Ulophot
3-Sep-2017, 15:09
What would we do without this forum! I searched some old posts and know there will be someone who can help.
In the process of preparing my darkroom for work after more than a decade's sitting quietly (the equipment, not I), today I turned on my D2 enlarger -- with Zone VI 4x5 cold light (the round one) and compensating timer -- to inspect alignment at the easel. The lgith wasn't on for more than about 10 minutes. As I was doing some other things afterward over another 10 minutes or so, I started smelling something strange, which became a sort of burning smell, which I traced to the head, which was hot, though by no means too hot to handle comfortably. I unplugged it and removed it from the enlarger. Definitely a burning -- or worn out ballast? -- smell. I recall ballasts going bad in school rooms of my youth and having a burning sort of smell.
(I had not plugged in the heater, though I don't believe that would be important; am I wrong?)
Looking the unit over, I noticed that the casing of the cables is dry and cracked in a couple of small places, something I'd like to take care of anyway, but repairing the unit's main function is first. I wouldn't know a ballast from a beach ball. Does it sound like something a electrical/electronic-savy friend could do with standard parts? Anyone know what they would be? It would be great not to have to ship it somewhere ($$$).
The lamp and timer appear to be working fine.
In the process of preparing my darkroom for work after more than a decade's sitting quietly (the equipment, not I), today I turned on my D2 enlarger -- with Zone VI 4x5 cold light (the round one) and compensating timer -- to inspect alignment at the easel. The lgith wasn't on for more than about 10 minutes. As I was doing some other things afterward over another 10 minutes or so, I started smelling something strange, which became a sort of burning smell, which I traced to the head, which was hot, though by no means too hot to handle comfortably. I unplugged it and removed it from the enlarger. Definitely a burning -- or worn out ballast? -- smell. I recall ballasts going bad in school rooms of my youth and having a burning sort of smell.
(I had not plugged in the heater, though I don't believe that would be important; am I wrong?)
Looking the unit over, I noticed that the casing of the cables is dry and cracked in a couple of small places, something I'd like to take care of anyway, but repairing the unit's main function is first. I wouldn't know a ballast from a beach ball. Does it sound like something a electrical/electronic-savy friend could do with standard parts? Anyone know what they would be? It would be great not to have to ship it somewhere ($$$).
The lamp and timer appear to be working fine.