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  #1  
Old 29th September 2011, 06:42 PM
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Default Durst Laborator 1200/CLS450 not working - please help!

Hello chaps,

I'm in the middle of setting up a darkroom at home and bought the enlarger a few months ago. I've been trying it out and everything has been fine - until today. I plugged in my RH Designs Analyser Pro to the Durst's transformer for a dry run and it seemed to work OK. I only used the timer and focus functions of the analyser but it was controlling the enlarger just fine until the light went out on the Durst.

I unplugged the analyser (the analyser seems fine) but the enlarger light isn't coming on any more. The Durst's fan is still spinning away which is strange unless the bulb and fan are on separate circuits or something. I've replaced the bulb (which was new) with another new spare and no joy. There's a faint smell of burning but it could be dust I suppose as the gear hasn't been used for a long time. I took the case off the transformer and left it running for a little while, keeping a watchful eye on it, but nothing untoward happened.

I'm itching to get cracking on some prints and it would be great if someone could offer some advice.

Cheers!
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Old 29th September 2011, 06:57 PM
Mike O'Pray Mike O'Pray is offline
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I don't know this Durst but all the symptoms you describe suggests that the wire connecting the lamp has broken/ become disconnected

My 605 has the ceramic holder which feeds the power from the wires to the prongs on the lamp. If yours has the same fitting check the holder. It is supposed to be changed each time the bulb goes. Arcing can occur inside the holder which causes a build-up inside the ceramic holder's holes and if bad enough might be enough to prevent the bulb from working.

I think there are a few D1200 users here so hopefully you'll get an answer which will be the solution

I hope that it is a simple cause

Mike
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Old 29th September 2011, 07:01 PM
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Thanks very much Mike. The 1200 does have a ceramic holder for the bulb but where do you get hold of them? The wires aren't held into the holder by screws: it looks like a single, complete unit with the wires attached.
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Old 29th September 2011, 07:07 PM
Mike O'Pray Mike O'Pray is offline
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Yes it is a complete unit or mine certainly was. I may be barking up the wrong tree but even if the holder is OK it is sensible to keep a spare.

There was a thread/post on this fairly recently. Somebody sells these on e-bay but there is a source which sells them much more cheaply - about £3 if I re-call correctly.

Do a search and I'll do likewise. I think I bookmarked the source but I am sure someone here on FADU will know of the link.

Mike
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Old 29th September 2011, 07:16 PM
Mike O'Pray Mike O'Pray is offline
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It is Maplin. Go to maplin.co.uk and search for g6.3 -porcelain-lampholder. The code is 24251. Shown as being priced at just over £3
Mike
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Old 29th September 2011, 07:36 PM
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Superb Mike. I would never have found that!
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Old 29th September 2011, 07:54 PM
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Just had a look at the Maplins site but I don't think their lamp holder will work. The 1200's has a right-angled, rectangular profile. It's held in place by a similarly shaped spring-tensioned metal arm that presses down on top of it, pressing the bulb down. Can't see the metal arm fitting on top of the Maplin holder. Still, it would be a cheap way of finding out if the present builb holder is the culprit.
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Old 29th September 2011, 07:58 PM
Mike O'Pray Mike O'Pray is offline
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I was afraid that the D605 ceramic holder might be different but I am sure that the D1200 users will be able to pitch in with more relevant comments.

Mike
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Old 29th September 2011, 08:22 PM
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Managed to find a replacement lampholder! There was a part number on the one I have and there's a UK supplier who wants just £2.53 for them. It would be interesting to know what an original Durst part would cost. It remains to be seen, though, whether or not this is the source of the problem.
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Old 30th September 2011, 08:54 PM
stu goodman stu goodman is offline
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Default durst 1200 spares

been there! some of the electrical bits in my cls 500 bore an uncanny similarity to lucar bits in my local car radio fitting centre. so at least they were cheap.

the people who hold genuine durst spares are called northern photo from leeds... pickering road i think but on google. i think the guy's name is terry. he knows his stuff but they are a bit pricy.

my transformer eventually gave up the ghost ( i had previously had it rewound by a local firm who specialised in tractor electrics... well i am in norfolk!) and was eventually advised to buy an equivalent lighting transformer. this cost about sixty quid as against about 700 for a 2nd hand durst from somewhere. i'll post the people who supplied my tansformer when my filing system disgorges it.


good luck!
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