Quote:
Originally Posted by dawgs
I don't have all the fancey eqwipment to test all of my new toy's that I rescue frome file 13,. anyhow, I'd like too get this one up & running.
|
Dawgs, you know, you don't really need much of any "fancey eqwipment" when it comes to troubleshooting vintage electronics equipment. The main thing that you need is a working knowledge of how to properly measure voltage, resistance, and current (amperes). After you achieve that, all you really need is a modern digital VOM, and what a lot of techs refer to as an "amp clamp." These things, like most technology, have become so cheap to produce that you can get fairly decent stuff these days for not a lot of money. Your average VOM will have the capability of measuring current (amperes), but current must be measured in SERIES with the part of the circuit to be tested, which boils down to breaking a connection somewhere and connecting the meter probes at the break. Why do this when you can get a clamp type meter and effortlessly check your current. The main thing I want to stress is that ALL meters can be VERY dangerous, if not fatal of improperly used. If you are in doubt ASK someone!
Other than a meter, a tube tester is completely necessary and can amazingly be found used for reasonable prices considering the fact that without one, a person into vintage electronics is about a crippled as he could possibly be. I mean it's the same as any job; certain tools are just necessary, and all of the knowledge in the world is useless without the right tools. That is unless you are of the eccentric variety that can just pay some lucky tech to revamp your toys with a blank check.
So we still are not looking at anything fancy or expensive. However, if you REALLY get deep into the trade or hobby you might decide to tackle alignment jobs and the need for more expensive equipment becomes necessary, ie. signal generators and oscilloscopes. The beauty is that you can have a lot of fun with vintage electronics and hardly ever find the need to touch these items. I do encourage anyone in this hobby to learn the ins and outs of scopes and the alignment of signals. I say this because the garden variety TV and Radio professional is getting older and thinning out. Soon there could be very few people in the country who have the knowledge to do more than swapping tubes, resistors, and capacitors, etc. I myself am going to try to enhance my knowledge of waveforms (more than sine and square waves) AND get the necessary tools for alignments.
Good luck with your projects!
