Zone VI stabilizer - wrong cell plug

Austin_Jessup · Mar 2, 2017

Hi everyone,

I recently picked up a Zone VI stabilizer unit but realized it does not have the right "cell" plug fitting for the cold head. It actually looks like the same plug type used on my enlarger timer for a footswitch or something. Can anyone identify if this was a factory option or was changed by the last owner/ why that might have been done and what I can do to potentially fix this? Even if I can get someone to replace the plug, I would consider it but don't know how to identify the type that would be needed.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Leigh B · Mar 2, 2017

The rectangular one is a 3-pin "Jones" plug; been around since before WWII.
They're still available from places like Mouser and Newark. Several different families (different sizes).

The round one on the box appears to be a German standard DIN plug, more popular in Europe than here.
There are approximately 37 zillion different pin combinations / configurations.
Also, some families/series are only rated for low voltage, not line voltage.

Dead Link Removed
http://www.newark.com

- Leigh

rolleiLeicafilm · Mar 2, 2017

I have a 'new to me' Zone VI cold light system i just acquired. I have the same stabilizer and the back of my cold light looks the same. The female plug you are holding in the attached picture looks like it was definitely added by the previous owner. i can confirm, that is not the standard plug. As to why it was changed, i cannot fathom at this time. It does look exactly the same as the foot switch plug. Maybe the previous owner was confused? I do not know how unique the cell plug type is. Maybe take the cold head into an electrical supplies store and see if they can match it? If you are successful finding the right plug head, attaching shouldn't be too difficult.

Austin_Jessup · Mar 2, 2017

Thanks to both of you - Looks like I'll be starting the search for the right plug!

John Koehrer · Mar 2, 2017

I guess you have two options, First one(obviously) find the right plug & cable.
Or. Make an adapter female jones plug to male din plug. No idea which would be easier & faster.

Looking for connectors I'd go to either Grainger or Digikey sites. it's been a long time since
I had any searches like this but they're both good.

john_s · Mar 3, 2017

There is some info in this thread:

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

It doesn't actually say how to wire the Stabilizer/Compensating Timer captive cable with 3-pin DIN plug on the end of it. Maybe someone could have a look inside their plug. Mine is in storage and I could look if you can wait two weeks (you probably can't!) The wire colours are probably the same as described for the head socket but I can't be sure.

The plug is

http://au.rs-online.com/web/p/din-connectors/0776482/ (Illustration is a 5-pin one. You need a three pin one, with the pins at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock.)

Another example: https://www.jaycar.com.au/3-pin-din-line-plug/p/PP0302

Austin_Jessup · Mar 3, 2017

john_s said:
There is some info in this thread:

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

It doesn't actually say how to wire the Stabilizer/Compensating Timer captive cable with 3-pin DIN plug on the end of it. Maybe someone could have a look inside their plug. Mine is in storage and I could look if you can wait two weeks (you probably can't!) The wire colours are probably the same as described for the head socket but I can't be sure.

The plug is

http://au.rs-online.com/web/p/din-connectors/0776482/ (Illustration is a 5-pin one. You need a three pin one, with the pins at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock.)

Another example: https://www.jaycar.com.au/3-pin-din-line-plug/p/PP0302

John - thank you so much, this is very helpful! I actually can wait if you get a chance to look at your unit and confirm, as I'm working on a set of contact prints right now which will take me a while longer.

In the meantime, I think I'll pick up a plug from one of the links you supplied and just take a look at it. If I have any luck before 2 weeks, I'll let you know to save you the trouble!

john_s · Mar 3, 2017

Austin_Jessup said:
John - thank you so much, this is very helpful! I actually can wait if you get a chance to look at your unit and confirm, as I'm working on a set of contact prints right now which will take me a while longer.

In the meantime, I think I'll pick up a plug from one of the links you supplied and just take a look at it. If I have any luck before 2 weeks, I'll let you know to save you the trouble!

The links are from Australian websites. You'll find something closer to Chicago, I think.

Leigh B · Mar 3, 2017

john_s said:
The wire colours are probably the same as described for the head socket but I can't be sure.

Don't bet the ranch on it.

The head and the controller are made by two different companies.

- Leigh

mshchem · Mar 3, 2017

Send an email to Richard Ritter, he helped design and manufacture all this stuff for Zone VI . He could tell you how to put a round male plug on. You can Google him his website is lg4mat.net
This stabilizer was invented by Paul Horowitz who is a world famous professor of physics and engineering at Harvard University. Ansel Adams thought it was the greatest development in enlargers since cold light.
Someone has to have a wiring diagram
Best Regards Mike

Leigh B · Mar 3, 2017

Line voltage stabilizers were invented in the late 1920s, when AC-powered radio receivers were introduced.
Line voltage fluctuations were huge, causing expensive amplifier tubes to burn out.

Perhaps Horowitz invented the cold light accessory. He did not invent the concept.

- Leigh

AgX · Mar 3, 2017

Leigh B said:
The round one on the box appears to be a German standard DIN plug, more popular in Europe than here.
There are approximately 37 zillion different pin combinations / configurations.
Also, some families/series are only rated for low voltage, not line voltage

Not zillions... but 9 versions.
And the 3-pole was very common

No DIN connector was rated for mains voltage, only for small-voltage (34V DC)

They are likely no longer manufactured, but still available from stock.

mshchem · Mar 3, 2017

Leigh B said:
Line voltage stabilizers were invented in the late 1920s, when AC-powered radio receivers were introduced.
Line voltage fluctuations were huge, causing expensive amplifier tubes to burn out.

Perhaps Horowitz invented the cold light accessory. He did not invent the concept.

- Leigh

I didn't say he invented stabilizers, I said he invented this stabilizer. Maybe engineered would have been a better choice of a word. Regardless he's a brainiac and co-author of a well regarding text on circuit design, and of late he is still a very active Professor at Harvard. He's quite brilliant.

Rick N · Mar 5, 2017

Hi Austin,

I was going over my old notes and found the Zone VI Photodiode Wiring schematic diagram. It's a poor photo but still legible.

-RICK-

john_s · Mar 6, 2017

The OP wanted the wiring colours for the captive cable of the Stabilizer because his had a non-standard plug. I will be able to see mine in storage in a week and a half unless someone else has a look inside their plug.

bdial · Mar 6, 2017

It looks like that's covered, assuming the OP's wiring is consistent with Rick's document. The head would be the photo diode end, and the wiring from the stabilizer would be Black to pin 1, Red to pin 2, and the shield to pin 3.

john_s · Mar 7, 2017

bdial said:
It looks like that's covered, assuming the OP's wiring is consistent with Rick's document. The head would be the photo diode end, and the wiring from the stabilizer would be Black to pin 1, Red to pin 2, and the shield to pin 3.

But is the wiring in the cable from Stabilizer to the 3-pin plug the same? "Yes" would be a good guess, but I wouldn't be sure. See LeighB's comment above.

john_s · Mar 24, 2017

I have had a look inside the plug on the captive cable on my old Zone_VI Stabilizer. The connections are:

pin 1: black
pin 2: red
pin 3: transparent sleeve presumably over the shield (hard to see as the cable's cover is tightly held in the clamp)

Austin_Jessup · Mar 24, 2017

Thanks John and to everyone else for your huge amount of help. I'll finally have some time to work on this next week and will hopefully have some success to report by the weekend.

Thanks again !!

john_s · Mar 25, 2017

I should have added that the pin numbers are moulded into the plastic base of the DIN plug, on the inside.

paul ron · Mar 25, 2017

use your meter to find the 2 grounded pins.. the 3rd is positive.

Zone VI stabilizer - wrong cell plug

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency