Zone VI Compensating Developing Timer Replacing foot switch with push button

sruddy · Mar 6, 2021

I just purchased a used Zone VI Compensating Developing Timer with an original foot switch. I’m planning on attaching this to my wall above my development tray. I will only be using it for print development, and I want a very clean install. I haven’t received it yet but it looks like the back has no holes to accept a screw head for hanging so I’m thinking I’ll need to use two sided tape or something similar. It will be installed next to a conventional Gra-Lab timer which has a recessed socket that I will use to plug in the AC adapter. That leaves the foot switch which I don’t want to use as I don’t like them and the wire will be in the way and messy. So I Planning on replacing it with a pushbutton that I can install on the controls front panel or side. Unless someone can give me a part number or specs of a pushbutton switch that will work I’ll need to open the foot switch and reverse engineer it. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.

MattKing · Mar 6, 2021

Mount the foot switch to the wall in the same manner as the timer - it becomes a really nice and large push button.

sruddy · Mar 6, 2021

MattKing said:
Mount the foot switch to the wall in the same manner as the timer - it becomes a really nice and large push button.

Yea I was thinking about that too. Would be nicer to have it all in one box though. I’m kinda a neat oc. Ha ha

mshchem · Mar 6, 2021

I've got a couple of these timers I've acquired over the years. First the plastic box that houses the timer can't weigh over 75 grams. The 3 position switch is a very nice switch, takes a bit of torque to turn. One of the timers I have has Velcro on the back, I've never tried that. The power is a 9V power supply. The power, the probe, and the footswitch all come out of the "bottom" of the timer.
The footswitch is what resets the timer to zero. As long as the timer is plugged into the power supply it's counting. The footswitch is a beautiful Treadlite switch, smooth. If I were to permanently set up the timer, I would as Matt suggests use the footswitch as a big button or bump it with my hip to start.
For you you might be able to use a switch for the little power supply. I'm not familiar with the inner workings, but I think the footswitch just briefly interrupts the low voltage. The probe and the footswitch use telephone jack connections. If my eyes didn't deceive me, on the footswitch, it looks like only two conductors are used, 1 black wire and 1 red. I think the footswitch opens up the low voltage circuit when depressed. The probe looks to have 3 conductors wired.
I would be darn sure that little plastic box didn't go ballistic into a tray. These little things work well, now if they would automatically replenish the developer

sruddy · Mar 7, 2021

mshchem said:
I've got a couple of these timers I've acquired over the years. First the plastic box that houses the timer can't weigh over 75 grams. The 3 position switch is a very nice switch, takes a bit of torque to turn. One of the timers I have has Velcro on the back, I've never tried that. The power is a 9V power supply. The power, the probe, and the footswitch all come out of the "bottom" of the timer.
The footswitch is what resets the timer to zero. As long as the timer is plugged into the power supply it's counting. The footswitch is a beautiful Treadlite switch, smooth. If I were to permanently set up the timer, I would as Matt suggests use the footswitch as a big button or bump it with my hip to start.
For you you might be able to use a switch for the little power supply. I'm not familiar with the inner workings, but I think the footswitch just briefly interrupts the low voltage. The probe and the footswitch use telephone jack connections. If my eyes didn't deceive me, on the footswitch, it looks like only two conductors are used, 1 black wire and 1 red. I think the footswitch opens up the low voltage circuit when depressed. The probe looks to have 3 conductors wired.
I would be darn sure that little plastic box didn't go ballistic into a tray. These little things work well, now if they would automatically replenish the developer

Thanks for all the detailed info. I will be opening mine up, and will follow up with photos of the inside,
and my end result showing any mods and the installation.

mshchem · Mar 7, 2021

sruddy said:
Thanks for all the detailed info. I will be opening mine up, and will follow up with photos of the inside,
and my end result showing any mods and the installation.

I'm looking forward to seeing your project.

sruddy · Mar 17, 2021

mshchem said:
I'm looking forward to seeing your project.

I just finished it up.

There was no room inside to install a push button switch so I modified my GraLab timer to tap off the power for the ac adapter. I replaced both old toggle switches and used one for the GrayLab power and the other for the Zone VI power. I also replaced the Zone VI footswitch with a push button switch and installed on top of the GraLab. I can’t wait to use it tonight!

mshchem · Mar 17, 2021

HELL YEAH! THAT'S AWESOME. If it doesn't suit your needs, make so it does!
I must resist the urge I have extra Gra-Lab timers and Zone VI timers.

DREW WILEY · Mar 17, 2021

I put my readout half of it on a shelf UNDER the sink. Even at the lower setting, these WILL fog certain films during tray development. So will the luminous hands on those old Gralab clocks. But I don't use the footswitch at all, just a toggle switch where it's plugged in on the wall. The original switching lever on the in-tray attachment stopped reliably working many years ago. Otherwise, it's been a wonderfully helpful device.

Zone VI Compensating Developing Timer Replacing foot switch with push button

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