CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[esl_57]

Does any one know if there is a "master rest" on this projector or do i have to locate the fuses, when the unit will not power up. There are no indications on the rear panel ether.
If it's a trip to the fuse panel, could someone direct me to it?
Is it in the power supply?

Here is the history;
I was experiencing a symptom that experienced forum members thought may be convergance board related. I have a second projector that is the same except badged GE Imager. I exchanged convergance boards in an attempt to isolate the trouble. Bad things happened :-(. Seems the boards were not 100% identical. I now have 2 projectors, each equipped with their original boards but neither of them show signs of life.

What do you think?
If anyone has a PDF of the service manual i would be greatfull... perhaps even name my next kitten after you!
There would be Wonton, Stir-fry and ?????
:-)

[Brooklyn]

What is the model number of your GE Imager? Recheck everything you worked on. Make sure it is not an unplugged connector. Is the large front power button off?

Did they just not power up, or was there and incident (sound, etc) and now they won't power up?

[Curt Palme]

On hte back panel where the pushbuttons are, does it light up when the power cord is plugged in? If not, the power supply has issues. I can fix those along with the convergence board that probably overloaded the power supply and cooked it in the first place.

If the lights are on, the set powers up for a second when you turn it on, but then shuts down, the power supply is probably OK, but you could have deflection, F or C board problems.

[Curt Palme]

On hte back panel where the pushbuttons are, does it light up when the power cord is plugged in? If not, the power supply has issues. I can fix those along with the convergence board that probably overloaded the power supply and cooked it in the first place.

If the lights are on, the set powers up for a second when you turn it on, but then shuts down, the power supply is probably OK, but you could have deflection, F or C board problems.

[esl_57]

I don't know the exact model number of the GE unit but it is, on the surface anyway, identical (with the exception of case colour) to the NEC.

The original symptom was with the GE unit. A strange, and intermittent, warping of the picture.
I placed the convergence board from the NEC (a known working unit) into the GE and fired it up.
The convergance was sort of off but not wildly so. Moments later the unit shut down with a faint crackle. I have been unable to power it back up, even after reinstalling the original convergance board. I suspect the main fuse is open but it's location is not obvious to me so i took it down, with plans to do an exploratory on the power supply later, and put the NEC up.
Turns out i forgot to connect the power plug to it's convergance board when i reinstalled it so the piture had a bow tie shape to it. I powered it down, located and plugged in it's power cord and threw the swt igor. Both, defection fail LEDs, flashed repeatedly several times (there was an audible high voltage crackling sound each time they flashed) so i turned the main power off and investigated.
The unit would now not power up and there are no rear panel indications, even after disconnecting the convergance boards leads.

I should take the time to mention, that i received a PM from a member, that kindly brought my attention to the issue of forum protocol. Specifically, asking for assistance to trouble shooting at the component level.
I admit i did not read any of the rules before enroling and posting... i apologize for this. It is not my intention to take the bread from Curt's mouth, so to speak. The dilemma i am faced with is;
Do i ship 150 pounds of projector to BC and back, from central Ontario, for inspection and repair or do i diagnose the faulty module/s and ship them instead?
I prefer to just ship the module/s for obvious reasons.
I have a job that requires me to carry a pager (that goes off a lot) and do not have the time, or desire, to take on the job of component level repair of these projectors. I'm more than happy to have it done by an experienced tech that can acomplish the task in a timely fashion... but i do need enough information to accurately identify the faulty module/s the first time.

With respect.
Wonton, Stir-Fry and Bill

[Curt Palme]

You can ASK about component level troubleshooting, I personally just don't give it out.. It's not really a forum rule that you can't ASK, but there's not that many of us that do component level repairs, and since that's the way I make my living, I will only assist narrowing the fault down to a board(s) itself.

These sets are almost completely modular, no way that you need to send the whole set out.

I'm sure the fuse is not blown, that would be rare. What's most likely happened is that some component has failed due to constant overload of the power supply. I've done that here as well.

So the areas that could be at fault now, including the original problem:

-power supply
-F board
-C board
-system board
-wave board
-point board (if installed)
-deflection board.

I'd send all of the above boards in to be tested/repaired. There's no charge to test extra boards if I'm doing a repair on one or more of them other than the cost of shipping.

Figure on $150-350 to repair incl return shipping depending on what's wrong. Best case, there's some minor fault in the SMPS and the original convergence board is bad. That would be at the low end of the scale. If the convergence AND focus board have died, taking out something major in the power supply, then you're at the high end of the scale.

[Curt Palme]

You can ASK about component level troubleshooting, I personally just don't give it out.. It's not really a forum rule that you can't ASK, but there's not that many of us that do component level repairs, and since that's the way I make my living, I will only assist narrowing the fault down to a board(s) itself.

These sets are almost completely modular, no way that you need to send the whole set out.

I'm sure the fuse is not blown, that would be rare. What's most likely happened is that some component has failed due to constant overload of the power supply. I've done that here as well.

So the areas that could be at fault now, including the original problem:

-power supply
-F board
-C board
-system board
-wave board
-point board (if installed)
-deflection board.

I'd send all of the above boards in to be tested/repaired. There's no charge to test extra boards if I'm doing a repair on one or more of them other than the cost of shipping.

Figure on $150-350 to repair incl return shipping depending on what's wrong. Best case, there's some minor fault in the SMPS and the original convergence board is bad. That would be at the low end of the scale. If the convergence AND focus board have died, taking out something major in the power supply, then you're at the high end of the scale.

[Brooklyn]

Curt is your best bet now to figure out the problem, it sounds like it could be almost any board that went. Also, I don't think the fact that the C board came from a GE is a problem, they *should* be the same. In fact I've got an F board and deflection board from a GE in my 6PG right now.

[Curt Palme]

No, but the configuration of the convergence leads between the original PG sets and the Pg+/PG Xtras are different which would cause strangeness in the picture. But Brooklyn is right, between equivalent GE and NEC models, there is no difference. I think (but could be wrong), that GE only ever bought the base 6 and 9 PG models, not the later + or Xtras.

Keep in mind that the early PG sets are now 15ish years old. Parts are slowly wearing out, but that's not to say that you won't get another 5ish years out of it once the repair is done.

The problem here is that it's possible that there was some 'user error' in switching parts, and who's to say that the replacement C board wasn't bad? That can cause secondary problems in the set like the power supply dying.

[Curt Palme]

No, but the configuration of the convergence leads between the original PG sets and the Pg+/PG Xtras are different which would cause strangeness in the picture. But Brooklyn is right, between equivalent GE and NEC models, there is no difference. I think (but could be wrong), that GE only ever bought the base 6 and 9 PG models, not the later + or Xtras.

Keep in mind that the early PG sets are now 15ish years old. Parts are slowly wearing out, but that's not to say that you won't get another 5ish years out of it once the repair is done.

The problem here is that it's possible that there was some 'user error' in switching parts, and who's to say that the replacement C board wasn't bad? That can cause secondary problems in the set like the power supply dying.

[esl_57]

[Curt Palme]

http://www.curtpalme.com/ContactUs_Shipping_Parts.shtm

[Curt Palme]

http://www.curtpalme.com/ContactUs_Shipping_Parts.shtm

[esl_57]

Damn!
Curt the package is on the way (you'll have to sign for it) but i forgot to include the defection board. :-(
Let me know after looking at what i sent, if you think i should send it as well.

Bill

[Curt Palme]

No problem, I can always send one of mine back with your boards if everything else checks OK. Can you also send me an email to curtpalme@shaw.ca so I can email you when I get them.

Thanks!

[Curt Palme]

No problem, I can always send one of mine back with your boards if everything else checks OK. Can you also send me an email to curtpalme@shaw.ca so I can email you when I get them.

Thanks!

[esl_57]

Hi Curt, the package is waiting for you to pick up at the post office.

Bill