ALC60 Argon PSU - help required Please

[smogthemog]

Hi.

Have just purchased an old ALC60 Argon head with what I thought was going to be a semi working PSU. Turns out the PSU is virtually a mass of wires and garb. I have a fairish understanding of electronics & HV electrical stuff but this made me eyes pop out when I opened the package. Yes it was Ebay....... Chaps been fairly good so far with replying to emails but I think maybe I could do with some further help from you guy's
The seller did say the PSU came with no box but I didn't think he mean't literally!
Anyway, can anyone take a look please at the photo's below and suggest what might be going on here and any schematics that possibly resemble what I may have. If I had a schematic then I would be laughing as I could easily work from that.
The laser head looks to be in good fettle, I will take pic's of that if anyone is interested, but the PSU, as I am sure you will agree, has seen better days.

Here is a bit of blurb the chap sent me via email about the PSU and supposedly 'how to get it put back together and to get it going'

........

From Memory so you'll have to bear with me,

So I shall try and remember........

Mains in
connector block

mains to timer relay
timer relay to either the cathode or anode feed ! (memory says the Anode)

Large cap and power resistor (cant remember where they came into it but look
carefully ar the wiring to decipher)

Laser Cathodes
mains to first transformer (Step-down)
Step-down to secondary transformer
two brown leads to cathodes on Head

Laser Anode
Mains to rectifier
feed through relays and ballast resistor (parallel elements from Fan
heater), Relays control the resistance switching from low to high power
(This is where the 12v supply comes in)
I had a 200 meter umbilical to control the Argon, so had low voltage 12v
relays controlling the larger 240v relays.

HT, simple circuit generating voltage for initial start-up.

there will be a fair bit of tat wiring in there that I used for interlocks,
mains feeds ect,

The main fan on the laser head is 115v this is fed after the step-down
transformer feeding the anode transformer.

the ballast resistors for anode was originally housed in a separate box
(attached to top of laser main box) forced cooled by 2 large fans, I then
cutout and sunk into the main box with the fans helping to cool the inner of
the PSU,

..................

Is anything making sense there?

Photo's below.

Thanks
Jim

http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0682.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0683.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0684.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0685.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0686.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0687.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0688.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0689.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0690.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0691.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0692.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0693.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0694.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0695.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0696.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0697.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0698.JPG
http://mysite.orange.co.uk/smogthemog/ARGON/IMG_0699.JPG

[drlava]

You're probably better off starting over with the parts he gave you.. it looks like there is a filament transformer and ballast/current transformer for the tube. Not sure what he used to generate HV, probably a diode ladder. That is not a power supply, it is parts of a home-made jumble; especially if he cannot provide his schematic.

Have a look at sam's laser faq; there is a simple argon psu diagram using a variac, filament transformer, etc. That should be a decent start to re-do this mess.

[greenalien]

This looks like a thrown-together version of the Power Supply that David Green used to supply with his Lasertech systems - perhaps someone got hold of the schematic circuit and used whatever parts they could find. The Lasertech system used a large custom-made mains transformer that could only be obtained from David; that doesn't look like it was used here.
The high-voltage ignitor circuit is built into the ALC 60 head itself and is not part of the PSU.

[steve-o]

You can build an igniter from a bug zapper transformer. I know 'cause its what I use for my lasos tube..

[Aidan]

Hello,

I used to have an ALC60x, I have the plans for the PSU.

If you need them give me a shout and ill send them over to you.

Good fun but quite dangerous! (If you dont know what your doing)

Good luck!

[smogthemog]

That would be good of you Aiden if you would be so kind to send them over.
Thanks

Jim

smogthemog att gmail dott com