Aristo VCl 4500

[matthew klos]

So i know there has been some talk on here before. I was able to recently acquire one of these for free from my college. I was given the complete head and power pack and a metrolux II timer. I understand the basic concept of the timer, but the LUX 1 and LUX 2 settings i don't really understand. I have printed on it before but just used a GraLab dig timer. Another question i have is, i don't know how old the heads are, can the age of the tubes in the head start to effect my print? or will the head last as long as it can and when the tubes are gone in it, it will just stop? Sorry for the confusion in this post, just a lot of questions.

[Michael Clark]

The metrolux timer is a very good timer for cold light heads if you have the light sensor already installed in the head (vc14500).It does many things and if you can get a owners manual it helps describe its many functions.As far as the light source Iv never had the grid(light source) go out on me.Aristo does not make the 4500 light grid any more that I know of,you have to check it out.

Mike

[Brian Ellis]

I used this combination for many years but not recently. The tubes are replaceable if you can find them. In other words, the head doesn't necessarily go when the tubes go. I think, but am not certain, that the tubes are either good or they blow, I don't think they gradually deteriorate in a manner such that they could still light up but not be at full strength and so adversely affect your print.

I don't remember anything about the Lux 1 and Lux 2 settings. However, I know they're explained in the instruction manual that comes with the timer. If you don't have the manual you might try to obtain one from Red Light Enterprises if they're still around or possibly you could make arrangements with someone here who has a copy or get one some other way.

[John T]

Eric Woodbury of Metered Light is a regular on this forum. On his blog is the instructions for the Metrolux II meter.

Metered Light (http://meteredlight.blogspot.com/2007/04/metrolux-ii-instructions-intro-and.html)

[Eric Woodbury]

They are right. If the light comes on, the tubes work. Chances are they work unless they are broken. They should last almost forever. Lux 1 and Lux 2 are basically two channels or two light sources. This could be blue and green if you do split printing (which may be the best way) or it could be two different enlargers. After you read the manual, you can PM me with specific questions and I'd be glad to help. As always, have fun.

[Ken Nadvornick]

After testing a used VCL4500 I purchased on The Auction Site, I found my normal printing times to be excessive. I contacted Louise Kessler at Voltarc (Aristo) support and was told that yes, the grid lamp tubes will in fact age over time. She said that as they age their intensity will diminish, but their emitted color won't appreciably change.

When asked about expected longevity, she said the grids in a VCL4500 usually lasted for about five years in a commercial printing environment - proportionately longer in home darkrooms.

The lamps in my unit (an early one, serial #095) appeared to have been changed at least once before. (The board to which the grids mounted had been filed back in accordance with published Aristo recommendations for installing later model larger diameter lamp tubing.) So I have reason to believe what she told me was correct.

According to an email yesterday from Louise, Voltarc is currently nearing completion on the re-engineering phase of a new production run of lamp grids for both the VCL4500 and VCL8100. See this thread (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=69934) for more information.

Voltarc has already produced a newly re-engineered production run of D2-HI V54 replacement lamps for the Aristo D2 head assemblies. I have been told that each of these replacement lamp types must be recreated from near scratch as the original materials and specs are not always available or complete. Many were lost when the original Aristo went out of business.

Louise is gently pushing her management to get as many lamp types back into production as she can, but it is a very time-consuming process for each type.

(I am the "Ken" who posted the originally referenced thread over on APUG.)

Ken