Omega Super Chromega D Dichroic II questions and power supply?

Oscar Brown · Jan 18, 2017

This morning the mail man handed over my newly acquired upgrade to my previous durst m302 Colour, a second hand Omega super Chromega D enlarger, with a colour head. It is capable of up to 4x5, which I have recently been shooting on my homemade 4x5 camera. One problem is with this enlarger, the power supply to the lamp is a special fitting, with what I assume is for the Omega power regulator. But for $500 I'm not looking to buy a power regulator for a $70 enlarger.

Another thing is, the cyan filter fell out of its place during assembly, and the colour wheels don't return to zero, instead they return to about 7 or 8.

How do I reset the colour wheel display, and how do I put the cyan filter back in?
Is there any other way of how to power this beast's lamp up?

Also, what the hell is this?

Any information will help, as 15 yr old me is too stoopid to figure this out, cheers, oscar

Here's another photo of the power supply, I assume.

Sirius Glass · Jan 18, 2017

Welcome to APUG

Some useful resources:

http://www.classic-enlargers.com/
http://www.khbphotografix.com/
http://www.pdf-manuals.com/enlarging-lenses-accessories-omega-1965-841-instructions

There are no stupid questions here. None of us was born with photographic knowledge. Ask away.

Oscar Brown · Jan 18, 2017

thanks for the resources! is there any way to power up the lamp head without the need of an expensive power supply?

ic-racer · Jan 18, 2017

Look around. My friend got a Chromega D power supply for free a few years ago.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

George Nova Scotia · Jan 18, 2017

No "easy" way. The power supply outputs 22.5vac for the lamps plus power for fan. Schematics are available so you could reverse engineer things if you wanted. How are your electronic skills?

Oscar Brown · Jan 18, 2017

I've seen power supplies going for $40 or so, plus another $80 shipping, but the plugs that are with some of these are american or european. sure i could use an adapter, but the power supply (from what i have read) is rated for 110v, but Australia uses 240v. any way around this? or can i still use it on 240v?

My electronic skills are quite poor, only the other day i did my first bit of soldering. Other than that, i know basic electronics, but i don't know how to read schematics or what components to get or what i would need.

Oscar Brown · Jan 18, 2017

i thought the fan power was different, mine turns on when i plug in a power cord, but thats the only thing that turns on. i though you just plugged that in for the entire time to keep the machine cool, and the 6 prong plug is used for the lamps, both the panel lamp and the enlarger lamp?

Sirius Glass · Jan 19, 2017

Oscar Brown said:
thanks for the resources! is there any way to power up the lamp head without the need of an expensive power supply?

The power should/must come from a controlled voltage source to have consistent illumination and to prolong the live of the enlarger.

George Nova Scotia · Jan 19, 2017

There are 240vac power supplies as well as 120. The transformers are different and the 240 version has a second transformer to step down the 240 to 120 for the fan. The transformer for the lamps is not your normal type but a ferro-stabilized type. Regulation is more important for colour work as the colour of the light changes with voltage.

Oscar Brown · Jan 19, 2017

is there anywhere in australia where i can buy a 240v power supply?

darkroommike · Jan 19, 2017

Onto some of your other issues, I can not speak to the availability of a Super Chromega p.s. in Australia. Most color and variable contrast printing is done with the yellow and magenta filters you may never use any cyan filtration. hat said I took a Chromega B head apart and puzzled it back together for an issue similar to your with the filter wheels not going back to zero. The head had a little (obvious) impact damage. If you are good mechanically, and I used to service roller transport racks, you c`an probably figure out the mechanical issues. Take note, take pictures. I believe that there were three versions of the power supply and that schematics are available for the two newer styles, the oldest p.s. used parts no longer available so is "toast".

darkroommike · Jan 19, 2017

Found a relevant post http://www.jollinger.com/photo/enlargers/chromegatrol_repair.html

Oscar Brown · Jan 19, 2017

i took apart the head and stuck the filter back in, fairly simple task, but with a big enough jolt it will fall out again which I'm not overly worried about. I also found that there is a flat head screw below the colour wheels, which disengage the gears, meaning you can reset the wheels manually before tightening the screw back up.

if all else fails, i might just take out the current electrical system and replace it with a 240v lighting fixture, I'm not to worried about voltage fluctuations because i am only shooting b/w, as colour 4x5 film is super pricey.

and if i do ever shoot colour 4x5, which i would love to, i will try to make the system easily replaceable back to its original state.

where can i find these schematics for the p.s?

cheers, oscar

Oscar Brown · Jan 19, 2017

never mind the schematics, i clicked on your link and it was right in front of me.

joh · Jan 19, 2017

I stuck my cyan filter with some kind of high temperatur clue or kit back in place and it was fine. 240 Volt power supplies are hard to find, I was searching half a year on ebay until I get one. I remember there was one in australia too at this time for around 20$. KHB Photografix in Canada is selling all kinds of replacement parts for Omega enlargers too.

Oscar Brown · Jan 21, 2017

thanks everyone for the help, i am currently looking for a 240v australian plug power supply w/ or w/out the voltage regulator, but if that doesn't work I'm thinking about removing the current illumination system and replace it with a 240v system, but one that is hopefully easily removable and replaceable with the original system,
Wish me luck!
cheers

cowanw · Jan 22, 2017

Oscar Brown said:
Also, what the hell is this/QUOTE]
That is a Cambo 8x10 to 4x5 back and is possibly worth what you need for the power supply if you find one.

Omega Super Chromega D Dichroic II questions and power supply?

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