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Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: qrz on February 23, 2008, 08:59:53 pm

Title: heater/cathode shorts - i.e. bright 1 color pic w/horiz lines
Post by: qrz on February 23, 2008, 08:59:53 pm
for those not wanting to wind their own filament winding ......,

the latest sales flyer from mcm (800 543 4330 or  www.mcmelectronics.com)   lists an isolated crt brightener  prt # 33-595

this is a transformer that will connect to the original filament winding (primary) then to the crt filaments ( secondary)
thus isolating the cathodes from the heater's ground loop .  the secondary voltage will be higher providing the brightener effect .  just add series resistance at proper wattage if no brightener needed....

haven't seen these available for a number of yrs !  and still cheaper to wind yer own   ;D

qrz
Title: Re: heater/cathode shorts - i.e. bright 1 color pic w/horiz lines
Post by: Ken Layton on February 23, 2008, 11:33:54 pm
That's the 'brightner' that Star Tech Journal and Happ Controls sells at a higher price.
Title: Re: heater/cathode shorts - i.e. bright 1 color pic w/horiz lines
Post by: D_Zoot on February 25, 2008, 09:15:35 am
Quote from: qrz on February 23, 2008, 08:59:53 pm
the secondary voltage will be higher providing the brightener effect .  just add series resistance at proper wattage if no brightener needed....

haven't seen these available for a number of yrs !  and still cheaper to wind yer own   ;D



Actually, no resistor needed. Those isolators/boosters come with a number of leads to configure the unit for isolation only (no boost, or 1:1 ratio) or isolation and boost.  They also have leads to configure for Trinitron tubes, for those folks that see Sony tubes/monitors/TV's

MCM has had those for long time.  I'm too lazy to wind my own,  :)  so I've always kept one on the shelf.

D
Title: Re: heater/cathode shorts - i.e. bright 1 color pic w/horiz lines
Post by: qrz on February 25, 2008, 05:33:48 pm
been using MCM for a looong time . that was the 1st i've seen  ( noticed ??? ) they had 'em.
just not something i use ... a couple of feet of wire does just fine  ;)

tnx for the info .

qrz
Title: Re: heater/cathode shorts - i.e. bright 1 color pic w/horiz lines
Post by: grantspain on February 25, 2008, 05:42:28 pm
how does this function,how does it help the gun?
i have not seen these in europe
Title: Re: heater/cathode shorts - i.e. bright 1 color pic w/horiz lines
Post by: D_Zoot on February 25, 2008, 08:25:30 pm
Quote from: grantspain on February 25, 2008, 05:42:28 pm
how does this function,how does it help the gun?
i have not seen these in europe


It's really just a small isolation transformer for the heater circuit.  If you have a tube with a H-K short this will electrically isolate the heater so there is no longer an electrical "path" between H and K.

It can also be used to boost the heater voltage slightly.  If you have a weak or gassy tube, boosting the heater voltage can wring a little more oomph out of the guns.

Boosting the heater is a roll of the dice, only to be used as a last ditch attempt to save a weak tube.  It doesn't always help much or last very long and there is always a danger of blowing the heater filament open.  But if you are going to pitch a tube anyway, doesn't hurt to try!

D