RCA CRT TV Flyback?

[Innov8tive1]

Re: RCA CRT TV Flyback?

Thank you!

[PlainBill]

Re: RCA CRT TV Flyback?

You may be right about that but there used to be TV/stereo shops all over and now you have to take or send anything to a big city to get it worked on. There are still some guys (myself included to some degree) who still do a bit of it but it seems that many of us have not kept up with any of the newer technologies. I realize it is possible to do surface mount without all the hot air tools etc. as I have done some, the first being a processor IC for the display on my old Technics SA-R377 back when I was still in college and had good eyes. It wasn't pretty but it worked!
It just seems like technology has taken a huge leap in the last 15-20 years in not only design but in manufacturing as well. Back in the 50s as you state, the techs of the day probably did complain about circuit boards.........but circuit boards didn't change a whole heck of a lot since then. The biggest leap multi layers and surface mount. I'm sorry but there are things that machines can install that I am pretty sure I don't have enough magnification or a steady enough hand to de-solder or re-solder. Not to mention I don't have the time or the money to experiment with such things. I did at one point build a crude hot air rework "gun" which did sort of work but I'm sure nothing can match a professional unit. Point being that you won't find many (or any) shops repairing much at component level anymore..........and I really can't blame 'em.
I've never used Chip-quik but it seems like it might be handy. The other problem I have with a lot of modern stuff is I can't find data sheets for a lot of components but I'm sure a lot of that is knowing where to look.
Now, having said all that, I am really glad to have found someone who is able to and willing to spend the time to fix modern stuff, it gives me inspiration to continue to try!
Good work! I think I'm going to like hanging around here.
Oh, and if you are good with tubes, I have an old console radio that I got for decoration in my living room but I would like to see if I can make it work someday. I think it's all there.
Cheers!

There is a lot of truth to what you say. Some of the causes do not bode well for the future. 50 years ago many an electronics tech got started as a ham, or by building a kit from Heath or Lafayette. Magazines routinely published 'build it yourself' tube and later transistor projects. You could buy a short wave receiver kit for under $20, and if you had the slightest bit of curiosity, learn how it worked. (Of course, $20 was at least a couple of days pay.) Today it's almost impossible to do anything like that.

The other side of this is the cost of the electronics. We didn't have a TV set when I was growing up. For Christmas, 1964 my older brother (just back from the Army) gave the family a 19" TV. Black and white, not color, and full of vacuum tubes. I think he told Dad he got it for $100. That is the equivalent of about $700 today. Want to guess how much TV you can get
for $700 today? In the time when a skilled technician probably made less than $5.00 an hour, (and gas cost $.20 a gallon), it was reasonable to spend $15 to repair a $100 TV.

Further complicating the equation, there has been a quantum leap in TV technology in the past 5 years. (Unfortunately, it hasn't been accompanied by an equivalent improvement in the programming).

PlainBill

[Innov8tive1]

Re: RCA CRT TV Flyback?

I hear ya on the programming..........give me a dozen.......or even a half dozen good channels and scrap the other 500!
I grew up in the 70's and 80's but we only had a B&W TV until about 1983 or so. Didn't matter, all we got was one channel anyway. It was an old tube set, I remember having to go and warm it up during supper so we could watch Disney on Sunday evening. A former boss of mine trained on tubes in the early 60's with a mail order course. He still has a case of old tubes and a tube tester around somewhere. How things have changed!

[NxB]

Re: RCA CRT TV Flyback?

I do pull everything but the tube on these if I have to gut them. Rework guns are only $100. Fix 2 xbox RRODs and you have the money back.

[EGuevarae]

Re: RCA CRT TV Flyback?

,,,,A former boss of mine trained on tubes in the early 60's with a mail order course. He still has a case of old tubes and a tube tester around somewhere. How things have changed!

That's how my dad did it. A "Hempill Schools" course by mail.

[EGuevarae]

Re: RCA CRT TV Flyback?

... Fix 2 xbox RRODs and you have the money back.

Have you actually done it? I've seen some videos but I don't know of anyone that has actually done it

[NxB]

Re: RCA CRT TV Flyback?

I've fixed maybe 20 of them. But no more shop so no more smd gun. It helps to swap clamps for screws too.

Fixed a ton of laptops with video issues too. Mostly HP DV series but a few dells too.

[delaware74b]

Re: RCA CRT TV Flyback?

Last summer, I was 'gifted' with a 36" RCA CRT tv (F36653/ATC113). As soon as the prongs on the cord hit the outlet, it emitted a load high-pitched squeal. Shorted HOT, a VERY common problem for RCA's. Generally, the HOT fails after the FBT fails, or the HOT fails on its own. Since I don't have a ring tester, I replaced both and it's working fine. The OEM FBT was no longer available, so I went with a HR Damien model.