Blog

Clean an ITT Schaub-Lorenz Viola radio from 1970

2020-12-21T20:01:50Z

Someone from my neighbourhood asked to maintain his table radio. A pretty begin-70's transistor model It works, but has your typical issues: bad contacts, cracking controls.I went to the local electro shop to get a new can of contact cleaner, op...(read more)

Original Xbox

2020-12-19T15:46:00Z

My first trace rot repair on an original Xbox was a big moment for me being new to repair . I had been told by fellow Xbox enthusiasts that this was the probable cause of my issue which was random switching off and powering on with eject . I proved l...(read more)

Rescue H.H. Scott Multiplex FM Tuner

2020-06-19T19:24:38Z

1960 HH Scott Multiplex FM Tuner. Crystal clear broadcast, and the Multiplex system just makes the sound 3D.. She was pretty dirty when I got her, but in relatively good shape. I cleaned up the linside and after checking paower across the syste...(read more)

Midi Synth rescued from the junk bin

2020-05-15T04:52:00Z

Repairing a Midi Synth In this post, I take on the challenge of repairing a Midi synthesizer which was sitting in a co-worker's junk bin for a few years. I was talking to him about electronics at some point and he mentioned that he had this thing he...(read more)

A Shocking Variac Made a Little Less Shocking!

2020-05-14T10:57:00Z

Restoration and Repair is a Project14 theme I've been looking forward to. Rarely is there nothing in need of a bit of a fix, which often means saving some money, preventing something from going into landfill and learning more about a given item ...(read more)

Fix that Power Supply, or bin it! - Part 2 : Troubleshoot and repair

2020-05-13T20:49:00Z

In part 1 we had a good look at the power supply internals, figured out the schematic and the functional blocks of the circuit. This gives us a good starting point to troubleshoot the problem, in search for an (hopefully) easy fix. Let's start...(read more)

Fix that Power Supply, or bin it! - Part 1

2020-05-12T01:14:00Z

“I’ll just put it there for now, then I will fix it next week”… I don’t know you, but I have pronounced those words many times (and I still do, to be honest!). Then, after countless weeks, one day you open the ...(read more)

Repairing a Generator Stator Earth Fault Relay - Part 3

2020-04-28T19:34:00Z

This is the brief final element of repairing the relay and is an extension of the test program to use the more automated side of the Omicron software. This blog is really only for someone who may have more of an interest in the use of the Omicron in...(read more)

Repairing a Generator Stator Earth Fault Relay - Part 2

2020-04-24T10:14:00Z

Introduction In the previous blog I introduced the UBX117 stator earth fault relay and the issues that had been found with a couple that I had previously tested on a site. Repairing a Generator Stator Earth Fault Relay - Part 1 ...(read more)

PSU accuracy measurement and calibration

2020-04-19T19:08:00Z

Introduction Pre-calibration accuracy Calibration Post-calibration accuracy Source code Conclusions WARNING: DO NOT TRY TO REPLICATE THIS UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE RISK OF BREAKING YOUR PSU! Introduction ...(read more)

Repairing a Generator Stator Earth Fault Relay - Part 1

2020-04-16T18:47:00Z

Introduction As part of the repair and restoration theme for project14, I am taking a look at an obsolete UBX117 protection relay, that was removed during routine testing of a generator protection panel, due to faulty operation. I will go thr...(read more)

This Device Tickles My Fancy

2020-04-12T06:10:00Z

Hello, my name is Doug and I'm a gadgetaholic, and the gadget in the 2nd picture below really tickles my fancy. I have not been blogging much this year, but with all the lockdowns in place, I think it is important to stay connected, stay positive, c...(read more)

Don't Be a Wimpy-Wrencher, Son - Cars are Actually Easier to Maintain Today than Ever

2020-04-08T00:02:00Z

PREFACE: For 40+ years, I've heard the same thing from wimpy-wrenchers - "They design cars so you can't work on them any more." I even hear this from fellow engineers. Actually, it's very much the opposite for reasons I'll present ...(read more)

Service my Philips 212 Turntable - Part 2: initial measurements

2020-04-05T12:32:00Z

For Project 14's Restoration and Repair month, I'm going to service a Philips GA-212 Electronic turntable that needs some TLC. In this post, I'll check the overall health of the electronic circuit: power supply voltage and related signals...(read more)

Service my Philips 212 Turntable - Part 1: the defects

2020-04-04T13:48:00Z

For Project 14's Restoration and Repair month, I'm going to service a Philips GA-212 Electronic turntable that needs some TLC. www.youtube.com/watch I have a perfectly working one too. When everyone switched to CDs, they moved their TTs to...(read more)