Documentation

[maxhifi]

For RCA TVs, the OEM manuals are much more complete than Sams. I think for a professional service man, Sams is probably adequate, but for an amateur working alone, it's good to have as much info as you can dig up. I also don't like how Sams part numbers are arbitrary and nearly never match OEM part numbers.

The good thing about Sams though is it's super easy to find, OEM stuff is like locating any rare antique book, elusive and sometimes impossible to locate. If you specialize only in portacolor TVs, it would be a decent idea to track down as much GE documentation as you can, to supplement the aftermarket stuff.

SAMS is kind of like getting a Haynes manual for your car, it will get the job done, but is nowhere near as comoplete or detailed as a Ford manual or a Toyota manual.

[1911nutjob]

Originally Posted by maxhifi

For RCA TVs, the OEM manuals are much more complete than Sams. I think for a professional service man, Sams is probably adequate, but for an amateur working alone, it's good to have as much info as you can dig up. I also don't like how Sams part numbers are arbitrary and nearly never match OEM part numbers.

The good thing about Sams though is it's super easy to find, OEM stuff is like locating any rare antique book, elusive and sometimes impossible to locate. If you specialize only in portacolor TVs, it would be a decent idea to track down as much GE documentation as you can, to supplement the aftermarket stuff.

SAMS is kind of like getting a Haynes manual for your car, it will get the job done, but is nowhere near as comoplete or detailed as a Ford manual or a Toyota manual.

As someone who used to be a tech twenty years ago, I can appreciate and understand the Haynes reference! I’ve been lucky enough to have factory literature available for my audio stuff, so perusing sam’s and tab is new to me. I found a tab book covering the HE chassis on evilbay for twelve bucks including shipping and was happy to get it.