Toshiba VCR V-855B - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

colebrooker · 18th Nov 2019, 5:37 pm

This unit had not been powered up for a good while so it resulted in an explosive capacitor. It is a cubic shape that I have not seen before made by RIFA. C804 on the circuit board with 100n F5 markings. It looks difficult to get to so I am wondering if it is worth trying to repair. Any comments/advice would be appreciated. David.

Heatercathodeshort · 18th Nov 2019, 6:00 pm

Classic Rifa mains filter cap failure. The VCR will work without it for test purposes.
This is a Thompson based VCR with the power unit mounted in a separate box. You will probably have to replace all the electrolytic capacitors in the PSU to get it working.
Often the PSU would fail trapping a tape in the deck. The customer would then force it out damaging the deck mechanism...Not such happy days.

Not my favorite VCR series to be honest but good luck with it. John.

colebrooker · 18th Nov 2019, 8:09 pm

Thanks John, It looks like a multiple unit cap. Any idea if these are still available? A replacement doesn't have to be the same shape anyway.
David

Heatercathodeshort · 19th Nov 2019, 3:20 pm

I doubt if the exact physical shaped filter assembly is available. As I mentioned earlier it will operate OK without it. The block contains C801 .1uf C802 220pf and C803 220pf. They are special safety components and can be replaced by the correct types of capacitor. Ordinary caps will not do!

I have attached the primary side of the PSU circuit. This is actually the one for the V813 but the V855 add on sheet shows it as the same. It was employed on a huge range of Thompson models.

The main problem with this power supply is the electrolytic capacitors. The main 47uf 450V C805 will be OK but most if not all of the smaller caps will be useless, probably O/C. Capacitor testers will probably not prove their guilt. These failed when the units were quite new and gave me a great deal of annoyance to say the least.

All Toshiba dealers were very upset when Toshiba packed up making their own VCR's, the super 70/80 and 90 series. to be replaced by this series.

They work well but were not very customer friendly having 'quirky' operating modes. I wish you luck with this one and hope the deck has not been broken by a ham fisted previous owner. Excuse the scan. The circuit sections unfold like a stair carpet..John.

Maarten · 20th Nov 2019, 11:50 pm

Strange, that power supply actually doesn't look like anything made by Thomson.

Red to black · 21st Nov 2019, 7:38 pm

Hi Maarten,
because it wasn't.
This machine uses the V3 deck, the one with the big white plastic loading block assembly, this was still part of the Thomson/Toshiba joint venture at this time, IPV I believe.
The lower end non-Hi-Fi machines (cat 1) used Thomson designed/made electronics whilst the higher end Hi-Fi machines (cat 2) used Toshiba designed/made electronics (this machine ^^^).
This applied to machines badged by both manufacturers names btw.

It was a jointly owned factory however, so how much input each firm had with each others designs in the electronics is unknown by us of course

Edit: Whilst Toshiba called it the V3 deck Thomson called it either the R4000 or R5000 deck (I forget which now)
Edit 2: I seem to recall Toshiba was mostly the designer of the mechanical parts/deck too at this time, but again of course I don't know that 100%

18th Nov 2019, 5:37 pm	#1
colebrooker Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Swindon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 51	Toshiba VCR V-855B This unit had not been powered up for a good while so it resulted in an explosive capacitor. It is a cubic shape that I have not seen before made by RIFA. C804 on the circuit board with 100n F5 markings. It looks difficult to get to so I am wondering if it is worth trying to repair. Any comments/advice would be appreciated. David.

18th Nov 2019, 6:00 pm	#2
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Toshiba VCR V-855B Classic Rifa mains filter cap failure. The VCR will work without it for test purposes. This is a Thompson based VCR with the power unit mounted in a separate box. You will probably have to replace all the electrolytic capacitors in the PSU to get it working. Often the PSU would fail trapping a tape in the deck. The customer would then force it out damaging the deck mechanism...Not such happy days. Not my favorite VCR series to be honest but good luck with it. John.

18th Nov 2019, 8:09 pm	#3
colebrooker Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Swindon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 51	Re: Toshiba VCR V-855B Thanks John, It looks like a multiple unit cap. Any idea if these are still available? A replacement doesn't have to be the same shape anyway. David

19th Nov 2019, 3:20 pm	#4
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Toshiba VCR V-855B I doubt if the exact physical shaped filter assembly is available. As I mentioned earlier it will operate OK without it. The block contains C801 .1uf C802 220pf and C803 220pf. They are special safety components and can be replaced by the correct types of capacitor. Ordinary caps will not do! I have attached the primary side of the PSU circuit. This is actually the one for the V813 but the V855 add on sheet shows it as the same. It was employed on a huge range of Thompson models. The main problem with this power supply is the electrolytic capacitors. The main 47uf 450V C805 will be OK but most if not all of the smaller caps will be useless, probably O/C. Capacitor testers will probably not prove their guilt. These failed when the units were quite new and gave me a great deal of annoyance to say the least. All Toshiba dealers were very upset when Toshiba packed up making their own VCR's, the super 70/80 and 90 series. to be replaced by this series. They work well but were not very customer friendly having 'quirky' operating modes. I wish you luck with this one and hope the deck has not been broken by a ham fisted previous owner. Excuse the scan. The circuit sections unfold like a stair carpet..John. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Heatercathodeshort; 19th Nov 2019 at 3:27 pm.

20th Nov 2019, 11:50 pm	#5
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Toshiba VCR V-855B Strange, that power supply actually doesn't look like anything made by Thomson.

21st Nov 2019, 7:38 pm	#6
Red to black Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 2,474	Re: Toshiba VCR V-855B Hi Maarten, because it wasn't. This machine uses the V3 deck, the one with the big white plastic loading block assembly, this was still part of the Thomson/Toshiba joint venture at this time, IPV I believe. The lower end non-Hi-Fi machines (cat 1) used Thomson designed/made electronics whilst the higher end Hi-Fi machines (cat 2) used Toshiba designed/made electronics (this machine ^^^). This applied to machines badged by both manufacturers names btw. It was a jointly owned factory however, so how much input each firm had with each others designs in the electronics is unknown by us of course Edit: Whilst Toshiba called it the V3 deck Thomson called it either the R4000 or R5000 deck (I forget which now) Edit 2: I seem to recall Toshiba was mostly the designer of the mechanical parts/deck too at this time, but again of course I don't know that 100% __________________ I don't suffer from Insanity. I enjoy every minute of it. Last edited by Red to black; 21st Nov 2019 at 8:01 pm. Reason: addition