RIP Omega Precision Timer II

[Ariston]

I'm really sad. I really like this timer and it has stopped working. I am no good with electronics, but I thought I would check on here to see if anyone has ever had this timer start leaving the enlarger on, whether set in Focus or Time. I am guessing it is just a failure of the switch, but what do I know?

This is the one:

 

[Danner]

Very likely uses a 115 volt relay to switch the enlarger lamp on and off. Probably an easy fix for a technically oriented person.

Good luck.

 

[albada]

It probably contains an electrolytic capacitor to smooth AC in order to supply steady voltage to the electronics. Electrolytics eventually dry out and fail, causing the hum you hear in old radios. Again, as Danner said, an easy fix for a technically oriented person.
Mark Overton

 

[DWThomas]

It probably contains an electrolytic capacitor to smooth AC in order to supply steady voltage to the electronics. Electrolytics eventually dry out and fail, causing the hum you hear in old radios. Again, as Danner said, an easy fix for a technically oriented person.
Mark Overton

All true, and another possibility is that some/many/most of those timers use an 'RC' (resistor-capacitor) combination to do actual timing. As they age, particularly the capacitor, that timing function could fail and possibly just stop the internal timing. I "upgraded" from a homemade analog (RC) timer back when I re-started darkroom work and have run into failures on a couple of different brands of timer (all moderately ancient ePrey purchases). When the current one goes some sort of homebrew Arduino or similar device will likely be the next attempt. (I usta wuz an embedded systems type the last two decades of working history).

 

[albada]

All true, and another possibility is that some/many/most of those timers use an 'RC' (resistor-capacitor) combination to do actual timing. As they age, particularly the capacitor, that timing function could fail and possibly just stop the internal timing.

I hadn't thought of that. Yes, an RC for timing is likely to fail at this age. And since you mentioned Arduino...
I made an Arduino-based timer and LED-controller (combo). I'm impressed with the Arduino and related products because they make electronics easy for those with little knowledge of electronics. Like you, I am an embedded-software geek who's comfortable with electronics, but I like the Arduino because it saves me the time from having to learn how to set the registers for pin-MUXing and various devices, such as the timers and LCD. If anyone needs a timer, I encourage you to make one based on the Arduino Uno. You'll find some examples if you search the Internet for "Arduino darkroom timer."
Mark Overton