Re: [Leica] Focomat 1x rewiring- Long suggestion!!

["Dan Post" <dpost@triad.rr.com>]

Bob-
As a sort of hobby, I buy old Leitz enlargers on *B** and rework them and
re-sell them. I have done many Focomats, and it is not beyond your normal
DIY talents, but I would give a few caveats! To get the column off the
baseboard, use a large fender washer held with a pair of vise grip pliers to
loosen the slotted nut at the base of the column. Keep the spacers and
washers in order, and you'll be okay.
1> The wire used must pass through a tube to be connected to the interior
lamphold; this unscrews rather easily, and the knurled knob on top has a
small setscrew that needs to be loosened if you want to take it and the
attached strain relief off.
I use replacement vacuum cleaner cord to re-wire as it comes in a package
for about $8 at the local ACE hardware store! Its diameter is small enough
to go through the tube in the lamp house, and since it will handle the
current of a powerful vacuum cleaner motor, it is sufficient for a 75 watt
enlarger lamp, or up to the 250 watt lamp that the IC Color can use.
If you have one that has the connector at the top, it is simple to rewire,
and to get to the female connector in the column itself, you need to remove
the screws at the top of the column, then push a blunt metal rod up the
column from the bottom- you might have to cut off the old wire there so the
rod will go into the hole of the Ia.
Tap the end of the rod gently, and the connect at the top will come out
relatively easily.
2> The conector in the top is held together by the metal plugs themselves-
look into the little holes at the top- you will notoce the connectors have
slots for a screw drive- a small scredriver will allow you to loosen these,
and the connector case will come apart, and you can see how to replace the
wires.
3> Most of the wire ends are screwed into either plastic or in the older
ones, ceramic, terminal blocks. To keep things straight, neat and to avoid a
hot strand from getting loose, I dress the ends of the bare wire, solder
about 3/16" of the wire that protrudes from the insulation.
4> There is sometimes a switch on the edge of the baseboard- if you are
going to use a timer, all you really need to do is wire the main power cord
directly to the terminal block where the wire from the column is connected.

I have been using the Philips "Halogena" 74 watt bulb which is a cheap and
effective lamp, and easy to get atmost places- and it has a plain end that
is as good as the regular enlarger bulb, but the halogen bulb inside gives a
brighter, and more consistant light.

If you have any more questions, email me directly- and I'll be glad to help!

Dan

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Geoghegan" <bgeo@dgiinc.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 9:55 AM
Subject: [Leica] Focomat 1x rewiring


> Thanks all for the lens compatibility advice last week.  A follow-up:
>
> There's often reference to rewiring of Focomat 1Cs & 1As.  What does this
> actually mean?  Is there something more involved than just replacing old
> wire with new wire?  Would it be beyond the modest talents of a home
DIY'er?
>
> Regards,
> Bob G
>
>