Zenith Chromacolor console no video

[AlanInSitges]

Re-reading through this old thread, that is from before my time, there was a lot of jargon in there that would probably be overwhelming to you.

Assuming you're picking up where you left off, the first thing to do is confirm that there's no high voltage: if you don't hear that static crackle when the set first turns on, then there is probably no high voltage.

Next you should double-check to make sure the circuit breaker isn't tripped. Push it in and power on the set again.

After that, the assumptions made here lo those many years ago are probably correct. There are several suggestions pretty much all of which boil down to two things:

1. Failed tripler, horizontal output transistor, or possibly flyback transformer. The tripler was replaced in the past but it could have failed again - they are a high-failure item, relatively speaking. The usual failure scenario in these sets was: Tripler shorts, which then causes the horizontal output transistor to short, which, if the circuit breaker doesn't trip to save things, will cause the flyback transformer to fail.

2. A lack of horizontal drive, meaning the signal that drives the horizontal/high voltage section isn't present.

By far the most common cause is the first one. The steps to track them down are all in the thread, but if you don't know what you're looking for it would be tough. Try this:

1. Un solder the wire from the tripler that goes to the flyback. Position it so the end is well clear of anything, and turn on the set. Hold the tip of a screwdriver about 1" from the end of the wire you just unhooked (don't touch shaft of the screwdriver, just the handle) and see if you get a little arc. Move it closer until you do. In most cases you should see a little spark there, indicating that the flyback, horizontal output transistor, and horizontal drive are all working OK and that tripler needs to be replaced.

2. If you don't get a spark or arc, and the circuit breaker isn't tripping after you reset it, it's possibly a bad horizontal output transistor but more likely the flyback is open, or you have a horizontal drive problem.

Check those things out and we'll help you from there. That's still the best TV ever made.