I have a thrilling tale of excitement and danger to tell. Check on your darkroom equipment/plumbing ASAP. Today, I was in the darkroom at the wet-side sink area in preparation for a weekend printing session. On the left side of the sink, I have an old Kodak temperature regulator that I saved from the destruction of an X-ray processing office. On the right side, I have a thermometer setup (I don’t remember the manufacturer) that was originally intended to mount below a faucet and uses a stem/dial type thermometer to measure the temperature of the flowing water. I installed it in the plumbing system to monitor water temperature going to the washing equipment. Well, to get to the adventure part, while I was on the left side starting to set up the trays, I heard a loud noise to my right. I had thought that a wash-hose or sink sprayer had popped loose. What I saw was the thermometer bouncing off the drying cabinet and a stream of water gushing across the room onto the dry side (basement darkroom, so it’s not that big). The stream hit around 7 feet high on the opposite wall above the counter. Unfortunately, this is also where a computer monitor sits on the counter. In about 3 seconds the computer when down and in about another 5 seconds the GFIC tripped, plunging the darkroom into a condition better suited for film loading. I had just gotten my hand on the valve to the thermometer before it tripped. The thermometer has been in place for around 8 years without so much as a drip occurring. The threaded fitting did not come loose but the thermometer just shot out of its ferrule.
What are the lessons learned from this experience:
1. Regularly check the plumbing fittings on the wet-side.
2. Separate the power into at least 2 independent circuits and split the lights between each.
3. Look for possible spray paths for water and any potential targets.
4. An easily reached master control valve might be a good design in future darkrooms.
Have to get back to the clean up now, the counters are cleaned but the floor, and many other things are still wet. I guess the printing session is cancelled because I have a hole in the plumbing system.
I thought that I should put out this warning to others.
Bookmarks