8mm Forum: Elderly Specto

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Posted by Michael Wright (Member # 1387) on March 05, 2015, 06:05 AM:

My Specto 8mm projector which was working perfectly last week suddenly went 'pop' and is now as dead as a dodo. I suspect a short circuit. Any ideas anyone? Thanks MIKE [Frown]

Posted by Paul Mason (Member # 4015) on March 05, 2015, 06:10 AM:

Michael,
Most likely fault is a motor windings insulation or a transformer failure which means rewinding the motor or a replacement motor or transformer. However you need to check the electrics systematically to find the fault.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on March 05, 2015, 01:39 PM:

Is it the black model or the later brown model? I have a motor that you can have if that is the faulty part.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on March 05, 2015, 01:50 PM:

Divide and Conquer:

Disconnect the motor (and lamp) circuitry from the transformer, put in a new fuse, plug it into a switched (off) outlet, put on your welding mask and fire suit (kidding), yell "Fire in the hole!!!" and let 'er rip!

If you don't blow a fuse with the transformer alone, keep adding circuits back until you do.

Even before that, look at things like the condition of the power cord. Look around inside the case for scorch marks. Try to sniff out something that smells overheated. (You'll know it when you find it.)

Are you good with an ohmmeter?

Posted by Michael Wright (Member # 1387) on March 08, 2015, 05:27 PM:

Thanks everyone looks like I need to do some investigating! Cheers. MIKE

Posted by Michael Wright (Member # 1387) on March 26, 2015, 09:11 AM:

Thanks to all who replied to my original post and apologies for the delay in getting back. The delay was caused by the untimely arrival of my new grandson James. He was delivered by my marvelous son in law Martin on their living room floor! Mother and baby doing well.
Re the Specto, I've discovered that the capacitor has come apart. There is what looks like a black blister on the side of it and the bottom has completely come away. Is this likely to be the cause of the projector not working or a symptom of something else? Cheers MIKE

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on March 26, 2015, 10:37 AM:

Congratulations for James.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on March 26, 2015, 10:49 AM:

The "pop" was probably the capacitor blowing out. If the details of the rating and capacitance are still readable you can probably get a replacement.
If not, I am sure other Specto owners will be able to advise.

Posted by Rob Watson (Member # 382) on March 31, 2015, 11:00 AM:

If its the big capacitor inside the base its just an interference suppression capacitor for the motor. You can take it out and run the projector without it. People around you listening to AM radio wont thank you for the extra crackles but at least you will confirm the casue of the problem.

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