Philips PCS 2000 Troubleshooting

[Flares]

I recently picked up a Philips PCS 2000 from a camera shop, and it only partly works.

I calibrated the voltage to the bulbs as per the service manual, but when I try to switch the enlarger between Standby, Adjust, and Focus modes, the bulbs don't respond. Plus when I flick it between Positive and Negative modes, it blows the bulbs. The former is the bigger problem since I don't plan on scrounging for Cibachrome paper anytime soon, but looking at the controller board nothing's sticking out to me as bad.

Any ideas what I should try?

 

[Pegajoy]

I have also a PCS 2000 and had lot of trouble and investigation to make it running and I destroyed a lot of expensive replacement bulbs until I found the problem. First replace the bulbs by cheap 12 Volt bulbs - just for the testing phase. Later for enlarging, I would go back to the original or replacement bulbs due to the color of the light. Problem of my enlarger was the card board in the pilar. It is all metal and the isolation of the side with the electrical lines was damages and there were a lot of electrical shorts. Replace it by new isolation tape and to be safe replace all fuses on the board as well as the transfomator and it might be back to work. After testing you should place to original bulbs back.

 

[Pegajoy]

And btw, I use it also for Cibachrome

 

[Pegajoy]

I calibrated the voltage to the bulbs as per the service manual

It would be nice if you can share the service manual or give link to it.

 

[Flares]

It would be nice if you can share the service manual or give link to it.

Phillips PCS2000 Enlarger Service Manual : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Phillips PCS 2000 enlarger service manual and circuit diagrams

archive.org

Here's the link

 

[ic-racer]

FYI the PCS 150 service manual is also available on that site:

https://ia804508.us.archive.org/9/items/manual_PCS150_SM_PHILIPS_DE_FR/PCS150_SM_PHILIPS_DE_FR.pdf

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

Many years ago I owned a PCS2000 that gave me problems.
I found that there was a 'dry joint' as in a bad lead soldered connection in the column.
Such a bad connection can result in voltage surges that possibly could blow a bulb.

 

[Pegajoy]

Many thanks. Would have made my investigations easier if I had it before