Leitz pin connector?

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Plasmid
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Leitz pin connector?

#1 Post by Plasmid » Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:27 am

Leitz power source with 5 pin connector, not sure which
Leitz lamp house 4 pin connector
Does anyone know which type of pin male connector I need in order to power up the lamp?
Thank you.
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ScienceMatters
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#2 Post by ScienceMatters » Thu Jul 15, 2021 6:55 pm

I think you have a newer lamp house with an older power supply. The older 5-prong male connector is shown in this eBay listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384079635790?h ... SwcZ9ga3wn
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Leitzcycler
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#3 Post by Leitzcycler » Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:36 pm

The easiest way would be to change both of the plugs and use some generic two-pin plugs - provided that the voltage of your lamp and power supply are compatible. If you definitely want to keep your power supply intact and want to change the male plug, I should have one old-style plug similar to the one seen in the Ebay picture somewhere. However, it seems I am located on the other side of the globe so the postage would be relatively high. So I am not sure if it makes any sense, but if interested, send me a PM. Buying a new lamp house would be an option.

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#4 Post by Plasmid » Sat Jul 24, 2021 3:18 pm

Thank you, going with the two pin option, does the polarity matter( order of cables)?
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PeteM
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#5 Post by PeteM » Sat Jul 24, 2021 4:21 pm

I've converted two or three power supplies to "banana jacks." These can be had already paired for both the male and female sides (a single plug) and decent ones will handle up to 30 volts and 10-15 amps. Just need to drill two holes in the chassis to fit them and they're easy to plug in and out.

Leitzcycler
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#6 Post by Leitzcycler » Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:26 pm

According to the picture the cables seem to come directly from the transformer as far as I can see. The current is not rectified, is AC and so the polarity does not matter. However, you can always check this with a multimeter. There seems to be a round-shape component on the bottom of the case with some capacitors. Could be a rectifier, but can't be sure. The cables go to the front panel. What might it be?

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#7 Post by Plasmid » Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:27 pm

I ended up going with this ones, not sure if it'll be enough for the current., But they were the right diameter so no modification to the box was needed.
The two cable going towards the front are the power/dimmer dial and the others go towards a gauge 0-14v
I considered just purchasing a jones cinch female and just replacing the lamp output end and leaving whats already on the lamp, but they are difficult and a bit pricier to find.

Fingers crossed hoping it won't catch on fire when Im done 😬
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#8 Post by Plasmid » Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:32 pm

Leitzcycler wrote:
Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:26 pm
. There seems to be a round-shape component on the bottom of the case with some capacitors. Could be a rectifier, but can't be sure. The cables go to the front panel. What might it be?
The bottom one is a voltage selector 115-220v
The front ones go towards the dimmer and a gauge 0-14v

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#9 Post by hans » Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:32 pm

Leitzcycler wrote:
Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:26 pm
There seems to be a round-shape component on the bottom of the case with some capacitors. Could be a rectifier, but can't be sure. The cables go to the front panel. What might it be?
TRIAC dimming circuit on the primary side? I can't see the primary wires from the transformer in the photo, too low resolution, or maybe they are on the other side.

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#10 Post by Plasmid » Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:33 pm

hans wrote:
Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:32 pm
Leitzcycler wrote:
Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:26 pm
There seems to be a round-shape component on the bottom of the case with some capacitors. Could be a rectifier, but can't be sure. The cables go to the front panel. What might it be?
TRIAC dimming circuit on the primary side? I can't see the primary wires from the transformer in the photo, too low resolution, or maybe they are on the other side.
Here are the pics of the unit, will take more clear ones internally as soon as I get home. I was mistaken this unit has no voltage selector on the bottom, not sure what that is.
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Plasmid
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#11 Post by Plasmid » Mon Jul 26, 2021 1:36 am

hans wrote:
Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:32 pm

TRIAC dimming circuit on the primary side? I can't see the primary wires from the transformer in the photo, too low resolution, or maybe they are on the other side.
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hans
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#12 Post by hans » Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:04 am

A bit hard to follow the wiring still but yeah, probably a TRIAC dimmer on the primary side. In any case, I agree with this:
Leitzcycler wrote:
Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:26 pm
According to the picture the cables seem to come directly from the transformer as far as I can see. The current is not rectified, is AC and so the polarity does not matter.
Not sure about the 2-pin connector though, if earth ground connection for the rest of the microscope is going through that cable as well (maybe via the outer circular metal shroud on the plug -- check continuity from that to metal on the lamp housing) then you should preserve the ground connection for safety.

EYE C U
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#13 Post by EYE C U » Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:53 am

5 PIN DIN 240 DEGREE
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#14 Post by Plasmid » Mon Jul 26, 2021 5:20 am

Brilliant!

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#15 Post by Alexander » Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:01 am

Be careful! Is this 1$-plug really designed to accept currents up to 8 ampere?

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#16 Post by hans » Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:05 am

Alexander wrote:
Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:01 am
Be careful! Is this 1$-plug really designed to accept currents up to 8 ampere?
Agree, looks like the original has blade contacts not round pins? Probably not a commodity DIN connector.

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#17 Post by hans » Mon Jul 26, 2021 7:50 pm

Since you're not sure everything works yet, if it were me I would start by soldering reasonably heavy (say minimum 18 AWG) wires directly between the contacts on backs of the jack and plug, which is an easily reversible modification. (Assuming the housing on the plug can be pulled back to access the back side of the contacts.)

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#18 Post by hans » Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:04 pm

hans wrote:
Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:04 am
... (maybe via the outer circular metal shroud on the plug -- check continuity from that to metal on the lamp housing) ...
Just realized this does not makes sense, obviously, since you do not have the circular plug ScienceMatters posted a photo of. Check whether any of the 4 blades connects to the metal of the lamp housing.

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#19 Post by Plasmid » Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:01 pm

hans wrote:
Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:04 pm
hans wrote:
Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:04 am
... (maybe via the outer circular metal shroud on the plug -- check continuity from that to metal on the lamp housing) ...
Just realized this does not makes sense, obviously, since you do not have the circular plug ScienceMatters posted a photo of. Check whether any of the 4 blades connects to the metal of the lamp housing.
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hans
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#20 Post by hans » Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:46 pm

Looks like no ground connection originally, so yeah, I would just solder two pieces of wire 18 AWG or larger between the backsides of the contacts as circles in red. Not too much work up front, and also easy to go back if you change your mind about something. Zip tie the wires to the original cable near the plug and also to the case of the power supply so the setup is not too fragile, and tape some sort of improvised plastic shroud over the blade contacts and plug so you don't accidentally short them to something. Then of course "later" after it was all working I would find a nicer connector solution...
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MichaelG.
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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#21 Post by MichaelG. » Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:51 pm

Just curious … Does anyone know why the Blue wire is apparently soldered to two terminals of the socket ?

MichaelG.
Last edited by MichaelG. on Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Too many 'projects'

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#22 Post by MichaelG. » Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:52 pm

Sorry, duplicated post
Too many 'projects'

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Re: Leitz pin connector?

#23 Post by hans » Wed Jul 28, 2021 12:42 am

MichaelG. wrote:
Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:51 pm
Just curious … Does anyone know why the Blue wire is apparently soldered to two terminals of the socket ?
No idea what variety of supplies and lamps share the connector so just guessing, but could be different pins are used for different voltage/current requirements. For example one pin is 8.3 A max and the other is for a lower limit and this supply connects both because it can supply the lower current also, that way low current lamps can be used with high current supplies but the not the other way around?

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