BSR SC12 pins - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Notarfff · 14th Sep 2019, 9:08 pm

I have searched and searched and come up empty handed, you guys are my only hope, I now have a BSR SC12 cartridge, to replace the damaged ronette on my HMV 2010 with AT5 turntable.
I have wires, red, green , black and white on the tone arm, I have no legend on the new cartridge to tell me where to plug what wire, and I can find anything online.
I’m hesitant to start plugging and playing, can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks very much in advance

BRASSBITS · 14th Sep 2019, 10:30 pm

looking at the pins with the stylus pointing downwards
top left pin is right +
bottom left pin is right -
top right pin is left +
bottom right pin is left -
the markings are on the back / spine of the cartridge at the pin end

Nickthedentist · 15th Sep 2019, 10:24 am

Exactly.

And the colour code is:

R+ = Red
R- = Green
L+ = White
L- = black.

If you get it wrong, you won't do any damage.

Don't forget, never solder directly to cartridge pins, always use push-on terminals.

N.

Notarfff · 15th Sep 2019, 8:09 pm

Thank you so much fellas, I really appreciate the guidance, my eyesight is not great, but I honestly can see nothing printed or embossed on the cartridge at all, but with this guidance I think I can figure it now.

Nice one !

tracypaper · 17th Sep 2019, 3:32 pm

If it is a genuine BSR SC12 it should be stamped into the plastic on top of the cart, as you mention poor eyesight a magnifying glass will help.
Gaz.

Nickthedentist · 17th Sep 2019, 4:06 pm

Should look like this...

Techman · 17th Sep 2019, 4:15 pm

You don't need to know the colours.

The 'buzz' test on each channel will tell you all you need to know so long as you've got the markings on the cartridge as shown above. Of the four wires, two will give a 'buzz', which will tell you which is right and left channels on the gram amplifier, and the other two which don't will be the ground connections. Even if the cartridge isn't marked you can soon work out which is which.

Nickthedentist · 17th Sep 2019, 4:43 pm

Good point. And reversing the "+" and "-" doesn't matter either on these, so long as you do it to both channels.

14th Sep 2019, 9:08 pm	#1
Notarfff Triode Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Peel, Isle of Man Posts: 34	BSR SC12 pins I have searched and searched and come up empty handed, you guys are my only hope, I now have a BSR SC12 cartridge, to replace the damaged ronette on my HMV 2010 with AT5 turntable. I have wires, red, green , black and white on the tone arm, I have no legend on the new cartridge to tell me where to plug what wire, and I can find anything online. I’m hesitant to start plugging and playing, can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks very much in advance

14th Sep 2019, 10:30 pm	#2
BRASSBITS Hexode Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 364	Re: BSR SC12 pins looking at the pins with the stylus pointing downwards top left pin is right + bottom left pin is right - top right pin is left + bottom right pin is left - the markings are on the back / spine of the cartridge at the pin end

15th Sep 2019, 10:24 am	#3
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,843	Re: BSR SC12 pins Exactly. And the colour code is: R+ = Red R- = Green L+ = White L- = black. If you get it wrong, you won't do any damage. Don't forget, never solder directly to cartridge pins, always use push-on terminals. N.

15th Sep 2019, 8:09 pm	#4
Notarfff Triode Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Peel, Isle of Man Posts: 34	Re: BSR SC12 pins Thank you so much fellas, I really appreciate the guidance, my eyesight is not great, but I honestly can see nothing printed or embossed on the cartridge at all, but with this guidance I think I can figure it now. Nice one !

17th Sep 2019, 3:32 pm	#5
tracypaper Octode Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,234	Re: BSR SC12 pins If it is a genuine BSR SC12 it should be stamped into the plastic on top of the cart, as you mention poor eyesight a magnifying glass will help. Gaz.

17th Sep 2019, 4:06 pm	#6
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,843	Re: BSR SC12 pins Should look like this... Attached Thumbnails

17th Sep 2019, 4:15 pm	#7
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: BSR SC12 pins You don't need to know the colours. The 'buzz' test on each channel will tell you all you need to know so long as you've got the markings on the cartridge as shown above. Of the four wires, two will give a 'buzz', which will tell you which is right and left channels on the gram amplifier, and the other two which don't will be the ground connections. Even if the cartridge isn't marked you can soon work out which is which.

17th Sep 2019, 4:43 pm	#8
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,843	Re: BSR SC12 pins Good point. And reversing the "+" and "-" doesn't matter either on these, so long as you do it to both channels.