Philips VR-6541 - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

julie_m · 29th Jan 2017, 1:30 am

Top? Tip, you mean, maybe?

But Sharp certainly weren't tat merchants. I gave my last VCR to my parents, when I got my first DVD recorder. It was a Sharp, bought in the late 1990s in the expectation that DVD recorders would be Coming Soon but not sure how soon Soon would be; so selected primarily for MTBF, lest it pack up before DVD affordable recorders were ready, but not doing too badly on features either, with six heads, NICAM stereo hi-fi sound, on-screen menus, two SCART connectors and front camcorder sockets. It's still doing occasional good service, for playback only now though since of course it has only an analogue tuner, but they have an extensive library of programmes on VHS cassettes.

I certainly wouldn't knock Sharp-built kit. It can be a little quirky (but then again, so can Philips-built kit) but it was always solidly built and reliable.

Clydeuk · 29th Jan 2017, 1:44 am

In my opinion, of all the Philips machines I came across, these Sharp based ones were better than anything Philips could come up with. We rented one (think it was 6542 or something like that) and it was very reliable and a good performer. I've had various others (Charlie deck, Turbo deck) and as well as being problematic, the mechanisms were always noisy and full of plastic.

Vauxfan2k · 29th Jan 2017, 2:10 am

Yeah I meant the tip. Ok il certainly give it a go. Thanks

ben · 29th Jan 2017, 8:32 pm

I also say go for it. It's not as if there are that many around now, and though basic spec (2 head mono) as has been said, they're well made.

Vauxfan2k · 30th Jan 2017, 5:58 pm

Had a fiddle with this today, the motors are all fine. But there's no power getting to them.

When connected to the mains the clock comes on the display. Press the power button and it takes a few seconds to come on (see pic) channels can be changed, clock can be set. The tape side of things is unresponsive still.

Unlike the Panasonic psu I can't find a wiring diagram for this, and there is no system to the layout of the psu. Resistors are grouped together and caps together etc.

As electronics isn't my thing I'm gonna give up on this one. Will offer it in the for sale section f.o.c plus post if anyone has any interest.

Cheers

ben · 30th Jan 2017, 10:51 pm

put a cassette in the unit as you bridge that leaf switch on the cassette carriage, very common for contacts to oxidise.Should spring to life.

Vauxfan2k · 31st Jan 2017, 12:34 am

Ben, the tape carriage was wound back manually to get the tape out that got stuck laced up. I tried putting a tape back in and winding it back down manually but still the same.

Thanks though

Welsh Anorak · 31st Jan 2017, 4:09 pm

Silly question but is the cassette lamp OK?

Vauxfan2k · 31st Jan 2017, 4:19 pm

I'm not sure, it's the diode type and I only have a bulb type spare.

The wires are soldered to a board at the back of the mechanism so whatever type I use will need to be soldered onto the machines own wires for the diode.

Can I use the bulb type?

Thanks

Vauxfan2k · 31st Jan 2017, 5:53 pm

Changed it for an identical one from a working machine and it's still the same. So had to put it back. The one from this machine crumbled when I pulled it out the holder so that's it missing the lamp now. It's about to become a rarer machine now as it's going in the bin.

Maarten · 1st Feb 2017, 1:07 pm

Why would you, for what is probably a simple defect?

You could always offer it FOC or for a nominal fee in the for sale section of the forum.

Vauxfan2k · 1st Feb 2017, 2:43 pm

I have done already but as yet no interest. The problem I have is there is no one around her that's remotely interested in looking at the machine in the flesh, I have a multimeter which isn't really enough to diagnose the psu and it's 20 connectors. I can't find a wiring diagram anywhere for this machine and now the cassette lamp is needing replaced. I'm no further forward than when I got the machine in august.

It really needs someone who knows about power supplies , diodes and capacitors.

29th Jan 2017, 1:30 am	#21
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Philips VR-6541 Top? Tip, you mean, maybe? But Sharp certainly weren't tat merchants. I gave my last VCR to my parents, when I got my first DVD recorder. It was a Sharp, bought in the late 1990s in the expectation that DVD recorders would be Coming Soon but not sure how soon Soon would be; so selected primarily for MTBF, lest it pack up before DVD affordable recorders were ready, but not doing too badly on features either, with six heads, NICAM stereo hi-fi sound, on-screen menus, two SCART connectors and front camcorder sockets. It's still doing occasional good service, for playback only now though since of course it has only an analogue tuner, but they have an extensive library of programmes on VHS cassettes. I certainly wouldn't knock Sharp-built kit. It can be a little quirky (but then again, so can Philips-built kit) but it was always solidly built and reliable. __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

29th Jan 2017, 1:44 am	#22
Clydeuk Hexode Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 453	Re: Philips VR-6541 In my opinion, of all the Philips machines I came across, these Sharp based ones were better than anything Philips could come up with. We rented one (think it was 6542 or something like that) and it was very reliable and a good performer. I've had various others (Charlie deck, Turbo deck) and as well as being problematic, the mechanisms were always noisy and full of plastic.

29th Jan 2017, 2:10 am	#23
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Philips VR-6541 Yeah I meant the tip. Ok il certainly give it a go. Thanks

29th Jan 2017, 8:32 pm	#24
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Philips VR-6541 I also say go for it. It's not as if there are that many around now, and though basic spec (2 head mono) as has been said, they're well made. __________________ Regards, Ben.

30th Jan 2017, 5:58 pm	#25
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Philips VR-6541 Had a fiddle with this today, the motors are all fine. But there's no power getting to them. When connected to the mains the clock comes on the display. Press the power button and it takes a few seconds to come on (see pic) channels can be changed, clock can be set. The tape side of things is unresponsive still. Unlike the Panasonic psu I can't find a wiring diagram for this, and there is no system to the layout of the psu. Resistors are grouped together and caps together etc. As electronics isn't my thing I'm gonna give up on this one. Will offer it in the for sale section f.o.c plus post if anyone has any interest. Cheers Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Vauxfan2k; 30th Jan 2017 at 6:06 pm.

30th Jan 2017, 10:51 pm	#26
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Philips VR-6541 put a cassette in the unit as you bridge that leaf switch on the cassette carriage, very common for contacts to oxidise.Should spring to life. __________________ Regards, Ben.

31st Jan 2017, 12:34 am	#27
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Philips VR-6541 Ben, the tape carriage was wound back manually to get the tape out that got stuck laced up. I tried putting a tape back in and winding it back down manually but still the same. Thanks though

31st Jan 2017, 4:09 pm	#28
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,918	Re: Philips VR-6541 Silly question but is the cassette lamp OK?

31st Jan 2017, 4:19 pm	#29
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Philips VR-6541 I'm not sure, it's the diode type and I only have a bulb type spare. The wires are soldered to a board at the back of the mechanism so whatever type I use will need to be soldered onto the machines own wires for the diode. Can I use the bulb type? Thanks Attached Thumbnails

31st Jan 2017, 5:53 pm	#30
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Philips VR-6541 Changed it for an identical one from a working machine and it's still the same. So had to put it back. The one from this machine crumbled when I pulled it out the holder so that's it missing the lamp now. It's about to become a rarer machine now as it's going in the bin.

1st Feb 2017, 1:07 pm	#31
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Philips VR-6541 Why would you, for what is probably a simple defect? You could always offer it FOC or for a nominal fee in the for sale section of the forum.

1st Feb 2017, 2:43 pm	#32
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Philips VR-6541 I have done already but as yet no interest. The problem I have is there is no one around her that's remotely interested in looking at the machine in the flesh, I have a multimeter which isn't really enough to diagnose the psu and it's 20 connectors. I can't find a wiring diagram anywhere for this machine and now the cassette lamp is needing replaced. I'm no further forward than when I got the machine in august. It really needs someone who knows about power supplies , diodes and capacitors.