Troubleshooting guide

Cinematronics Vector Monitor Repair Guide v.1.0
Page 51 of 53
Appendix F: Installing A Cap Kit
Time and heat have "dried out" the electrolytic capacitors in your monitor reducing their
capacitance values. Without the capacitors doing their job you get problems like wavy picture,
smearing, warping, etc. The other problem that occurs is that over the years the solder joints at
connectors develop little cracks in the solder. These cracks reduce the surface area that the
electricity can flow over and sometime stop it completely. The best way to fix this is to remove the
old solder and resolder the connectors, preferably with 63/37 electronics solder (available at Radio
Shack). This is called reflowing. There are currently no sources for Cinematronics Cap Kits, so you
will have to make one yourself.
Key:
•
Q = Transistor
•
R = Resistor
•
C = Capacitor (all polarized electrolytic)
•
D = Diode
Note that the capacitors come in two "types":
_____
_____ | |
--| |-- radial-lead | |
~~~~~ +---+
axial-lead | |
Note: if you cannot find an exact replacement for one of the capacitors, you may keep this in mind.
A capacitor with a difference that is less than 5% of the original value should work just fine. Back
in the days of the Cinematronics monitor, electrolytic capacitors had tolerances that were typically
over 20%. So a modern capacitor will probably be a lot closer to the ideal value than the original
cap that was in the chassis when it was new.
DEFLECTION TRANSISTORS
All the monitor deflection transistors are mounted in a socket with two Phillips head machine
screws. No soldering necessary; just unscrew the old one and replace. You cannot put these
deflection transistors in backwards; the leads are offset so they will only fit into the heatsinks one-
way. If you put the transistors in backwards, the screw holes will not line up.
Make sure you install a new clear plastic Mica insulator between the transistor and the metal
heatsinks. If you have some white heat sink grease, put a light coating on both sides of the Mica
insulator.