MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200 (01) PDF Document

The MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200 is a compact lamp house designed for use with Meiji Techno TC-5500 and TC-5600 microscopes. Key features include:

Compact design measuring 6-5/8 inches by 3-1/2 inches.

Cool running operation with stainless steel construction.

Dovetail mount via four 3mm cone tipped Allen set screws.

DC operation to minimize bulb flicker and provide more light than AC lamps.

Fast warm-up times, with Mercury bulbs reaching full power in 4 minutes and Xenon bulbs in 2 minutes.

Easy lamp changes that do not require the removal of the lamphouse.

A non-resettable hour meter to log usage and monitor bulb life.

A regulating circuit that ensures variations in line voltage of plus or minus 10% result in less than 1% change in output power.

The following items are included with the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200:

One Nobska Lamphouse featuring a side panel, dovetail adapter, and collector lens.

One Model 1200 Power Supply.

One 1.5 mm Allen wrench for the dovetail mount.

One 3/32 inch Allen wrench for the lamp sockets.

One Trigger Lead and bulb clamp for 100 watt Mercury bulbs.

One 100 Watt Mercury Bulb.

The front panel of the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200 Model 1200 Power Supply contains the following controls and indicators:

1. Pilot Light: Lights up when the supply is turned ON.

2. Power Switch: Up position is ON; Down position is OFF.

3. Fuse Holder: Contains the protection fuse.

4. Power Adjust: Used to adjust the power supply for the specific bulb in use.

5. Hour Meter: Tracks total hours of bulb use.

6. Watt Meter: Displays the power output.

7. Upper Scale: Reads watts and indicates the correct wattage for mercury lamps.

8. Lower Scale: Reads Amps or Volts and indicates correct amps for Xenon lamps.

9. Meter Switch: Selects between “Volts & Amps & Watts”.

To test the proper operation of the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200 power supply, follow these steps:

Step 1. Plug the power supply into a 110V grounded outlet.

Step 2. Set the dial below the watt meter to the Volts position.

Step 3. Turn on the power switch. The pilot light should come on. If volts register on the meter, the supply is receiving power and is ready to run a bulb once triggered.

Step 4. Approximately 5 to 15 seconds after turning on the power switch, you should hear a “ticking” or arcing sound. This is the high voltage triggering mechanism that ignites the bulb.

Step 5. Turn off the power switch immediately after confirming the trigger sound.

When installing or replacing bulbs in the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200, adhere to the following guidelines:

Always unplug the power supply from the outlet before installing or replacing bulbs.

Do not touch the glass part of the bulb with fingers, as skin oils will degrade the glass and cause premature failure.

Ensure correct polarity. Reversed polarity can shorten bulb life to as little as one or two minutes. The writing on the base of the bulb should face down (into the bottom of the socket) for both Mercury and Xenon lamps.

The fat, positive (+) end of the bulb goes into the clamp and is tightened with the Allen wrench.

If the bulb stamping makes it difficult to insert into the socket, a small file can be used to file down the lettering for a better contact.

Both bulbs use the same 7.5mm standard trigger lead for the cathode (-) connection.

Follow these steps to install a bulb in the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200:

1. Set the side panel down on a work surface with the lamp mount facing you.

2. Plug the gold pin of the trigger lead into the high voltage receptacle if it is not already installed.

3. Slide the desired lamp into the lamp holder. If using a Xenon lamp, rotate it axially until the seal off nib faces the insulating plate the lamp holder is attached to.

4. Slide the bulb clamp onto the negative (-) end of the lamp.

5. Hold the bulb clamp and trigger lead together. Use the supplied Allen wrench to tighten the clamping screws snugly and evenly, avoiding stress on the lamp.

6. Tighten the two set screws on the positive (+) side of the lamp.

7. Pick up the side panel and rotate it until the correct text for your lamp type (“Xenon UP” or “Mercury UP”) is facing correctly.

8. Insert the panel into the lamphouse opening and rotate the two black knobs clockwise to lock the door.

9. Plug the socket into the power supply and plug the power supply into the outlet.

10. Ignite the lamp and adjust for proper arc alignment according to microscope instructions.

11. After the bulb has run for 4 or 5 minutes, set the correct operating wattage by adjusting the “Power Adjust” control on the front panel with a small flat blade screwdriver while observing the meter.

12. A new bulb should be run for two hours initially to stabilize the arc.

To accurately monitor the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200, use the following reading methods:

To Read Watts: Use the top line of the scale and set the switch to the “Watts” position. The scale reads from 0 to 250.

To Read Volts: Use the bottom line of the scale and set the switch to “Volts”. Add a zero to the indicated number for the correct voltage (e.g., a reading of “2” indicates 20 Volts).

To Read Amps: Use the bottom line of the scale. Each major division is 1 amp, and each small division is 0.2 amps. For example, the line for “XBO 75” is 5.4 amps.

Note: If the switch is set to “Amps” during ignition and warm-up, no reading will be observed until the bulb is actually lit.

The following nominal ratings apply to mercury bulbs used in the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200:

Xenon lamps reach their operating current almost immediately and should never exceed their rated ratings.

Monitoring the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200 involves observing voltage and stability characteristics:

New 100-watt mercury bulbs typically start operating at around 20 volts. As the bulb ages, the arc length grows, and the power supply must provide higher voltage to maintain the arc, causing the operating current to drop.

Once the operating voltage of a 100-watt mercury bulb reaches approximately 38 volts, the bulb should be replaced.

Bulb flickering or “plasma streaming” may occur. If a bulb does not stabilize, it may be old or require a stabilization run of at least two hours if it is new. If the bulb goes out, allow it to cool for five minutes before re-igniting.

Diminution of light output and lack of stability are primary indicators that a bulb requires replacement.

Use the following table for quick troubleshooting of the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200:

The MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200 power supply main line is fused with a front panel fuse holder. To replace it:

Step 1. Push in and down on the fuse holder to remove it from the supply.

Step 2. Replace the fuse in the holder. Only use MTH type fuses (formerly 3AG).

Step 3. For the Model 1200, use a 5 amp 250V fuse.

Mercury arc lamps used in the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200 produce significant UV light. Follow these safety precautions:

Limit access to areas where UV light is present.

Always wear protective eyewear and gloves when operating the equipment.

Keep arms and neck covered to prevent UV exposure to the skin.

Never look directly at the light source or the operating arc bulb without proper filters and safety goggles.

Close off the light source with the filter slider when the lamphouse is not being used.

The Model 1200 power supply for the MEIJI TECHNO NOBSKA LAMBHOUSE 1200 contains six integrated circuits (ICs):

IC (1) LM556: Supplies trigger pulses to the regulating SCRs.

IC (2) LM324: Drives IC (1) and performs all regulating functions except for the current sense amplifier.

IC (3) LM324 section (2): Serves as the current sense amp. Sections (1) and (4) control the Hi voltage trigger, and section (3) prevents over-voltage before lamp ignition.

IC (4) LM324 & IC (2) LM556: Comprise the multiplying wattmeter circuit.

IC (2) 4016BCP: An electronic switch that selects the signal for the front panel meter.

Note: When replacing ICs, ensure the polarity is correct and the IC is installed in the same direction as the original. Do not bend pins during insertion.