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6 Jul 2021 20:46:34 UTC
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Workshop Project #9: CRT Tester (BMR 90)
There are fewer and fewer CRTs out there every day. Most parts are commonly available, like transistors and even some microchips, but the CRT itself... not so much anymore. Wikipedia mentions that some industries still need CRTs, but replacements for consumer TVs are next to nonexisting.
In order to gear up for the occasional patient that might come through my little workshop, I decided to invest into a CRT tester. This one also includes a rejuvinator, or regenerator. It was made by a German company that went under in the 2000s and now all that remains is a PDF with the CRT tester adapter catalog on their website, which is now a front for a charity that advocates for organ donor cards. Weird combo.
The device had a few broken switches which required a creative solution, and the anode connector was missing. But since that involved only slapping a 4mm banana plug on a NOS plug I found on e-bay, I didn't include that in the video.
Since there are no new adapters available, I decided to sacrifice one of the provided ones for the socket and convert a few test leads into a "universal" adapter. Nothing for the faint of heart, since at least one lead carries the full 600-odd Volts for the G2 pin. Better stand clear when in use! Especially since the mains voltage is directly connected to - again - some of the output pins in some of the modes, depending on the switches. This is definitely NOT a toy! Especially with the high voltage pin on a regular, non-shielded 4mm banana plug...
I pushed this one through to test a non-working TV I have on my bench now. Given the symptoms, one possible failure would have been the CRT... and I wanted to rule that out early to focus on a solution or stop wasting time with the TV. I am glat to report that the TV is in basic working condition again and as soon as I get around to do the adjustments, it will be another video of course!
I couldn't resist to write out one of the warranty cards that came inside the case: the manufacturer - Müter GmbH - has included a set to validate that a TV has been processed properly. Also, sorry for the post-credit joke... reading the manual about how the rejuvination part works felt a bit like reading a fairy tale to me, so I just had to... ;)
0:00 Intro
1:25 The Button Problem / Opening up / High vs. Low Effort
2:35 Removing Mode Switches / Repairing Indicator Caps
3:32 Floating Resistor / Capacitors
5:22 Mode Buttons, Spring Problem / Reassembly
6:30 Cleaning Bulbs / Testing Potentiometers
7:12 Cleaning Case / Closing Unit
7:54 Adapter Cable Plug
8:41 "Universal" Adapter
9:52 Theory of Operation / Short Test and "Fix" / Current Measurements
11:30 Rejuvination Description / First Test
12:55 Completed! / Credits / Bonus
Wikipedia on CRTs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode-ray_tube
Ra
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwDvUIqUy8Q
In order to gear up for the occasional patient that might come through my little workshop, I decided to invest into a CRT tester. This one also includes a rejuvinator, or regenerator. It was made by a German company that went under in the 2000s and now all that remains is a PDF with the CRT tester adapter catalog on their website, which is now a front for a charity that advocates for organ donor cards. Weird combo.
The device had a few broken switches which required a creative solution, and the anode connector was missing. But since that involved only slapping a 4mm banana plug on a NOS plug I found on e-bay, I didn't include that in the video.
Since there are no new adapters available, I decided to sacrifice one of the provided ones for the socket and convert a few test leads into a "universal" adapter. Nothing for the faint of heart, since at least one lead carries the full 600-odd Volts for the G2 pin. Better stand clear when in use! Especially since the mains voltage is directly connected to - again - some of the output pins in some of the modes, depending on the switches. This is definitely NOT a toy! Especially with the high voltage pin on a regular, non-shielded 4mm banana plug...
I pushed this one through to test a non-working TV I have on my bench now. Given the symptoms, one possible failure would have been the CRT... and I wanted to rule that out early to focus on a solution or stop wasting time with the TV. I am glat to report that the TV is in basic working condition again and as soon as I get around to do the adjustments, it will be another video of course!
I couldn't resist to write out one of the warranty cards that came inside the case: the manufacturer - Müter GmbH - has included a set to validate that a TV has been processed properly. Also, sorry for the post-credit joke... reading the manual about how the rejuvination part works felt a bit like reading a fairy tale to me, so I just had to... ;)
0:00 Intro
1:25 The Button Problem / Opening up / High vs. Low Effort
2:35 Removing Mode Switches / Repairing Indicator Caps
3:32 Floating Resistor / Capacitors
5:22 Mode Buttons, Spring Problem / Reassembly
6:30 Cleaning Bulbs / Testing Potentiometers
7:12 Cleaning Case / Closing Unit
7:54 Adapter Cable Plug
8:41 "Universal" Adapter
9:52 Theory of Operation / Short Test and "Fix" / Current Measurements
11:30 Rejuvination Description / First Test
12:55 Completed! / Credits / Bonus
Wikipedia on CRTs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode-ray_tube
Ra
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwDvUIqUy8Q
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video/mp4
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English
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Donate a few bucks for some coffee (or some equipment upgrades): https://ko-fi.com/atkelar
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When I started playing around with mains powered devices, I needed a way of "keeping the device under test isolated" from the power outlets, at least until I fixed the mains part of it. Reason being, that the oscilloscope is mains earth referenced and that the RCD in my house would at the slightest hint of current mising the intended return path.
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1:55 Planning / cutting
3:00 Glue up / sanding
4:30 Eye bolts / paint
5:00 Handle
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6:23 Conclusion / credits / outtake
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The original video by CuriousMarc is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOqh2Wqdi4s
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1:30 Overview / Disassembly / Power Switch Diagnosis
3:20 Power Switch Restoration
6:50 Rear Panel / Transformer / 7 Ohm Resistor Located!
7:50 Electrolytics
9:18 Transformer Diagnosis / Plannning
12:50 Transformer Unwind
14:10 Transformer Winding
15:40 Laminates / Validation
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17:50 Waver Switch Cleaning
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23:10 Unbending and Mounting Front Panel / Grounding (COM) Wire / Back Panel
24:20 Power Supply PCB / Spade Connectors
25:42 Power On! / AC Issue
27:45 Overview Part 2 / Credits / Box?!
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You can support me on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/atkelar
and also on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Atkelar
...and since a month, you can also drop a virtual coin into the YouTube hat by using the "Super Thanks" feature!
Thanks to everybody who signed up already!
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video/mp4
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2:20 What Is It For?
3:48 CRT Driver / CRT Removal
5:15 Test Fixture / Buttons / LV Power Supply and Rectifier
7:02 Knobs / Soldered Wires / Filter Caps
9:15 Belly Plate and Transformer View / Step Generator / Rear Panel
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13:20 Chassis Front / Button Boards / Mains Transformer
14:50 Power Resistors / Collector Supply
16:00 Wiring Loom Tangle / Collector Supply Unwrapping
17:00 Test Fixture / Cleanup!
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19:37 Left-Right Switch Clean / 22Ohm Issue
20:39 Mode Switch Clean
22:23 Rebuilding Fixture / Decals / Safety Interlock Switch
24:57 Wire Repair / Case Closed / Lamp Test
25:56 Summary of Part 1 / Credits / Outtakes
General Information: https://w140.com/tekwiki/wiki/576
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You can support me on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/atkelar
and also on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Atkelar
and now also here by using the "Super Thanks" feature!
Thanks to everybody who signed up already!
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3:50 Pulling Modules / Back Panel and Case
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18:38 First Nixie Glow! / Function Check / 100kHz Adjustment
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You can support me on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/atkelar
and also on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Atkelar
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2:46 Power Indicator LED
3:18 Assembly Start - Back Panel / Transformer
4:27 Rectifier Caps / Feet and Bus Socket
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10:08 Case and Front Panel / CRT Cleanup
12:08 CRT Nope / CRT Bezel
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You can support me on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/atkelar
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You can support me on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/atkelar
...and also on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Atkelar
...and you can also drop a virtual coin into the YouTube hat by using the "Super Thanks!"
Thanks to everybody who signed up already!
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