Ekco CT101 is alive (Actually a CT100(M))

[Mikey405]

Hi everyone.

The big old Ekco colour set is now alive, although still needing a fair amount of work.

On initially powering the set up last week there was a very dull half-width raster which faded out after a few minutes and then never returned until today. On removing the EL300 line output valve and measuring the voltage on the screen grid pin there was 200V (in line with what was expected) but checking the control grid revealed a lack of any line pulses, although there was a fair amount of noise from somewhere. The voltage readings round the line oscillator were kind-of okay (considering the oscillator wasn't running) so some cold resistance and continuity checks were made. Everything seemed in order so the few capacitors which made up the "tuned-circuit part" of the blocking oscillator were checked and hey-presto a 250pF capacitor came away before I'd even had a chance to touch the soldering iron on it. Remaking the connection and connecting the set back up revealed some nice big line pulses, so the EL300 was plugged back in and a nice(ish) blank raster was revealed.

Among the other things that need to be sorted out are:

- Focus is very bad although it is adjustable - just not enough
- There is only a blank raster and slightly crackly sound
- The UHF / VHF switch appears to do nothing
- There is a blue band down the left hand side of the picture

The tube doesn't seem half bad, although it's difficult to make much of any judgement with a blank out-of-focus raster.

Working on the set is very awkward, the only real way is to get to anything is like working on a car - by lying underneath. The trouble is that as my tired 37-year-old eyes can't focus in as closely as once they might, I'm constantly working in a slightly out-of-focus fuzz.

Anyway, I'll post some more when I get to the bottom of some of the other problems.

Thanks everyone.

Kind regards.

From Mike.

[Sean Williams]

Congrats Mike,

Im sure I would not want to be dealing with this monster! - there is one hell of a lot of stuff in there!

Cheers
Sean

[chipp1968]

It looks in lovelly condition . re the eyes , get some cheap specs for a few quid from the chemist , work wonders on the vision .My eyes are ok close up but i borowed some to take out a splinter and it was amazing improvement , just right to do this sort of work .

[Mikey405]

Originally Posted by Sean Williams

Congrats Mike,

Im sure I would not want to be dealing with this monster! - there is one hell of a lot of stuff in there!

Cheers
Sean

Thanks Sean. It can be a little bit intimidating to start with, but no more so than a Philips G6. After a while though the image and layout seems to kind-of sink-in and it doesn't worry you quite so much.

[murphyv310]

Originally Posted by Mikey405

Hi everyone.

Working on the set is very awkward, the only real way is to get to anything is like working on a car - by lying underneath. The trouble is that as my tired 37-year-old eyes can't focus in as closely as once they might, I'm constantly working in a slightly out-of-focus fuzz.

Anyway, I'll post some more when I get to the bottom of some of the other problems.

Thanks everyone.

Kind regards.

From Mike.

Good stuff Mike.
Ive got one of those headband things with two magnifying glasses for each eye. There's not a huge amount of magnification so focus is good, I think CPC do them for about a fiver well worth it though.
Keep us posted.
Cheers.
Trevor

[Mikey405]

Originally Posted by chipp1968

It looks in lovelly condition . re the eyes , get some cheap specs for a few quid from the chemist , work wonders on the vision .My eyes are ok close up but i borowed some to take out a splinter and it was amazing improvement , just right to do this sort of work .

That sounds like a good idea Paul, but I already wear glasses so I may struggle a little bit with that. I wonder if I could get a "close-up" prescription from the optician.

As for the cabinet, it is pretty good really - There are one or two cracks in the (cellulose?) laquer on the top, but generally it's not bad at all. It does look like a mid-late 1950s set, but it's actually 1964-ish.

[Steve_P]

Lovely to see that working - be excellent when done fully! No manual?

Sean - just break it down into separate bits. Easy to do.

Cheers,

Steve P.

[Mikey405]

Originally Posted by Steve_P

Lovely to see that working - be excellent when done fully! No manual?

I've got most of a photocopy of the service manual Steve but it has some bits missing, like the component layout for the timebase section, and the component layout for the PAL decoder. But there is certainly enough to be useful.

I'm really looking forward to seeing it working too; I just hope I get some more time soon to carry on with it, especially as my hall looks like a bomb has hit the place now.

[Dr-Watts]

1 word summs that up Mikey - Superb !
I'll be following this one with interest.

Regards

Dr. Dave

[Mikey405]

Originally Posted by murphyv310

Good stuff Mike. Ive got one of those headband things with two magnifying glasses for each eye. There's not a huge amount of magnification so focus is good, I think CPC do them for about a fiver well worth it though.

That may be the answer Trevor - I guess they might be designed to fit over normal glasses - I'll have a look on the CPC site tomorrow.

[marcus 3500]

Brilliant news Mike Very much looking forward to seeing this old beauty fully up and running.

I bet your well pleased so far, i would be Once again a very hearty pat on the back mate

Regards,
Marcus.

[Mikey405]

Originally Posted by marcus 3500

Brilliant news Mike Very much looking forward to seeing this old beauty fully up and running.

I bet your well pleased so far, i would be Once again a very hearty pat on the back mate.

Regards,
Marcus.

I didn't really do very much to get it going Marcus, but thank you anyway. I certainly am most pleased with the results so far though.

[Tazman1966]

Great news Mike

I agree with Sean's comments but when I read your reply about the layout etc sinking in, I agree with that too.

This could well turn out to be the jewel in the crown of your collection. I can't wait for the next instalment.

Best wishes,

Tas

PS Have you tried improving the lighting in your hall for close up work?

[Mikey405]

Originally Posted by Tazman1966

PS Have you tried improving the lighting in your hall for close up work?

If you look at the reflection of the front of the TV in the first picture, you'll see how much I have improved the lighting in the hall Tas. (It's a torch pointing upwards underneath the TV.)

Originally Posted by Tazman1966

This could well turn out to be the jewel in the crown of your collection.

Surely the Pye CT205...

[Nickthedentist]

Might be worth investing in one of those fluorescent torches, which give a very bright and even illumination. Forum member Zelandeth has a website dedicated to torches, and ISTR he thought highly of a cheap Osram(?) one stocked by Screwfix.

[Tazman1966]

Originally Posted by Mikey405

Surely the Pye CT205...

Hmmm...not so sure about that Mike...and I'm a fan of those Pye Hybrids

[TrevorM6TSE]

Hi Mike,

Good to see you've made progress. Are you still using the toaster as a lamp limiter?

I'll be looking forward to more pictures as you continue with it.

Good luck Mate.

Trev

[Heatercathodeshort]

Tube looks great. I've got a spare 'crawling board' that I use to get under the trucks if its any help.... Great project. Regards, John.

[Mikey405]

Originally Posted by Dr-Watts

1 word summs that up Mikey - Superb !
I'll be following this one with interest.

Regards

Dr. Dave

Thanks Dave. I'll keep you posted.

[Mikey405]

Originally Posted by trickytrev

Hi Mike,

Good to see you've made progress. Are you still using the toaster as a lamp limiter?

I'll be looking forward to more pictures as you continue with it.

Good luck Mate.

Trev

Not using the toaster any more Trev. I need it for making toast.