CED VideoDisc and Player Discussion

prg222 · Joined: 10 Dec 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Pomona, NY

I have 3 CED Players. One works well. Another I have not fired up in a few years it had have some problems.

I got a nearly new 250 player. The lady said it stopped working so they put it back in the box (in 1985)and wanted to sell it. I got it for $15.00 plus some discs.

All it needed was the load belt in the front right hand corner.

I had no problem with it for a few months. But now when I load a disc the L symbol comes on when powered up. The disc begins spinning, but I get two dashes on the display (__) The controls on the front Rapid Access Search will not respond. on the front of the player or from the remote.

I tried changing the cartridge. But that did not solve the problem.

I did put the working player next to the non working one. When a disc loads and begins to spin on the good player. One can hear a sound just before the disc begins to play. It does not happen on the other player.

So could it be a mechanical problem? Or more likely an electronic one?

Any help would be appreciated

Beetlescott · Joined: 03 Oct 2010 Posts: 2099

Are you sure the stylus you tried is also good? If not try the stylus from the good player.
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prg222 · Joined: 10 Dec 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Pomona, NY

I tried swapping the cartridge from the good player. The same two dashes show up and the arm holding the cartridge does not start to advance, as it does on the other player.

Rixrex · Joined: 28 May 2004 Posts: 1222

If you only get the two dashes, that typically means the stylus is not reading the disc in order to send a signal to start the display properly. This could be a mechanical issue, but also sometimes is within the electronics.

A mechanical issue could have to do with the landing latch, the stylus set down, the servo belt or the turntable belt. Suggest you review the CEDmagic repair solution to see if you can locate one that fits the symptoms:

http://www.cedmagic.com/tech-info/repair-solutions.html

If in the circuits, the stylus might be reading the disc, but there's no proper signal to activate the display and the stylus advance. Circuitry issues are usually tough to figure out unless you have a good electronics background. Always run through the possible mechanical solutions first as those are fairly common.

Jesse Skeen · Joined: 28 May 2004 Posts: 539 Location: Sacramento, CA

I've got an SGT-250 like that too- worked when I got it, hadn't been used much and did that when I tested it later. Someone said it might be an IC.
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Rixrex · Joined: 28 May 2004 Posts: 1222

That's the most likely problem when all mechanical issues have been ruled out. Sadly, it then becomes a parts machine if you don't have a replacement part on hand.

Beetlescott · Joined: 03 Oct 2010 Posts: 2099

Daxi Don · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Indiana

I assume you are certain that the stylus cartridge is OK. And mechanical problems have been ruled out.
Then the problem is in the signal processing electronics. The most likely
cause is a failure of the Video FM Demodulator chip. Or the 1.53 Mhz clock pulse is missing.
The video modulator chip is IC U3201. The clock pulse will be missing if inductor L3404 has gone open circuit.
You can check for both faults using a common multimeter. On the DC volt range check the voltages on U3201. And on the Resistance range measure the resistance of L3404.
If the parts have to be replaced anyone that can use a soldering iron can do it. Maybe you have a friend who is an electronic hobby person. The parts are available from CEDatum. Your SGT250 seems like a nice player- dont give up on it.

SelectaVision420 · Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 1226 Location: Hartford

Rich · Joined: 19 May 2011 Posts: 1 Location: Yakima WA

I have a problem like this one with my SGT250 . Load disc to player & mounts disc ok - arm is parked at start position .

Then arm motor will run in reverse a few seconds & not move forward .

Then by hand roll the arm motor belt gear that moves worm gear forward a bit - and then it plays ok .

There is a bind at worm gear & gear from arm motor belt gear because of arm motor running in reverse .

I have been through the player - cleaned &/or replaced belts , lubed moving parts - replaced arm motor & 15v regulator -

resoldered places on board the needed it ( like most of it ) & hit all connectors with DeoxIT .

If arm motor is suppost to do this - a solution I will try is to mount an end of stroke swtich w/diode so arm motor will not run in reverse at arm start postion .

If arm motor is not suppost to do this - I hope to find a fix for this one last gremlin .

Thanks to CED forum Smile

Rixrex · Joined: 28 May 2004 Posts: 1222

The arm motor isn't supposed to run in reverse upon initial loading of disc, meaning when you pull out the caddy and the disc is ready for play.

It's supposed to actually run forward a little so the stylus can set into place. Sounds like the motor is set up backwards, or reverse polarity. Once it drives itself backward to a certain point, then it cannot continue backward any longer and is binding up and/or quits.

Does the manual advance cause the motor to then operate in normal fashion, or does it just allow playback of several seconds or a minute, then skip backward?

Maybe the motor has an internal problem causing this, or who knows what, but this is what it sounds like, esp a DC motor. Or perhaps your reverse switch or circuitry is defective to the point of causing the motor to engage in reverse right off?