Technical Question about VCR...

[midwestyankee]

YES! I fixed it!

I decided, what the hell was I waiting for? I had resigned myself to spending a lot of money on a really good new one, so why not play with the old one? So I took it apart...completely apart. I drew a diagram as I went along so I would know how to put it back together. Then I cleaned every part of it. Put it back together...

Voila. It works better than it EVER has.

Then I got brave and did the same thing to do the TV. I figured, well, I saved that money on a VCR, why not? So I got out the small vacuum attachments and a diagram off the web and went to work.

It's like having a whole new system. The sound is awesome now, and it was good to begin with. You would be amazed at the dust I got from inside that TV. *cringe*

Thanks for the links. They all helped.

I feel like superwoman now. Wonder what else I can fix? LOL

S.

Next stop: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - in which the author makes an excellent case for the use of diagrams as a necessary aid to repair projects. They make much of the mystery go away and reveal the simplicity of repair work to the neophyte.

 

[sheath]

Next stop: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - in which the author makes an excellent case for the use of diagrams as a necessary aid to repair projects. They make much of the mystery go away and reveal the simplicity of repair work to the neophyte.

Without a doubt, a book I need to read.

If it might help me fix the roof, I would be even more grateful.

S.

 

[midwestyankee]

Without a doubt, a book I need to read.

If it might help me fix the roof, I would be even more grateful.

S.

Depends. Is your roof air-cooled or water-cooled? Is it a 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder roof?

The attitude that it takes to fix anything is the at the core of the argument in this book. I remember once having a devil of a time fixing something on one of my cars many years ago and finally remembered one of Pirsig's methods from the book: just relax and look at the problem from every available angle. After about ten minutes of relaxing and looking, I could see the answer as plainly as if someone had drawn a diagram for me.

Now if someone would just write a corollary book for relationships, eh?

 

[sheath]

Now if someone would just write a corollary book for relationships, eh?

No kidding. It would sell millions of copies and put all us other authors out of business.

S.

 

[warrior queen]

Now if someone would just write a corollary book for relationships, eh?

*sigh*

it would be so much easier if we could just 'take the cover off' our relationships and 'suck out all the dust'.

 

[midwestyankee]

No kidding. It would sell millions of copies and put all us other authors out of business.

S.

If you added up all the sales of the Men are From Mars... type books, no doubt you would have a number well into the millions - and yet I note that plenty of other books manage to make their way to my favorite bookstores.

 

[midwestyankee]

*sigh*

it would be so much easier if we could just 'take the cover off' our relationships and 'suck out all the dust'.

Hey, I'll go for the dust anytime. Where should I look for it?

 

[warrior queen]

Hey, I'll go for the dust anytime. Where should I look for it?

actually, i think my vaccuum bag is full now, and they've discontinued the line of vacs.

i'm screwed.

 

[midwestyankee]

actually, i think my vaccuum bag is full now, and they've discontinued the line of vacs.

i'm screwed.

Then at least you're getting some.

 

[warrior queen]

Then at least you're getting some.

i soooooooooo wish!

6 months and counting.

 

[Lust Engine]

Ah, what the hell. I have to join the modern age sometime, right?

It never ceases to amaze me that I can run a state-of-the-art mix board in a recording studio with my eyes closed, but I can't fix a simple VCR or CD player.

Just more evidence that I'm weird, I guess.

S.

Simple?? Does anyone remember when VCR's first came out? My parents still have one and it's half a step short of being as complex as my DNA! Every time we switch over to daylight savings, I'm perplexed to change the damn clock!

Congrats on getting the thing fixed too! May it last long enough to be wanted by the Smithsonian.

 

[sheath]

Simple?? Does anyone remember when VCR's first came out? My parents still have one and it's half a step short of being as complex as my DNA! Every time we switch over to daylight savings, I'm perplexed to change the damn clock!

Congrats on getting the thing fixed too! May it last long enough to be wanted by the Smithsonian.

I hope it lasts forever. I just fixed my washer today, too, so I'm feeling all kinds of superwoman powers right about now.

Have wrench, screwdriver and hammer, will fix stuff!

S.

 

[PatMan]

Well done on fixing it superwoman!

But...

A word of warning on TV's (and other appliances). They can hold a lethal charge even when not plugged into the mains. This is especially so with TV's as the actual screen holds a large electrostatic charge - up to 20KV or so. When servicing TV's it is common practice to discharge this - and if you saw the arc that happens when you do discharge it you might think twice about poking around in the back of one.

People get killed doing this to TV's. Microwaves are another big killer, even though they are plastered with warnings both on the covers and on the inside.

Pat

www.patski.cjb.net

 

[Lust Engine]

I hope it lasts forever. I just fixed my washer today, too, so I'm feeling all kinds of superwoman powers right about now.

Have wrench, screwdriver and hammer, will fix stuff!

S.

You keep this up and Bob Vila's going to be looking for a new job!

 

[sheath]

Well done on fixing it superwoman!

But...

A word of warning on TV's (and other appliances). They can hold a lethal charge even when not plugged into the mains. This is especially so with TV's as the actual screen holds a large electrostatic charge - up to 20KV or so. When servicing TV's it is common practice to discharge this - and if you saw the arc that happens when you do discharge it you might think twice about poking around in the back of one.

People get killed doing this to TV's. Microwaves are another big killer, even though they are plastered with warnings both on the covers and on the inside.

Pat

www.patski.cjb.net

NOW you tell me.

I had no idea it carried such a charge when it was unplugged. Does the VCR carry a wallop like that, too?

I'm reconsidering the "have wrench will fix stuff" philosophy!

S.

 

[sheath]

You keep this up and Bob Vila's going to be looking for a new job!

I'm even considering fixing the roof. Seriously. Though I'm not sure I can handle that myself.

S.

 

[Weird Harold]

I had no idea it carried such a charge when it was unplugged. Does the VCR carry a wallop like that, too?

Nope, VCRs and cd-players are strictly low voltage.

Microwaves and anything with a picture tube use huge capacitors to maintain the high voltage they need to function and the charge doesn't bleed off whenthe power is removed.

Microwaves are quite as dangerous as TVs and Monitors -- they only need about 500 to 700 volts to function and the few I've had open are well marked and difficult to get into the high voltage section.

TV's on the other hand have a pencil thick wire from the fly-back transformer/capacitor to the picture tube that looks a bit like a spark-plug wire on your car's engine -- it carries the same kind of voltage as your spark-plug wires do too; 25,000 to 30,000 volts.

It's marked as being high voltage on each end, but it's usually NOT clearly marked as being dangerous when the power is disconnected.

 

[sheath]

Thank you for that explanation.

What about things like washers and dryers? My dryer needs some adjustments made to it, and I know I can do it, but now I'm wondering how safe it is.

Thanks for all the help. All of you.

S.

 

[bobsgirl]

Gosh, you write really hot erotica, you're loved and adored by all here at Lit, AND you fix appliances?!

We are not worthy...

 

[midwestyankee]

Gosh, you write really hot erotica, you're loved and adored by all here at Lit, AND you fix appliances?!

We are not worthy...

Yeah, pretty soon she'll be charging $75 an hour to show up at your house with her jeans drooping enough to show the crack in her ass and tell you that you need to wait a week for a part that's on order.

 

[bobsgirl]

Yeah, pretty soon she'll be charging $75 an hour to show up at your house with her jeans drooping enough to show the crack in her ass and tell you that you need to wait a week for a part that's on order.

I'm positive Sheath's butt is a lot cuter than any of the repairmen's who've been to my house.

Except maybe my hub's. Sorry, Sheath--spousal loyalty and all, you know.

 

[Weird Harold]

What about things like washers and dryers? My dryer needs some adjustments made to it, and I know I can do it, but now I'm wondering how safe it is.

Depends on the washer and dryer, really.

Washers don't generally use high voltage, but you do have the combination of water and electrical components to worry about -- very few washers use high voltage and charge capacitors so unplugging a washer should be all the electrical safety procedure you need.

Dryers come in two types with different hazards for each.

Electric Dryers use 220VAC power at high amperage, but unplugging them should remove any shock hazard.

Gas Dryers run on standard house current -- 120VAC -- and unplugging them generally removes any shock hazard. However, gas dryers have the problem of the gas supply line and possible gas leaks. Read up on how to check for gas leaks before messing about with the supply line or burners in a gas dryer. Common sense is usually enough to keep you safe if the gas supply is shut off.

Almost everything has some safety issue involved in working on it, but there are dozens of sites on the web to help you do things safely.

 

[sheath]

Gosh, you write really hot erotica, you're loved and adored by all here at Lit, AND you fix appliances?!

We are not worthy...

*blushing*

Well...THIS was the first new post I looked at today, and boy, did it start my day out just right!

I don't deserve the "We are not worthy"...but it sure did make me smile. Thanks, bobsgirl.

S.

 

[sheath]

Almost everything has some safety issue involved in working on it, but there are dozens of sites on the web to help you do things safely.

Thank you for the advice, Weird Harold. You are always SUCH a help.

S.