So what is the "Panasonic power supply issue"?

[starbond]

Ed, I built the dim bulb tester, and now Im ready to test voltages. Am I looking at the DC side voltages? Will i know when one looks off without having reference voltages?

[Ed in Tx]

The bulb test was to verify the short was gone before you plugged it in directly to AC. if you didn't do that you might have damaged the new Q4. Have you rechecked it? Also I'm a little old fashioned when testing diodes and transistors. I just use an analog volt-ohm meter usually set on 100X scale and test for a shorted condition. If a diode conducts one way and not the other it's generally good. Also not advised to go probing around in a power supply like that since the primary side is hot to ground. You need an isolation transformer to do that but rarely necessary to be working on that area of the PS powered on. There should be 5V and 12V outputs at least once it's running with a dim bulb. Not sure where else to go from here without a schematic.

[starbond]

Thanks Ed, I agree without a schematic is difficult. I think Q4 may indeed be damaged again. Pulled it out, bulb still lights very bright with it out, so guessing the problem is still elsewhere

[Ed in Tx]

Did you check D1 the full wave rectifier for a short?

[starbond]

Ed, D1 is a S1VB20 or so, tested in diode mode across all pins as show in data sheet and got .6V forward and overload OL in reverse

[Ed in Tx]

So you went 1 to 2, 1 to 3, 2 to 4, and 3 to 4 and all tested like a good diode? Then it's something else...

[starbond]

Originally Posted by Ed in Tx

So you went 1 to 2, 1 to 3, 2 to 4, and 3 to 4 and all tested like a good diode? Then it's something else...

Yes all good.
Ive tested all the diodes in the HOT zone, all the transistors bar Q4, replaced a few capacitors that I had on hand. I must be missing something or measured something wrong.
When I measure DC voltages past the rectifer I only get about .5V
When i measure AC votages at the mains I'm only getting 1-2V coming in from the hot and neutral pins

I'm close to giving up on this and taking a loss. which is a shame because otherwise the VCR looks barely used.