VCR fuse replacing...
Ed Powell
I have a Symphonic VCR in which the fuse in it died. No problem, I popped
it out, checked the rating (125V, 1.6 amp), and headed to the nearest
Radio Shack, where I picked up a 4-pack of 250V, 1.6 amp fuses.
I plugged one of the new fuses into the VCR, plugged it in... and was
immediately awarded a blue flash from the fuse. Unplug, pop out the
fuse... the metal wires inside of it were basically gone.
Figuring it might have been a bad fuse, I pop another replacement in
there. That too flashed a blue light and had its wires vaporised.
A friend of mine suggested that I get "slow" fuses... should I? Or could
this be a problem somewhere else in the power supply that I should take
the VCR to someone to have repaired?
--
Ed Powell - MSTie #27968, aspiring writer, and perpetually confused
ko...@mindspring.com http://www.mindspring.com/~epowell
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"Writing fiction is easy. Just make it up as you go along."
--- Ed Powell
Thomas A Trethewey
Ed,
I strongly urge you to replace that fuse holder with the exact
replacement it's designed for or you will have more problems than a blue
flash of light.
Most of the PWR Supply pc's boards have it printed on the board for
replacement.
As far as your fuses burning up it sounds like the power supply is the
best place to start.If your not trained in electronic troubleshooting I
think it would be a good idea to take it to a service center.I'd be glad
to look at it for you but I'm sure were many miles away.Good Luck
Tom
Bill Rothanburg
In message <kosh-28089...@user-168-121-165-215.dialup.mindspring.com>
- ko...@mindspring.com (Ed Powell)Wed, 28 Aug 1996 00:20:41 -0400 writes:
:>
:>I have a Symphonic VCR in which the fuse in it died. No problem, I popped
:>it out, checked the rating (125V, 1.6 amp), and headed to the nearest
:>Radio Shack, where I picked up a 4-pack of 250V, 1.6 amp fuses.
:>
:>I plugged one of the new fuses into the VCR, plugged it in... and was
:>immediately awarded a blue flash from the fuse. Unplug, pop out the
:>fuse... the metal wires inside of it were basically gone.
:>
:>Figuring it might have been a bad fuse, I pop another replacement in
:>there. That too flashed a blue light and had its wires vaporised.
:>
:>
:>A friend of mine suggested that I get "slow" fuses... should I? Or could
:>this be a problem somewhere else in the power supply that I should take
:>the VCR to someone to have repaired?
:>
:>--
Why would you need 'slow' fuses? You already have a friend who is a little
"slow". OK, not PC, so sue me!
Check the FAQ on repairing VCRs. This will identify the two basic types of
power supplies. For a linear PS, the symptoms point to a bad (shorted) diode.
For a SMPS, the symptoms could be either a bad diode or a shorted switching
transistor.
In either case, basic tools required include a soldering iron, a VOM, etc.
If you aren't comfortable with using a soldering iron, take it to a pro.
jla...@tir.com
I suggest no more fuses; Either get a schematic or take it to a qualified
technician.
Don Borowski
Ed Powell (ko...@mindspring.com) wrote:
: I have a Symphonic VCR in which the fuse in it died. No problem, I popped
: it out, checked the rating (125V, 1.6 amp), and headed to the nearest
: Radio Shack, where I picked up a 4-pack of 250V, 1.6 amp fuses.
: I plugged one of the new fuses into the VCR, plugged it in... and was
: immediately awarded a blue flash from the fuse. Unplug, pop out the
: fuse... the metal wires inside of it were basically gone.
: Figuring it might have been a bad fuse, I pop another replacement in
: there. That too flashed a blue light and had its wires vaporised.
: A friend of mine suggested that I get "slow" fuses... should I? Or could
: this be a problem somewhere else in the power supply that I should take
: the VCR to someone to have repaired?
The slow-blow fuse idea is a dumb one. You have a power supply problem.
Note that the VCR happily operated for years with a standard-speed-blow
fuse.
Donald Borowski WA6OMI Hewlett-Packard, Spokane Division
"Angels are able to fly because they take themselves so lightly."
-G.K. Chesterton
Shawn Partridge
NO!!!, do not replace it with a slow blow fuse. The blown fuse is an
indication of problems in the circuit. If the only thing you wanted to do
was stop blowing fuses, you should use a nice 10 penny nail. Get the
point. I don't want to ruin your day, but the Symphonic line of products
is not the best, and you can expect more problems down the road.
Al
ko...@mindspring.com (Ed Powell) wrote:
snip
>I plugged one of the new fuses into the VCR, plugged it in... and was
>immediately awarded a blue flash from the fuse. Unplug, pop out the
>fuse... the metal wires inside of it were basically gone.
The fuse is working perfectly - it's blowing because the circuit is
drawing too much current. Do not try to over fuse it, or what may be a
relatively minor repair will become a major one...not to mention the
question of safety.
--
Sam Goldwasser
> >I plugged one of the new fuses into the VCR, plugged it in... and was
> >immediately awarded a blue flash from the fuse. Unplug, pop out the
> >fuse... the metal wires inside of it were basically gone.
> The fuse is working perfectly - it's blowing because the circuit is
> drawing too much current. Do not try to over fuse it, or what may be a
> relatively minor repair will become a major one...not to mention the
> question of safety.
To the original poster: take it in for professional repair. If the
implications of the above is that you don't understand the basics of
what a fuse is used for, you will not be able to fix this and may as
indicated end up with a much bigger problem or dead (you or the VCR).
The cause is probably some shorted components in the power supply.
Sorry.
--- sam
Sam Goldwasser
> I suggest no more fuses; Either get a schematic or take it to a qualified
> technician.
Sam's rule of SMPS fuse blowing: Don't put another fuse in until you have
tested the switchmode transistor for shorts. If it is shorted, putting in
another fuse may cause other parts like fusable resistors to blow complicating
your problems.
Fuses DO blow on occasion for no good reason or do to a power surge
but this is the exception.
As noted above - take it to a professional.
--- sam
Greg Monbourquette
Bill Rothanburg wrote:
> :>
> :>Figuring it might have been a bad fuse, I pop another replacement in
> :>there. That too flashed a blue light and had its wires vaporised.
> :>
> :>
> :>A friend of mine suggested that I get "slow" fuses... should I? Or could
> :>this be a problem somewhere else in the power supply that I should take
> :>the VCR to someone to have repaired?
> "slow". OK, not PC, so sue me!
>
Use jumper cables from your car across the fuse.I don't think they'll blow :) :)
D/S/Losty
On Aug 28, 1996 00:20:41 in article <VCR fuse replacing...>,
'ko...@mindspring.com (Ed Powell)' wrote:
>I have a Symphonic VCR in which the fuse in it died. No problem, I popped
>it out, checked the rating (125V, 1.6 amp), and headed to the nearest
>Radio Shack, where I picked up a 4-pack of 250V, 1.6 amp fuses.
>
>I plugged one of the new fuses into the VCR, plugged it in... and was
>immediately awarded a blue flash from the fuse. Unplug, pop out the
>fuse... the metal wires inside of it were basically gone.
>
>Figuring it might have been a bad fuse, I pop another replacement in
>there. That too flashed a blue light and had its wires vaporised.
>
>
>A friend of mine suggested that I get "slow" fuses... should I? Or could
>this be a problem somewhere else in the power supply that I should take
>the VCR to someone to have repaired?
>
>--
>Ed Powell - MSTie #27968, aspiring writer, and perpetually confused
>ko...@mindspring.com http://www.mindspring.com/~epowell
>-------------------------------------------------------------------
>"Writing fiction is easy. Just make it up as you go along."
>--- Ed Powell
If the unit didn't origninally have a "slow" or time delay fuse,
don't put one in. If the fuse is made of glass, a time delay fuse
generally has a visible, miniature "spring" inside.
Your VCR has a problem which is causing the fuse to blow.
If you put a bigger fuse in the unit, eventually the smoke
will come out. One that happens, the unit is no good.
After all, we all know that electronic equipment runs on smoke.
Once the smoke escapes, it's time to trash the equipment.
:-)
Doug
Sam Goldwasser
In article <kosh-28089...@user-168-121-165-215.dialup.mindspring.com> ko...@mindspring.com (Ed Powell) writes:
> I have a Symphonic VCR in which the fuse in it died. No problem, I popped
> it out, checked the rating (125V, 1.6 amp), and headed to the nearest
> Radio Shack, where I picked up a 4-pack of 250V, 1.6 amp fuses.
> I plugged one of the new fuses into the VCR, plugged it in... and was
> immediately awarded a blue flash from the fuse. Unplug, pop out the
> fuse... the metal wires inside of it were basically gone.
> Figuring it might have been a bad fuse, I pop another replacement in
> there. That too flashed a blue light and had its wires vaporised.
Sorry to say, you don't have a clue of what you are doing. Before you
destroy the VCR and possibly kill yourself, admit defeat and take it
to a professional.
> A friend of mine suggested that I get "slow" fuses... should I? Or could
> this be a problem somewhere else in the power supply that I should take
> the VCR to someone to have repaired?
He doesn't know much more than you do. You should replace the fuse with
the same type and equal current rating and at least equal voltage rating.
Fuses protect circuitry. They blow because of some other problems in
most cases. Putting in a new fuse without fixing the cause can even do
more damage.
Sorry,
--- sam
Anthony Monzo
You obviously have a direct short in the power supply. Fuses are there
for a reason. Take this machine to your nearest repair center.
gi...@texas.net
ko...@mindspring.com (Ed Powell) wrote:
>I have a Symphonic VCR in which the fuse in it died. No problem, I popped
>it out, checked the rating (125V, 1.6 amp), and headed to the nearest
>Radio Shack, where I picked up a 4-pack of 250V, 1.6 amp fuses.
>I plugged one of the new fuses into the VCR, plugged it in... and was
>immediately awarded a blue flash from the fuse. Unplug, pop out the
>fuse... the metal wires inside of it were basically gone.
>Figuring it might have been a bad fuse, I pop another replacement in
>there. That too flashed a blue light and had its wires vaporised.
>A friend of mine suggested that I get "slow" fuses... should I? Or could
>this be a problem somewhere else in the power supply that I should take
>the VCR to someone to have repaired?
>--
>Ed Powell - MSTie #27968, aspiring writer, and perpetually confused
>ko...@mindspring.com http://www.mindspring.com/~epowell
>-------------------------------------------------------------------
>"Writing fiction is easy. Just make it up as you go along."
> --- Ed Powell
TRY A SCREW
gi...@texas.net
gi...@texas.net
gi...@texas.net
Robert Macy
GI>ko...@mindspring.com (Ed Powell) wrote:
GI>>I have a Symphonic VCR in which the fuse in it died. No problem, I popped
GI>>it out, checked the rating (125V, 1.6 amp), and headed to the nearest
GI>>Radio Shack, where I picked up a 4-pack of 250V, 1.6 amp fuses.
GI>>I plugged one of the new fuses into the VCR, plugged it in... and was
GI>>immediately awarded a blue flash from the fuse. Unplug, pop out the
GI>>fuse... the metal wires inside of it were basically gone.
GI>>Figuring it might have been a bad fuse, I pop another replacement in
GI>>there. That too flashed a blue light and had its wires vaporised.
GI>>A friend of mine suggested that I get "slow" fuses... should I? Or could
GI>>this be a problem somewhere else in the power supply that I should take
GI>>the VCR to someone to have repaired?
You should replace the fuse with one just like the one that came out of
your VCR.
You can tell if it's a slo-blo or fast-blo by the way it is constructed
inside. Just wires, it's a fast blo. A little spring like mechanism,
it's a slo-blo. What was in there originally?
If you replaced it incorrectly with a fast-blo (and it should have been
a slo-blo); the fuse usually only blows by "sagging", or just partially
melting - the wires just have a small gap in them. (I believe)
If your fuse flashes brilliantly where the wires coat the inside of the
glass tube and there's nothing left, it is *VERY* likely that you have a
severe failure somewhere else.
Get a schematic and start checking for failed components. A shorted
switching transistor in the PS will cause the symptom you described.
Without a schematic, I'd start there.
- Robert -
rober...@engineers.com
* OLX 2.1 TD * Those who quote me are fools.