Modifying the TC-80N3 for the EOS 300d

Dear Friends,

I am wondering if any of the hardware gurus have modified their TC-80N3 timer controller for use with the EOS 300d?

Two examples are sean.wenzel.net/lists/digi_astro/18/9438.html and www.hapg.org/astrocables.htm . For the latter, it is near the middle of the web page and the image on the left.

Anthony.

Anthony, this looks like a easy mod to do. You can get the connectors (very common) at a local electronics shop. The only tricky thing is soldering if you haven't done that before but really even this is easy, just don't burn yourself. A cheap soldering iron would cost about 15 or 20 euro and the connectors about 1 or 2 euro each. Also don't forget some solder wire.

If you need some more guidance just ask. If you don't fancy doing it yourself, I would be happy to do it for you if you want to sent the remote to me.

(BTW I have a TC-80N3 that I use with my 20D, so no mod needed)

Hi John,

You are a god-send. Although I have dabbled with soldering (over 20 yrs ago), I am very rusty when it comes to electronics etc.

If you can assist me in ANY way, I would be very indebted and grateful. It is one thing during an all-nighter using a cellphone to shoot 50 six-minute exposures - www.perseus.gr/Astro-Star-Trails-2005-08-13.htm - and something else to have the (existing) remote and camera ready for automated action.

Let me check Friday locally for the parts and I will get back to you.

If there is sufficient interest here by others, we can keep everything public so that others will benefit now or later, for I know we have other digital EOS users.

Anthony.

John,

Can you please itemize the parts I need with their complete "names" so that I can ask for these in an intelligent manner on Friday when visiting the main electronics parts store in central Athens?

Thanks.

Anthony.

John et al,

Here is some other info I received from a friend on the digital_astro Yahoo group:

From: "Denis Slattery" <slattts@...>
Date: Wed Aug 17, 2005 2:51 am
Subject: Re: EOS TC-80N3 for Digital Rebel slattts Offline Send Email

Hi Anthony,

This is a pretty easy fix -- but involves cutting the cable (of
course). Snip it in half and install a stereo in-line plug on the side
that's still attached to the remote. Put a corresponding in-line jack
on the other piece. Plug together, and you're in your original
configuration.

Now get a length of similar 2-conductor-plus-shield cable and put a
stereo in-line jack on one side. On the other, install a right-angled
2.5mm stereo mini-plug. This end will go into the 300D. Now you can
swap back and forth.

This will also allow you to put a standard stereo cable in the middle
as an extender - this I find very handy.

Check the wiring connections before soldering down: there's only 2
connectors plus ground, so if a half-press triggers the shutter rather
than causing the camera to attempt focus, you've got it the wrong way.

I'm sure a Google search would turn up some illustrations of the
connectors concerned. Also I believe Hap Griffin can do this for you if
you're not solder-willing - but of course he's over here.

Hope this helps,

-- Denis S.

PS. Adding to this little archive in the event it is of interest to someone else (now or in the future), we have the following parts:

www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5...%2D298&hp=search
www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5...%2D284&hp=search
www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5...%2D274&hp=search

I checked the Radio-Shack web site for the corresponding wire - stranded 3 conductor 24AWG intercome wire - but no luck. I will keep searching and update accordingly.