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Vintage Television and Video Vintage television and video equipment, programmes, VCRs etc.

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Old 28th Nov 2022, 2:46 pm   #1
Andy - G8MNM
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Default Akai vs-f300 vcr

Hi,

I have an AKAI VS-F300 VCR which does not power up.

There are DC voltages on the connections to the machine main board.

I can get a schematic for 4€.

Is it worth trying to fix?

It looks as though it has had a fair bit of use.

I am not that much into VCRs, but would like a working one to use at times with my TVs.

TIA

Andy
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Old 28th Nov 2022, 7:48 pm   #2
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

If these are the mid-90s model I’m thinking of, then changing all the caps in the power supply was worthwhile. Access is easy ISTR and there’s no double sided print or lead free solder to hinder you.
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Old 29th Nov 2022, 10:58 am   #3
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

The last Akai I worked on was some time ago, a VS-22. That needed PSU caps, a new rectifier and possibly a voltage regulator too. One of the symptoms was a low or flickering VFD display
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Old 29th Nov 2022, 11:14 am   #4
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

Thanks guys.

I will give it a go.

Andy
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Old 29th Nov 2022, 11:33 am   #5
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

VS-22 was a whole other beast from 10 years earlier. Akai did many novel and inventive things with their power supplies, the VS-22 series had a bit higher failure rate than others. By the early '90s their power supplies were a bit more conventional even with mains transformers and linear regulators. The F300 may have a primary switching power supply, though.
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Old 29th Nov 2022, 2:37 pm   #6
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

I thought it had a conventional mains transformer, which poked out of a little "blip" on the back panel, rather like the neck on an old-fashioned "slimline" TV.

The whole transformer and power supply PCB can be removed and unplugged for easy servicing.

I could be thinking of the wrong model though.
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Old 29th Nov 2022, 3:48 pm   #7
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

Glad it's not a VS-22! When they failed, these needed a small sub-PCB fitting with several other components and lots of wire links. Then when you turned on you'd find the VFD was so dim it needed replacing.
They were innovative but unreliable, and as Maarten says Akai later reverted to fairly conventional linear PSUs, but still used electrolytics with poor reliability.
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Old 29th Nov 2022, 7:51 pm   #8
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

It's a standard transformer PSU with lots of Fusible resistors, electrotanya have the full manual bit it's a really horrible photocopy
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Old 3rd Dec 2022, 2:36 pm   #9
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

Thanks everyone for your help.

I think it is time for this VCR to go to VCR heaven.

I removed the PSU - conventional linear type.

Access was awful with the large heat sink in the way of removing components.

To remove it involved either un-soldering the pcb mounted transformer or two power transistors screwed to the heatsink. the screws being obscured by the transformer.

I decided to un-solder the transistors but the pcb tracks were just lifting off the board. Another power transistor that had no heatsink when just touched pulled the tacks off the board.

In the end I decided not to go any further, the state of the PCB was just too bad to effectively remove, check and replace components without a lot more track lifting.

I have a Sony VCR which has broken plastic parts in the mechanism which is also too far gone - replacement parts not available.

I have bought an identical working Sony VCR - minus remote for a good price online, I have a working remote control and will keep the original Sony VCR for parts.

Andy
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Old 3rd Dec 2022, 4:44 pm   #10
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

That's sad, these were fun machines, with a lot of features for their time and price bracket.

However, it does sound like yours has been well and truely cooked. Maybe it's been switched on for 25+ years with a pile of other stuff on top to obstruct ventilation.
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Old 3rd Dec 2022, 5:13 pm   #11
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Default Re: Akai vs-f300 vcr

Nick,

Yes it is sad, I really hate scrapping stuff unless I really have too.
I think as you say - well and truly cooked!

Andy
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