CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

RoccoLucyPongoFred.Vida · Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pennsylvania

Hey all!! Just acquired 3 Barco CRT's, one Data 600, two Graphics 800' s and have a few glitches. I'm pretty new to CRT's, and need some input if you wouldn't mind. I'll post the link to the videos below and thanks for your interest and help!!

Note: Since I have two graphics 800 i named the videos A and B. The videos are in parts because i have no kind of video editing software. the links are just to the first video of each projector.
Graphics 800 (A) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLu-fe8s0To
Graphics 800 (B) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zObHLB5aOLs
Data 600 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_AU0_gxEO8
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**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:21 am Post subject:

OK, a bunch of stuff. First off, all these sets are old, relatively speaking. THe 600 is from about 1988, the 800s are from 1989-1991. All good sets in the day, but nearly worthless now. Looks like they came in road cases, so I'm guessing from a rental place? If so, good, because they are probably low hour units.

Let's start with the easy one, the 600. You're missing the RCVDS switcher unit, or the little remote plug in module that plugs into the 9 pin connector on the back of the unit. Without it, you'll get nothing. I've thrown out all my RCVDS switchers, but have a little plug in module that will work. Since it's the oldest set, I'd get to it last.

The two 800s have either bad power supplies or the first one that 'almost' lights up the side LEDs may have a shorted H or V board, or the convergence tray under the tubes. You can run the set without the convergence tray, just unscrew it, and pull it out from under the lenses. If either set fires up, then there's your issue.

On the one that barely flashes the LEDs, I'd suspect the SMPS power supply. Very common issue on these 800s.

Before you spend any money on repairs or replacement boards, pull the lenses off the sets and check the tube condition:

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

If they are OK, then read these links:

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

http://www.curtpalme.com/Barco400.shtm

http://www.curtpalme.com/Barco500.shtm

You need to know the pros and cons of each, as you'll need some external signal processing stuff to put an HD signal into these sets, or for now you can run a composite video signal out of a DVD player to play around with them.

There are a whoooole bunch of mods that should be done to these sets, including the video output card upgrades and the power supply upgrades before you settle in to watch these. Failure to do them on a 20+ year old set can nuke the tubes, even if the set has only been on for 300 hours in the 20 years of its life. Parts age with time, whether the sets are used or not.

Welcome to the CRT world. Sounds like you already know some basics about doublers and RGB signals, etc.

digitalayon · Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 921

well said Curt....I was about to mention help with disposal is what he needs help with. About 5 years ago I had a lady call me to ask what I though her computer was worth because she badly needed money and wanted to sell it. She thought that because she hardly used it over the course of its 18 year life that it was like a car and a 386 PC was still worth 500 bucks. She was literally in tears when I said put it in the trash can.

RoccoLucyPongoFred.Vida · Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pennsylvania

I got the lot with flight cases as well as many video and sound processors for under 200 so I'm not trying for the ultimate set up just a starter crt set. What mods need to be done to them to make them reliable units. Thanks

RoccoLucyPongoFred.Vida · Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pennsylvania

I also have a barco rcvds 400 quad. Would this work in place of the data 600s original controller. Also what would you recommend for connecting it to an hdmi source. I plan on getting a lot of marquee 9500 too so the converter would also need to work with them. Thanks for all the help.

RoccoLucyPongoFred.Vida · Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pennsylvania

Sorry for the multiple posts. For some reason my phone did that

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:06 pm Post subject:

Yes you can use the RCVDS 400, that's what it was made for, but you need that 9 pin interconnecting cable between the back of the RCVDS and the projector. Or is it a 15 pin connector, I can't remember.
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For HDMI, you'll need an external Moome box from www.moomecard.com. They come from Taiwan, they're not stocked in North America, but take about 10 days to arrive normally. You'll also need a VGA to 5 BNC cable to connect the output of the Moome box to the Barco sets.

The 9500s are mugh higher end and newer sets than any of the Barcos, and the picture will be a lot better to boot. Still, the BArcos are fun to play with.

RoccoLucyPongoFred.Vida · Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pennsylvania

Just tried the 800s with the board under the lenses removed. They do the same thing. Does that mean its the power supply. I also checked the tube condition. The 800 that almost starts us tubes that look brand new, they may be used but they look new. The other 800 looks like a 7 on the condition chart. The 600 looks like a 6 but the lot included a new condition set of tubes with no burn in. So how can I get the power supply boards repaired, and the other boards modified to keep the tubes from burning. Thanks

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:04 pm Post subject:

I can repair the power supplies at $100 each incl return shipping. I do a bunch of mods as well, and run them for 24 hours each before shipping back. Email me at curtpalme@shaw.ca

Tube wear is par for the course, just like engine wear is in a car. Keep the contrast and brightness as low as possible, that reduces tube wear and maximizes life.

RoccoLucyPongoFred.Vida · Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pennsylvania

Ok so all the mods are done on the power supply board, and does the data 600 need any mods to any boards. Also which power supply board the large or the small one?

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:55 pm Post subject:

I Wouldn't do anything to the 600. If you connect the RCVDS and it turns out that it has other issues, I'd scrap it. THe 800s are a better set.

I got rid of all my 600 parts last year, as it had been 5 years since anyone had inquired about them. I think I even have a spare 600 service manual, that I'd be happy to send down with the repaired power supplies if you want.

RoccoLucyPongoFred.Vida · Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pennsylvania

Yes I would definitely want any 600 related items. Which boards from the 800 s do I need to send

RaWsHaRk · Joined: 01 May 2009 Posts: 131 Location: Finland

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 1:50 pm Post subject:

Rocco, send me an email to curtpalme at shaw.ca

Thanks!

RoccoLucyPongoFred.Vida · Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pennsylvania

Hello, after finding the cable needed to connect the data 600 to the rcvds, I powered it up and tested it with a composite video signal and it displayed an image. After being on for about 40 seconds it began smoking, it turned out to be an inductor in the power supply. I know the smart thing to do would to be sell parts from it ( I was offered $100 for the lenses) and recycle what's left, but because it is not a valuable unit, and I don't have much invested in it, I would like to repair the board myself (no big loss if I mess it up) also I do know electronics quite well, so I won't get electrocuted messing with it. Any ideas as to why the inductor would burn, or where to start on the board would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 6:26 pm Post subject:

Here's the service manual:

http://curtpalme.com/Barco400_Downloads.shtm

Keep in mind that it could be a short or an overload downstream from that coil, but the s/manual will help you pin that down.