Zone VI Cold Light Power Pack Question

The Bunny · Oct 5, 2017

Does anybody use or have knowledge of what kind of ballast or power pack is needed for a Zone VI cold light in a Beseler 23 C II enlarger? I got the enlarger with the cold light head many years ago, but never used it because it was missing the power pack. I have looked inside the lamp housing and found a heater element that plugs into a standard wall outlet, but there is no ballast inside the lamp house. There is a cord with a DIN connector that apparently plugs into an external ballast box. There is also a photo cell inside the lamp house and I have a compensating metronome that plugs into that.

So, my question is, what kind of power pack/ballast/transformer is needed to power the light? I would appreciate if somebody could perhaps post a photo of the unit so I know what to search for.
I have found a similar Aristo cold light with a power pack that is a simple box with an on-off switch. It is labeled "BES 23-C". Does anybody know if this power pack would work with the Zone VI light?
Any help to shed some light (no pun intended) on this is appreciated.

Mainecoonmaniac · Oct 5, 2017

Before you get too deep into fixing the cold light, it might not be worth your while. If you're a variable contrast paper user, you might have to balance out your tube. I think cold light heads were originally made for graded paper users. I've used them and they're too dim for my taste.

resummerfield · Oct 5, 2017

I agree with Mainecoonmaniac. The cold light heads need compensation because of their inadequacies.

I would look into some of the LED conversion heads. I think there is a model for the 23C. Some have just added a simple LED bulb to the Beseler Condenser Head, and I’ve seen some good reports.

The Bunny · Oct 5, 2017

I appreciate your input. Regarding the LED conversion heads, I have looked at the Heiland heads, but they are very expensive, 1,283 euros plus the price of the controller unit.
I also consider converting it back to a condenser head, but I don't have the condenser disks since I got the enlarger with the cold light source. I have seen the condenser assembly listed for sale and I think it is also available from Beseler so it shouldn't be a problem.
That was an other question I meant to ask, if anybody has used an LED bulb in the condenser head and been able to print on VC paper. It appears that this would be the easiest and cheapest way to make it work.

juan · Oct 5, 2017

On mine for. Beseler 45, the DIN connector goes to the compensating timer. There are two AC cords, one marked heater and the other supplying power to the lamp. I don’t know what is inside.

The Bunny · Oct 5, 2017

juan said:
On mine for. Beseler 45, the DIN connector goes to the compensating timer. There are two AC cords, one marked heater and the other supplying power to the lamp. I don’t know what is inside.

The Beseler 45 probably has a self contained light with the ballast built into the housing if you have two AC cords. The cold light for the 45 is larger diameter than the light for the 23C. Your light has a photo cell like mine, to which the compensating timer is connected. My light has one AC cord for the heater and the cord that powers the lamp connects to an external ballast box with a DIN connector. I assume they used a special connector so people wouldn't plug it into a wall outlet or timer since it doesn't work without ballast.
I think I will convert it back to a condenser head and try a regular LED bulb and see what happens.

juan · Oct 6, 2017

Maybe contact Richard Ritter. He posts here sometimes, but I believe he has a website.

bdial · Oct 6, 2017

Richard's site is http://www.lg4mat.net, he has an email link there, which is probably the best way to contact him.

Mainecoonmaniac · Oct 6, 2017

If you're really looking to use a cold light head, take a look on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zone-VI-COM...793239?hash=item1a36ef2a17:g:BBAAAOSwWf9ZnymF

Personally, I think they're somewhat irrelevant darkroom gear in an age of LED technology and multigrade paper. But there are some die-hard graded paper users will find them still useful. The problem is if you do buy a used one, what happens if it craps out?

Doremus Scudder · Oct 7, 2017

I can't help with the power source question, but you should be aware that the last generation of cold-light heads from Zone VI and Arista used a tube that emits a broad enough spectrum to allow a full range of contrast on VC papers with the usual filters. Once you get your tube powered up, if the light is white, you're good to go. If it is definitely green/blue in color, it is one of the older types, but will still be usable with VC papers for all but the extremes of contrast, again with the usual filtration.

Best,

Doremus

The Bunny · Oct 7, 2017

Mainecoonmaniac said:
If you're really looking to use a cold light head, take a look on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zone-VI-COM...793239?hash=item1a36ef2a17:g:BBAAAOSwWf9ZnymF

Personally, I think they're somewhat irrelevant darkroom gear in an age of LED technology and multigrade paper. But there are some die-hard graded paper users will find them still useful. The problem is if you do buy a used one, what happens if it craps out?

The light on ebay is for a Beseler 45 or maybe Omega. It is larger than the one for Beseler 23C. And yes, you are right about the LED lights being available. Regarding the cold light tubes going out, there are actually replacement tubes still available. I contacted Louise Kessler at Light-Sources which bought Aristo, and asked about the ballasts. However, most Aristo lights had the ballast built into the heads. Fred Picker copied the Aristo heads and was actually sued for it.
I don't have to use the cold light, I just thought it would be nice to make it work. I might as well spend some money on the original condenser assembly and go with an LED bulb.

The Bunny · Oct 7, 2017

Doremus Scudder said:
I can't help with the power source question, but you should be aware that the last generation of cold-light heads from Zone VI and Arista used a tube that emits a broad enough spectrum to allow a full range of contrast on VC papers with the usual filters. Once you get your tube powered up, if the light is white, you're good to go. If it is definitely green/blue in color, it is one of the older types, but will still be usable with VC papers for all but the extremes of contrast, again with the usual filtration.

Best,

Doremus

Thank you for the info. I suspect the light is an older version since it doesn't have the ballast built in. I think the older Aristo ballast pack works for this light tube so I am looking for that box on ebay.

The Bunny · Oct 7, 2017

bdial said:
Richard's site is http://www.lg4mat.net, he has an email link there, which is probably the best way to contact him.

Thank you! That is a good idea.

The Bunny · Oct 7, 2017

juan said:
Maybe contact Richard Ritter. He posts here sometimes, but I believe he has a website.

Thank you! I did contact Louise Kessler who is familiar with the Aristo lights and found that replacement tubes are still available but no ballast, since the newer light heads had the ballast built in.
Richard probably knows what type of ballast was used in the power pack.

ChuckP · Oct 9, 2017

I did have an Aristo for the 23C and it has a separate power package. Too bad the original owner of your enlarger lost that part. Trying to find another one might be hard and costly. Have you thought about maybe getting a color head and doing away with filters.

The Bunny · Oct 9, 2017

ChuckP said:
I did have an Aristo for the 23C and it has a separate power package. Too bad the original owner of your enlarger lost that part. Trying to find another one might be hard and costly. Have you thought about maybe getting a color head and doing away with filters.

I have thought of getting a color head even if I don't plan to print color. But I also might convert it back to condenser and use LED light.

Do you remember if your power pack for the 23C looked like this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aristo-BES-23-C-Microscope-Lamp-Transformer-For-Ring-Light-/131190841479

I contacted the seller and asked if the input connector was a male DIN connector, but he replied that he doesn't have time to deal with it...

ChuckP · Oct 9, 2017

If I recall correctly mine had a rectangular connector using blades not pins. The cables from the coldlight and power supply connected together with side metal pieces holding them in place. Seems like I had mine taped together so the connection must have been too loose. Maybe he could just send you a picture of the connector as it doesn't show in his picture and the other link to pictures he has doesn't work for me. Could be that Zone VI used a different connector than Aristo between light and power supply.

ChuckP · Oct 9, 2017

Here's a link to older Aristo info: https://www.light-sources.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bes23c_cold_light_head_info.pdf

Not a great picture but it shows the head connector used by them. Looks different from your Zone VI.

The Bunny · Oct 9, 2017

ChuckP said:
Here's a link to older Aristo info: https://www.light-sources.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bes23c_cold_light_head_info.pdf

Not a great picture but it shows the head connector used by them. Looks different from your Zone VI.

Thank you for the link. Yes, I have looked at that same info before and the connector is different than what I have. But, I think it is the same ballast/power pack.
I did ask the seller on ebay to send a picture of the connector, but he didn't have time to deal with it, he said. I will try again. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that his ballast works and it could be junk. I actually found an other one including the light, the seller apparently thinks this is a microscope light:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aristo-BES-...453453?hash=item238df44d8d:g:KtkAAOSwdGFY27SB

This one has the same connector. I might get it, but then of course I one more light that I don't need. LOL.

MattKing · Oct 9, 2017

Did you see this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aristo-BES-...d=152705453453&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

ChuckP · Oct 10, 2017

Looks like Aristo also changed the connector some time into the production run. The "microscope light" one should work on your light plus you can see that it works OK in the pictures. Actually you don't know if your Zone VI light works so buying the whole thing might not be so bad. Also to have a spare lamp. Could make them an offer.

The Bunny · Oct 10, 2017

MattKing said:
Did you see this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aristo-BES-23-C-Microscope-Lamp-Transformer-For-Ring-Light/131190841479?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=41375&meid=c100f68f89ce4ea4bc8c19529a016692&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=1&sd=152705453453&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Hi Matt, yes this is the one I saw and I contacted the seller asking if he could send a picture of the DIN connector. He replied that he doesn't have time to deal with it... I think this is the ballast I need for my light, but there is no way to find out if this unit is working or not. If it doesn't work, I would be buying and paying for a brick to be shipped across country. LOL. I will try again to contact the seller. Thanks!

The Bunny · Oct 10, 2017

ChuckP said:
Looks like Aristo also changed the connector some time into the production run. The "microscope light" one should work on your light plus you can see that it works OK in the pictures. Actually you don't know if your Zone VI light works so buying the whole thing might not be so bad. Also to have a spare lamp. Could make them an offer.

Yes, you are right about all of the above. It could be the best way to make it work. Thanks!

paul ron · Oct 10, 2017

ive never seen one with a power pack. my lamp has one cord that plugs into your timer, the other is a heater that plugs into a regular outlet.

the din plug up top is connected to a CDs cell inside the lamp housing which some compensating timers will use to control exposure depending on the lamp's output... like auto exposure in a way since cfl bulbs don't come on at full power each n every time, plus the slight delay in some.

I'd be curious to see the manual for yours?

The Bunny · Oct 10, 2017

paul ron said:
ive never seen one with a power pack. my lamp has one cord that plugs into your timer, the other is a heater that plugs into a regular outlet.

the din plug up top is connected to a CDs cell inside the lamp housing which some compensating timers will use to control exposure depending on the lamp's output... like auto exposure in a way since cfl bulbs don't come on at full power each n every time, plus the slight delay in some.

I'd be curious to see the manual for yours?

The lamp you have is self contained and has the ballast built into the lamp housing. The DIN jack on top of my lamp goes to the photo cell you mentioned and is connected to the compensating metronome, which as the name suggests compensates for the intensity in the lamp's output and functions as a timer. I don't have any manuals, but the metronome should put out one beep per second and you count the beeps.

The power cord to the lamp has a DIN connector, which connects to the ballast box. There is additionally a 3-prong power cord for the heater in the lamp.
I have located a couple of Aristo power packs online that probably works for this light, but the connectors are different so I would have to re-wire the setup or change the connectors.

Zone VI Cold Light Power Pack Question

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