CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Hello, I'm uncletom (Tomas) in Sweden.

I thought I'd introduce myself breifly here. I've just today 'rescued' a SONY VPH-1251QM CRT projector that was going to be recycled otherwise. It is supposed to work, however I have not yet tested the projector. It sits on my table here in my living room, I can barely move it myself, twas a two man job just lifting it onto the table (actually my wife helped me lift it on the opposite side).

I never ever thought something projecting an image on a wall could be this heavy. But I've promised myself to take care of this VPH-1251 as well as I can, and hopefully get it to serve me in my videogaming.

I'm not the guy with a home theatre although we do have another, lighter DLP projector, set up in our bedroom as a film-watcher / TV display. The living room is currently configured as a workshop / experimental ground for mostly gaming machines and CRT monitor repair work, which I've involuntary come to learn as a side effect of my original hobby.

Well, I think that's it. Arcade games is my primary interest so the SONY will probably be great for space shooters and racing and driving games. That is if it will work as supposed.[/img]

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 8:41 pm Post subject:

Hello Tom and welcome to the forum.

Power that 1251 up and let it sit for at least an hour or 2 before turning it off.
Then download the setup manual:
http://www.curtpalme.com/docs/Sony1251_1271_Install.pdf
and go at it.
The Sony 12xx series are a nice easy projector to set up once you get the hang of it. Great for gaming.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

Welcome !

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Thanks guys.

Yes, I have downloaded all the docs, and more, about the 12xx series projectors. I also got some install-manual with for the 1272/52, which is supposed to be the same type of projector.

Before I power it up though I will need to open the case to look for any more of the metal chipping that was ontop of it and in between the vents, when I got it. There may be a risk of short circuit. This far I've only vacuumed/cleaned the outer surface and vents.

The guy I got it from told me he had tested it breifly and that it had shut down automatically. Maybe due to some stuck fan, but the fans look clean, the whole projector infact looks pretty clean to me when looking into the vents. I guess it needs to get factory reset before more diagnostics can be made.

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

You think that little one is heavy... Wait til you upgrade!!!

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Yes, I think it is *very heavy*. I mean 65 kg isn't something I'd even consider mounting in the ceiling. I got this ceiling mount, I don't think it's complete.

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

After doing some reading in the installation manual I feel more confident. So today I opened the thing and checked for any visual abnormalities. I confirmed that the "medium" CRT spacers were installed, as well as the "medium" lens spacers for front projection mode. As seen in the previous picture I also have the lens spacers for rear projection configuration, but these I will never use.

Removing the lenses showed the CRT wear. I noticed the blue was a bit worn.

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Opening the rear board-bay of the 1251, I removed the boards present to take some shots. I noticed there were some patches done on the "BA" board. It's the board just above the baord with the Video In, Audio In and Remote connetors.

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Location of the patches.

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Something I feel uneasy about is that some patches don't seem to be complete. There's this loose end on this diode.

The picture is quite large so I won't post it in the forum, please just paste the link into a new tab to see the image.

http://www.albyhus2.se/_eget/VPH-1251/pictures/BM4_patch01b.jpg

.. or just click it. I did and it worked.

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

And this patch seems to have been soldered on to that R... 53, I think. Anyway, there has probably been some repair work done to this sony. The question is for what reason, what was the symptoms. Maybe that is what causes it to shut down after a while ON time.

http://www.albyhus2.se/_eget/VPH-1251/pictures/BM4_patch02.jpg

I've got the bays full of boards, except the right bay where there's just a lid on, behind it there's just an empty connector.

.. the rear connections:

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Anybody know what board I should be looking for if I decide to buy a spare?

Is it "BA", or "BA-1" ? It says so on the board. Or should I be attempting a repair? Do I even want to mess around these things with my soldering pen?

Would this fit ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-A1135692A-BA-MCB-PCB-Part-1-639-924-1-For-VPH1272QM-Multiscan-Projector-/140796185135?pt=US_TV_Boards_Parts_Components&hash=item20c81b4a2f

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:20 pm Post subject:

Contact Curt. He will know exactly which one you need or, can repair the one you have if it's not too bad

curtpalme(at)shaw.ca

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Thanks, Rocks.

Just now I've tried to power the projector, but it is stone dead. Not even the power-lamp lights, and I've checked the fuse and it's good. So I'm suspecting there's something wrong with the PSU, or the HV-section.

It seems this is where I give up. I'm not about to start re-capping the whole thing only to discover that there's some original part blown.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:57 pm Post subject:

Wait, did you turn the front big power button on then push the power button on the top panel to turn it on? Open the top case and do a quick visual on the main board. It can sometimes get solder cracks or in the case of my 1272; the screws had come loose. Once I tightened them I had no more problems.

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Right... you mean bad connection on the boards. Ofcourse the solder isn't nice and shiny anymore, I've not really examined the board's solder joints close. I'll give it a try.

And yes, I switched the main power button on the front, and then the green ON button on the controlpanel.

You know, all screws are tight. And the solder doesn't look too bad.

I will need to at least visually check the power section.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:42 pm Post subject:

I had loose screws under the main board too.

So you don't even get a blip when you hit the power? No fans try to turn?

uncletom · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 72 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Nope, nothing. No life at all. I suspect the main power supply unit. It's a big box right under the lenses. Probably it will be the switcher transistors together with some bad capacitors, at least I hope so.

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

Id say itl be more likely a blown fuse if youre getting nothing at all.

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 3:03 am Post subject:

Too funny! Just saw that Sydia sticker on the back of the machine... That company is one of my customers. Funny what a small world it is!

Good luck getting the 1251 back up and running!

SC