Dicro 45s fan question

[RichardH]

I have a Beseler Dicro 45s that I am thinking of disconnecting the fan. It has a little vibration that I can feel when it runs. I have cleaned the blades and put a little oil on the motor bearings but it still has a little vibration when I touch the outside with my hand.
I don't expose it for very long times and between exposures it might sit for 5 minutes. I would think that would be long enough for the lamp to cool down enough to not worry about heating the insides up.
I thought I might also put a switch on the side or front to turn the fan off when I need to make the exposure. From what I can tell, the electronic circuit board is just for controlling the lamp voltage.
Has anyone tried this idea before?
Any ideas maybe without buying another fan motor.

Thanks
Richard

[George Nova Scotia]

If I recall the fan is mounted on isolation blocks like this. In the 45S head I picked up a year ago the blocks where hard and cracked. I don't think the 60km drive home in the back seat of truck did them any good either. You might look into replacing them. The switch idea is interesting another alternative would be an external fan of some sort.


http://www.vibrationmounts.com/RFQ/VM01003.htm - no knowledge of this company beyond google. Electronic parts suppliers may also be a source.

George

[RichardH]

If I recall the fan is mounted on isolation blocks like this. In the 45S head I picked up a year ago the blocks where hard and cracked. I don't think the 60km drive home in the back seat of truck did them any good either. You might look into replacing them. The switch idea is interesting another alternative would be an external fan of some sort.


http://www.vibrationmounts.com/RFQ/VM01003.htm - no knowledge of this company beyond google. Electronic parts suppliers may also be a source.

George

Thanks George
The external fan was a thought but since I don't expose for very long and a good time between exposures, I think I might try the switch idea. Just one more thing to remember but habits of turning on and off are do-able. I could make a time delay circuit to turn off , say for a few seconds before exposure, and then trip the lamp to turn on. Then it would reset and turn the fan back on.
Just thinking here.

Richard

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I have my 45MX enlarger with the dichro 45S enlarger with the upper part of the frame connected with a bracket to the wall. Another trick you might want to try is possibly mounting a shock absorbing ring where the head meets the enlarger. That way, the head sits on the foam ring, not on the enlarger. No matter what you do, don't disconnect the fan. You'll fry the bulb.

[wildbill]

the fan is there for a reason.

[RichardH]

Thanks fellows for the info.

Wildbill, your website is great. Very good stuff there. You are very talented with the camera.

Richard

[RichardH]

beselermod for fan replacement.pdf

I found something on the internet that someone had done. I think I'll go this route.

Richard

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Great detailed instructions. I'm a bit of a chicken in taking apart my color head. I would try to isolate the whole head by putting a vibration dampening rubber collar placed between the head and the enlarger.

[ic-racer]

beselermod for fan replacement.pdf

I found something on the internet that someone had done. I think I'll go this route.

Richard

I'm a little surprised to see that older style fan in the Beseler. All the Omega 4x5 dichroic heads have the more modern compact fan like shown in the modification. Looks like a worthwhile project to upgrade the fan.

[RichardH]

Great detailed instructions. I'm a bit of a chicken in taking apart my color head. I would try to isolate the whole head by putting a vibration dampening rubber collar placed between the head and the enlarger.

Hey
I have been pretty handy building, changing, taking apart, putting back together about all my life. I make and restore radios, electronics stuff, and anything that I want to know how it works. Sometimes I have success, sometimes I don't.

I've built drag cars, radios, photo parts and gadgets, and other stuff when I can't find what I need to replace or repair something. One of my other hobbies is Amateur radio and I build a lot of the radios and things that go with it.

So, I think I can tackle this job OK. I do have a few fans stored that came out of some old computers that I have junked.

On this project, I think I'll buy a new fan since they aren't that expensive. The one he did was using a low voltage fan and I'll get one that is setup for 120 volt. I am a retired electrician and I hope I can wire this back right.

Thanks for replying to this thought.

Richard