atkelar | Philips PE 1542 Restoration @atkelar | Uploaded November 2022 | Updated October 2024, 10 hours ago.
When it comes to electronics tinkering, there is one thing you always need: DC power. That means that one of the first investments usually is a form of lab power supply, unless you are inclined to make one yourself. I did make one, LM 317 based, way back in my early days, but since used the components for other stuff. The next one I got was a similar simple linear model: one output, voltage to about 30V and no current limit. That lasted me for years, when I didn't do much electronics.
My next step up was a digital model: affordable and a single output with three different presets. But eventually, I discovered that it has an issue: when the output is "off", it would briefly pulse the selected voltage whenever you turned the settings knob. I suspect that there's something wrong with the firmware, cause I can't see a reason why the output stage would come on if not asked... a misplaced "if" condition somewhere.
Add to the fact that I neede more than one voltage on occasion, I now had a very good reason to seek a replacement. And that's when an e-bay search yielded this gem: A Philips 1542/60 - classic linear lab power supply: 0-32V and 0-1.4A on the two main outputs and fixed 5V up to 3A on the third. Certainly going to be useful! Given that 5V is still plenty useful for USB based things and breadboard based converters from 5 to 3.3 are plenty, I think I got all the bases covered.
The restoration had a few minor hiccups, but overall: I'm happy! Now I just need to get some sturdier overhead boards on my workbench, so I can haul that heavy thing up there!
0:00 Intro / Presentation
1:26 Disassembly Start / Component Overview
3:35 Front Panel
4:45 Power Transformer and Transistor section
5:50 Power Transistor Rework / Capacitors
6:58 Control PCB Issues
7:40 New Clips for Caps
8:17 Wire Lugs
9:26 Potentiometer Replacement Issues
10:35 Front Panel Rebuild
11:30 U/I switch cleaning
12:10 Spare Regulators (not needed, just to be prepared) / PCB connection / Power Switch cleaning
13:50 Case and Rectifiers / Rebuild Power Transistor Wiring
15:40 Filter Cap Soldering / First Trial Description
16:35 Transformer and Backplane Rebuild
17:57 First try on Mains... (forgot fuses!) / Trimmer Overview
19:07 Case Closed / Pot Alignment
19:52 Done! / Closing Remarks / Outtake
Music:
My Train's A Comin'
Unicorn Heads
(YouTube Audio Library)
You can support me on Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/atkelar
I uploaded the Capacitor Clip model to my GitHub here: github.com/Atkelar/OpenSCADGadgets/blob/master/restorations/CapacitorClip.scad
When it comes to electronics tinkering, there is one thing you always need: DC power. That means that one of the first investments usually is a form of lab power supply, unless you are inclined to make one yourself. I did make one, LM 317 based, way back in my early days, but since used the components for other stuff. The next one I got was a similar simple linear model: one output, voltage to about 30V and no current limit. That lasted me for years, when I didn't do much electronics.
My next step up was a digital model: affordable and a single output with three different presets. But eventually, I discovered that it has an issue: when the output is "off", it would briefly pulse the selected voltage whenever you turned the settings knob. I suspect that there's something wrong with the firmware, cause I can't see a reason why the output stage would come on if not asked... a misplaced "if" condition somewhere.
Add to the fact that I neede more than one voltage on occasion, I now had a very good reason to seek a replacement. And that's when an e-bay search yielded this gem: A Philips 1542/60 - classic linear lab power supply: 0-32V and 0-1.4A on the two main outputs and fixed 5V up to 3A on the third. Certainly going to be useful! Given that 5V is still plenty useful for USB based things and breadboard based converters from 5 to 3.3 are plenty, I think I got all the bases covered.
The restoration had a few minor hiccups, but overall: I'm happy! Now I just need to get some sturdier overhead boards on my workbench, so I can haul that heavy thing up there!
0:00 Intro / Presentation
1:26 Disassembly Start / Component Overview
3:35 Front Panel
4:45 Power Transformer and Transistor section
5:50 Power Transistor Rework / Capacitors
6:58 Control PCB Issues
7:40 New Clips for Caps
8:17 Wire Lugs
9:26 Potentiometer Replacement Issues
10:35 Front Panel Rebuild
11:30 U/I switch cleaning
12:10 Spare Regulators (not needed, just to be prepared) / PCB connection / Power Switch cleaning
13:50 Case and Rectifiers / Rebuild Power Transistor Wiring
15:40 Filter Cap Soldering / First Trial Description
16:35 Transformer and Backplane Rebuild
17:57 First try on Mains... (forgot fuses!) / Trimmer Overview
19:07 Case Closed / Pot Alignment
19:52 Done! / Closing Remarks / Outtake
Music:
My Train's A Comin'
Unicorn Heads
(YouTube Audio Library)
You can support me on Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/atkelar
I uploaded the Capacitor Clip model to my GitHub here: github.com/Atkelar/OpenSCADGadgets/blob/master/restorations/CapacitorClip.scad
