Focomat V35 LED conversion.

[nicokosc]

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I am converting my Focomat V35 to work with LED lighting.
I've moved to China and can't find spare bulbs, so I've tried converting.

I looked for a COB-led module with a good CRI, about 95 and 4000k. The lumens are 1955, and the parabola is 17°, slightly more than the original.

I decided to use the original Leica bulb holder, so I designed an adaptor and 3d printed it in aluminium so that I could use it and the original heatsink of the enlarger to cool the led.

I attach some photos, in the week I would like to make some test prints.

 

 

 

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Edited March 10, 2023 by nicokosc

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[tobey bilek]

Nice work. we may all be doing this when the bulbs are gone.  I have 12 stored.

Could you not find a voltage adapter?

[newtoleica]

You can get generic replacements? Original Phillips sell for crazy money, but have seen no-name ones for £20.

[logan2z]

On 3/27/2023 at 3:16 AM, newtoleica said:

You can get generic replacements? Original Phillips sell for crazy money, but have seen no-name ones for £20.

The replacements I've purchased - which were supposedly Phillips clones - were much dimmer than the original bulbs.  Has this been the case with the replacements you've purchased as well?

[nicokosc]

That's the problem. It's impossible to find original bulbs, or if you're lucky, they charge insane amounts. I've tried compatible bulbs myself, but they're rubbish, much less powerful, and it was impossible to print well

[105012]

Great work and definitely the way to go. My V35 is using the Heiland system (LED) for BW, I have a feeling I still have some Phillips bulbs stashed away somewhere, might have to take a look through the boxes of stuff in the attic… 😀

[newtoleica]

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11 hours ago, logan2z said:

The replacements I've purchased - which were supposedly Phillips clones - were much dimmer than the original bulbs.  Has this been the case with the replacements you've purchased as well?

I’d better check…

[schmidtbaer]

Very nice replacement of the original bulbs!

I also had the "same" issue and modernized my V35 with LEDs (directly placed into the light mix box). Due to some power-on delay, I decided to implement my own control unit. (If you are interessed, you can find some photos at www.halide-systems.de)

Which constant current source (LED driver) did you use? Do you see any power-on/off delay?

[Prof_Futura]

Hi, I 

Am 10.3.2023 um 13:28 schrieb nicokosc:

so I designed an adaptor and 3d printed it in aluminium

Hi there, sorry to pick up this thread again, but I am really in need of a LED solution for my Focomat V35. Your solution with the COB-LED looks very promising and what I like about it, is that it keeps the Focomat more or less intact. Would you be maybe willing to share the file of your 3D printed part that holds the COB-LED (and maybe even some more specs regarding the COB and the fitting reflector? That would be so much appreciated. Thank you very much. Chris

[Sixgun]

I’d like to get some info about cob led and driver. 

[Rolo]

Very impressed by your conversion.