BRC 1500 Chassis, D|E|R Advice to Engineers
All the service data manuals for the 1500 series chassis are to be found in the Radios-TV data library and free-to-view sections of the blog.
All the service data manuals for the 1500 series chassis are to be found in the Radios-TV data library and free-to-view sections of the blog.
Brings back memories of my DER apprenticeship in the early 1980s. As we were based on the coast I would, on occasion, reverse the detector diode so I could watch French TV (it wasn’t perfect as it was the old SECAM 819 standard, but it was better than nothing.) – We could receive France every day, with Belgium and Germany popping up during a tropo lift. The worst memory from the 1500 chassis was one day when I was adjusting the tube magnets and looking in a mirror so the results could be easily seen. As I was making some fine adjustments the chassis swung shut on my hand! The electric shock from that was nasty. I’m glad I was on a rubber mat and only had one hand attached to anything. Pulling my hand out (knee jerk reaction to being shocked) cause a load of damage to said hand: scratches, blood and gouges to the skin. Not to mention the sheer heart-thumping adrenaline rush of the whole thing – I had to sit down for an hour afterwards. Having skin contact with the top cap of the line output valve is not something I would recommend!
Hi Sean, thanks for leaving an interesting recollection from your days as an apprentice. It is often said, the reaction to a shock had more catastrophic consequences. I must admit not enjoying sticking my hands in the 3000 CTV to adjust the RGB statics, so many bitey points waiting to get you and then lacerate you as you naturally withdraw your hand in haste
I worked as a technician for Thorn AWA in Melbourne, Australia in the early 1970’s. They had a version of the 1500 modified for local conditions and components. A retail model with power transformer and a hot chassis model for rental sets. This was the last Thorn/BRC B&W design used in Australia as the next design was of local origin. The 3500 colour TV built in the UK was imported by AWA and relabelled. Whilst the 4K chassis that came a little later was built locally. Both the 3500 and 4K were found to be less reliable when compared with the Japanese sets that were coming to market at the time. AWA stopped using Thorn/BRC designs and went with Mitsubish sets again relabelled as AWA. I still have a PCB from the B&W version of the Australian 1500 and probably an original copy of the circuit. Please let me know if you are interested in photos etc.
I used to work for DER in the North West happy days and giant and very heavy colour television sets the thorn 025. we loved the thorn 3000/3500 nice picture and easy to service.