time" to get rid of the little 'd.'

 

[Absinthe]

Ok so it looks like with a new lamp in there, I can turn it on while holding down the time button and the head does stuff, lights and different colors. Every few times I can hit white and it will light up full bright. But I am pretty sure the control panel is kaput. Though it seems the head itself functions. Anyone, need an extra head and double footswitch, and a non-working control panel?

 

[Ed Sukach]

Ok so it looks like with a new lamp in there, I can turn it on while holding down the time button and the head does stuff, lights and different colors. Every few times I can hit white and it will light up full bright. But I am pretty sure the control panel is kaput. Though it seems the head itself functions. Anyone, need an extra head and double footswitch, and a non-working control panel?

Don't evaluate that system too quickly. There are a wide variety of different reasons for failure, from wear on the "rollers" that drive the Dichroic filters (repairable with aquarium tubing) to a broken heat glass (IR filter), to a short "Time" setting.

I have *some* spare parts and a little experience with this puppy - just what happens (lights and different colors?) when to try to power it up?

Or ... what keyboard and mixing box do you have?

 

[Absinthe]

It is the controller. Except for the time button, no other buttons beep or really do much. The only way I was able to consistently get it to do much of anything was if I held the time button down during power up. Then occasionally, I could either use the foot switch or hit white or get some other buttons to beep. But not consistently and not all the time. It would seem that when messages get sent to the head it does work the rollers and change filtration and sure enough light up. However, it just doesn't seem like ou can do much to the controller that will make the controller respond. It has the 4x5 mixing box, and the CP is shown at http://i22.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/e0/df/e8c9_1.JPG

If you would like to suggest a test sequence I will go and run it, and report back the results. But at this point, I am pretty sure that the head is fine and the cp is messed up.

 

[Ed Sukach]

Well, to start, turn it off, wait fifteen minutes, and turn it on. What happens - what do the LEDs read without any attempts at correction?

Just a wild stab: Is the Heat Glass - immediately in front of the lamp - OK?

 

[Absinthe]

When I first turn it on without molesting it in any way I get lots of 8's then

d 00 56 75 9.6

At this point the time key will beep but is pretty much the only key that does. However, sometimes if I press it 5 times then press another key I will get it to beep, or a number will change or in the case of the white key it will turn on the lamp. However, this is never consistant or seemingly repeatable.

 

[Absinthe]

I am pretty sure, but will not know until tonight, that the glass is intact. That glass is directly attached to the other side of the piece that holds the lamp?

 

[ic-racer]

Wonder if you ever got it working?

 

[PBrooks]

turn it on--press white (that should clear out all filters), then press filter(to get back where you can change filters) -- press M then 0 then enter - press Y then 0 then enter (if you don't press enter it won't go to 0, but reset) That should give you the same white as pressing white. So, put neg in, press white and wait, then filter(setting filters at this time, remember enter), You can press Time and enter your time now remember enter, then press print (this is not the same as expose), out your paper in and press expose.

 

[Absinthe]

I have not gotten back to this machine, it is now packed away. Some day I will pull it out and look at it again, or simply put it up on eBay and be done with it.

 

[Ed Sukach]

I don't know if I've offered before, but I have a D5500 Manual, and I'll be happy to send you a copy.

PM your mailing address.