Ferguson model 3292 ignoring tapes

[neosodium]

Hello folks, I know this machine was sold under many names but was basically a JVC model. The problem is hopefully fairly straightforward to fix or at least known as presumably they all have the same exact tape mechanism in them.

When any of the tape function keys (play, rewind, ff) are pressed, they simply pop back out even when a tape is installed. Both motors work and if the tape pickup mechanism is moved slightly to engage the microswitch that starts up the head motor the other motor will also run.

It seems like whatever is meant to detect the presence of a tape in the unit is not doing so. Looking on other threads I see the mention of a cassette sensor lamp but surely if the lamp failed it would think there was always a tape inside as the tape would normally block the lamp?

[Nicklyons2]

The lamp filament is in the biasing network of a transistor in the auto shut off mechanism; this is to stop exactly the effect you supposed i.e. that no light meant a tape. If this situation were allowed then the clear leader at the tape ends would be ignored and the machine would happily rip the tape off the hubs. It is a small peanut bulb mounted in the little black 'lighthouse' between the hubs. There was an infra-red led mod to get over the bulb failure prob but personally, as they used to last years, I preferred to just change the bulb

[Tractorfan]

Hi,
That's caught me out a time or two. As Nick says, when the lamp fails, it stops drawing current, therefore the system 'knows' that the lamp has failed. Clever!
Cheers, Pete.

[neosodium]

That's quite clever, though it would be more clever if it indicated to the user the failure and the lamp was a plug in component not a tiny bulb buried in a lighthouse and hard wired (I found it now)

Where would I find a replacement lamp and does anyone have details on the LED modification? Surely a standard LED would be no use as it would shine "up" rather than to the sides?

I'd really like to see if this thing still plays tapes

[AndiiT]

Hi,
I think that the LED modification was for later models, such as the 3V29/30 etc. although the mod kit is available here (I have no association with the vendor) and may well be suitable as I think that the lamp mountings were the same in a lot of these machines.


Regards

Andrew

[Focus Diode]

I've seen the later 3V29 type machine modified to take an LED, only problem with this is the tape housing no longer lights up which is a good aid with these top loader machines to actually see the tape in motion and how much remains. Having said that an LED conversion would be more reliable.

Brian

[nigelr2000]

That was a nice little earner in the old days.

Almost guaranteed a couple of lamp changes a day - we only fitted the infra red mod to the rental machines for that reason.

[Hampus]

Originally Posted by Focus Diode

I've seen the later 3V29 type machine modified to take an LED, only problem with this is the tape housing no longer lights up which is a good aid with these top loader machines to actually see the tape in motion and how much remains. Having said that an LED conversion would be more reliable.

Would it be possible to use a LED that emit visible light? Or does the sensor only respond to infrared light? I suppose the original filament lamp was a bit under-run and producing quite a bit of IR.

[HamishBoxer]

Happy days , cassette lamps and loading belts!

[FERNSEH]

I've mentioned this sometime ago. The first allocation to my shop of a Ferguson 3292 was late 1978. Everyone liked the idea of a machine that would record TV programs but at £630 there were no takers that year. In fact it was February the next year until the machine was sold. The customer was delighted with the machine but a few months later I received a service call, the function keys would not latch down. After working my way through the logic, lots of TTL, there is no micro computer in this machine the fault was found. Of we all know what the problem is now, it was the lamp! A 12 volt lilliput bulb was fitted and all was well.
The 3V00 is a development of the 3292 and has a number of improvements including a special microcontroller for the function keys logic.
Best of all the JVC/Ferguson mechanical VCRs is the 3V16.

DFWB.

[neosodium]

I will get that LED modification provided it will fit. If not, where can I find the tiny lamp this VCR uses? I tried searching "peanut bulb" and "lilliput bulb" on eBay but nothing comes up that matches it.

[nigelr2000]

This lot still have them but at an eye watering price
http://www.chsinteractive.co.uk/elec...-with-plug.htm

[Nickthedentist]

The originals were 9V, 80mA, weren't they?

[FERNSEH]

Hi Nick,
Can't remember. The full Ferguson service manual is in the shop somewhere. Also, in the shop there is a good number of spare cassette lamps.

DFWB.

[Nicklyons2]

I think they were originally a bit less than 12V but they have a series resistor. In the end I used 12V ones and if needed slightly adjusted the series resistor but most times the 12V ones worked fine - plenty bright enough for the optical pick-up. Farnells 113-9294 113-9471 are the sort of thing. You'll need the 'tails' off the old lamp and make sure the filament is lined up to shine through the 'lighthouse' window to its best extent.

[bc312]

I have one of these spare if any use - was for a VCR but cannot remember the model.

[Nicklyons2]

That looks like the actual fully legit replacement - even to the colour of lead.

[HamishBoxer]

That is the correct lamp.
Some had a small plug on them, that was the difference.

[neosodium]

Originally Posted by bc312

I have one of these spare if any use - was for a VCR but cannot remember the model.

That looks just like the one that came out, though the white plastic/rubber retainer was stuck so firmly I had to dig it out with a screwdriver to free the bulb.

Would definitely be interested as it would be the simplest fix possible

[bc312]

PM me your details and I'll pop in the post.
Mike