De Vere Trans Stab 500 vs Swith Stab 500

[jbmia]

Hey Guys,

Here's another one...

I currently have a functioning 504 MkV Dichromat color head with it's matching Trans Stab 500. Along with the combo came an orphan Switch Stab 500 that the seller claims is interchangeable with the Tran Stab 500, but for a different connecting cable / outlet that goes to the head.

Here's the Switch Stab 500:

Note the small round outlet at the top rear in pic 2.

Here's the plug / outlet on the Trans Stab 500:

Note the small rectangular shaped plug/outlet here in the Trans Stab.

A few questions:
- Anyone have any experience with the Switch Stab 500?
- Is it interchangeable with the Tran Stab 500 if I changed the plug?
- What's the difference between the Trans Stab and the Switch Stab?
- When was one used vs the other?
- Does anyone have the name/sku/item code for the plug/connector that connects to the Switch Stab outlet? (pic 2 in first set above)

I checked with Second Hand Darkroom in UK and Paul mentioned that the pins are "in a bank of 4 one way and 4 the other". I'm not quite clear on what is meant by that. Can anyone clarify?

I appreciate the wisdom and experience of the group here, so thanks again for any insight that can be provided.

John
(Dedicated Enlarger Rescuer)

[Peter De Smidt]

I have a De Vere 504 with the Trans Stab 500. It works very well. Why do you want to switch?

[Phil Hudson]

When I owned one of these my MkV was a twin 2 x 250w lamp head with a electromagnetic shutter for shutting the light off the moment that the exposure ends. It also pre-warmed the lamps with a small current to prolong lamp life and give quick start-up. I wonder if the different wiring configurations might to do with supporting these mechanisms?

On the other hand it might just be an age thing: trans-stab....switch stab....SMPC....in that order?

[jbmia]

Peter: I don't want to switch. I just wanted to have it as a backup in the event of a failure of the Trans Stab. That's all.

Phil: Yep, same here with the electro-magnetic shutter.. I was unaware of the lamp pre-warming. How can I tell if that's working? Either way, you bring up a good point. I wonder if the Swith Stab supports these functions or if perhaps these are functions in the head itself.

[Phil Hudson]

I was unaware of the lamp pre-warming. How can I tell if that's working? Either way, you bring up a good point. I wonder if the Swith Stab supports these functions or if perhaps these are functions in the head itself.

I think you can see a dim glow in the lamp filaments when plugged in but timer switched off (ie when the fans are running).