I recently purchased a Besseler 4X5 enlarger with an Aristo D2-H1 cold light head and ZoneVI voltage stabilizer. Does anyone on this website know where I can obtain documentation or manuals for this setup?

Thanks

-- bruce buckley (buckley@pixar.com), March 18, 2002

Answers

Check with Calumet Photo. They sell and support Zone VI products.

-- Ann Clancy (clancya@attbi.com), March 18, 2002.

If you cannot get anything from Calumet, go to: http:// www.aristogrid.com/. I have a cold light head from these people also and they are VERY helpful!

-- Scott Walton (walton@ll.mit.edu), March 18, 2002.

The Zone VI Stabilizer has not been manufactured for quite a while, so Calumet may not be able to help. I have an Aristo head (for a different Beseler enlarger than yours) and the Zone VI Stabilizer, so I may be able to answer your questions.

The Zone VI Stabilizer is designed to use a photocell that is installed by the customer on the Aristo head. However, the stabilizer can be used without the photocell and still provide substantial stabilization benefit. The photocell is available as a separate item from Calumet because it is still used on the Zone VI Enlarger Timer (with built-in stabilization), which replaced the stabilizer.

The stabilizer is connected between the enlarging timer and the enlarger (Aristo head). My Aristo head has two power cords, a grounded plug that is connected to the stabilizer (lamp outlet) and an ungrounded plug (thermo cord) that is plugged straight into an electrical wall outlet. Plug the thermo cord in at least 10 minutes before using the enlarger and unplug the thermo cord after each printing session. Since you have a slightly different Aristo head than mine, your plugs may be different if not labeled.

Assuming that your Aristo head has the photocell installed, you need to connect it to the stabilizer. To adjust the stabilizer output, turn the enlarger lamp on (focus setting on your timer) with the stabilizer lamp intensity turned all the way up, and check the LED's on the stabilizer (the red LED will probably be lit up). Then slowly turn down the lamp intensity until the green LED is on (stabilized). Then turn the intensity down a little bit more (one letter will do) for a margin of safety. You can leave this same lamp intensity setting for all subsequent enlarging sessions without retesting (as long as the red LED is not on). Because green can fog paper, I cover the green LED it with black tape once I determine the correct lamp intensity setting.

If you don't have the photocell installed on your Aristo head, use the "H" setting on the stabilizer and leave it on that setting. If you have any other questions, just ask.

-- Michael Feldman (mfeldman@qwest.net), March 18, 2002.