how do you turn on a photo enlarger?
I've recently bought an enlarger and was under the impression that it could be used without a timer, until I can afford one. (setting up your darkroom is a pricey business)
But I can't get the thing to turn on?!!! Have never used one without a timer and hadn't thought this bit through, I expected a switch or something??? I'm a beginner as you can tell.
Update:... - Could there be a problem with the transformer? Would it be expected to make any sound?
When I switch it on at the wall it just all seems dead. I've contacted the seller for advice but no answer and I definitely don't want to buy a timer if the whole thing's gone.
Thanks for your help.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I've never heard of a Durst M302 enlarger, an M300 yes a B&W enlarger, here's the manual
http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/manuals/en...
An M305 which was a colour enlarger, yes, here's the manual
http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/manuals/en...
The fact that you have a transformer suggests it originally had a colour head. Durst was one of the first to use tungsten halogen lamps, some of the first M305 had mains powered lamps, and, as far as I remember, all the models prior to the M305 had mains lamps, but the M300 could be upgraded to a colour head which used a 25Volt transformer and a low voltage (24Volt) T/H lamp. This might be the M302, I never had one of those.
The thing is the colour head also had the timer in it, and the wiring for the lamp was circuited through it, without the colour head there is no way for the lamp to connect to the transformer.
So it could be you have been sold an incomplete enlarger without the re-wiring required to convert it back to an M300.
Bear in mind I'm working from 40 years on memory here, I scrapped my Durst enlargers years ago.
Chris
If your enlarger doesn't have a switch, you may be able to use a power strip until you're able to get a timer for it. Just make sure to get one that doesn't have a light or cover it with a piece of masking tape so you don't end up accidentally fogging your paper.
Without a switch, it seems like the enlarger should power on as soon as it's plugged in. If it's not doing that, there may be an issue with the bulb or possibly the wiring.
Yes, there should be a switch; often on the power cord, like some lamps. A timer isn't essential as exposures are several seconds long at least. What model of enlarger do you have? Are you sure it isn't missing a cable control, or its original power lead?
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Is the bulb functional?
Developer and fixer are classed as non-hazardous in the UK and can go down the drain.