Mercury 1400 Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION

MANUAL

MERCURY

ELECTRONICS

CORP.

manufacturers

of

quality

electronic

products

INTRODUCTION

The

Model

1400

is a valuable

service

aid

for

in-circuit

testing

of

all

types

of

capacitors,

from

the

smallest

ceramic

types

to

large

electrolytics.

The

1400

will

check

for

open

or

shorted

cap-

acitor

1s

without

the

necessity

of

removing

them

from

the

circuit.

Capacity

values

are

measured

in-circuit

on

all

popular

electrolytic

capacitors.

An

important

feature

of

the

electrolytic

test,

not

found

in

other

instruments

sold

even

at

much

higher

prices,

is

the

low

test

volt-

age

that

protects

the

low-voltage

electrolytics

used

in

transistor

radios.

Many

of

these

small

electrolytic

filters

are

rated

as

low

as 3 working

volts

D.C.

The

Mod

el

1400

tests

these

and

all

others

with

perfect

accuracy

with

no

ch

ance

of

damage.

SPECIFICATIONS

Shorts

Test

-

Effective

in-circuit

with

shunt

resistance

as

low

as

6

ohms.

Open

Test

-

Effective

on

all

capacitors

in-circuit

down

to

capa-

citors

as

small

as

7 mmfd.

Electrolytic

Test

-

Values

of

electrolytic

capacity

found

in-circuit

over

the

range

of

2 Mfd.

to

450

Mfd.

Indicator

-

EM84

ultra-modern

bar

indicator

tube.

Simple

instruc-

tions

printed

right

on

the

instrument

panel

for

accurate

interpreta-

tion

of

all

test

results.

Power

Supply -Line

isolated

with

special

low

voltage

for

elec-

trolytic

test.

Case

- Smart-

modern

styling

in

Mercury's

exclusive

metal

case

design.

Compartment

for

coaxial

cable

and

cheater

line

cord

ensures

convenient,

safe

storage.

1

3

DESCRIPTION

The

simplicity

of

the

Model 1400

Panel

is

indicative

of

the

ease

with which a

complete

in-circuit

test

of

all

the

capacitors

in

a radio or

TV

set

can

be

accomplished.

The knob

at

the

left

controls

the

functions

of

the

instrument,

with

steps

in proper

sequence

for normal

troubleshooting

procedure.

This

knob

also

turns on

the

instrument

power.

The

1400

panel

has

a power

indicator

jewel

in

the

lower

right.

The

large

center

dial

is

used

for reading

capacity

values

of

elec-

trolytics,

both in

or

out-of-circuit.

The

indicating

eye

is

at

the

upper

right.

Instructions

for prop,er

interpretation

of

eye

readings

are

printed

right on

the

panel,

just

above

the

eye

window.

This

saves

value

troubleshooting

time,

and

can

reduce

the

diagnosis

of a difficult

intermittent

condition

to

mere

seconds.

The

co-axial

cable

test

lead,

with fully

insulated

test

clips,

is

per-

manently

connected

to

the

instrument

and

stores

conveniently

in

the

compartment

below

the

chassis

along

with

the

cheater

line

cord.

Tests

for SHORTS, OPENS, and

ELECTROLYTIC

VALUES

can

be

made

either

in-circuit

or

out-of-circuit

without changing

test

leads

or

clips.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Preliminary

4.

1.

Always make

tests

on a

receiver

which is

disconnected

from

the

power

line.

2. '

Make

sure

capacitors

being

tested

are

fully

discharged

first.

Any

charge

on

capacitors

can

give

erroneous

test

results

and may

damage

the

Model 1400.

3.

Plug

the

Model 1400 into 117V. A.C.

power

line

and

rotate

left

hand knob to

the

position

marked SHORTS.

Power

jewel

will

glow and

eye

indicator

bars

will

glow.

TEST

FOR

SHORTS

1.

With

the

function

switch

set

to

test

for SHORTS,

connect

the

in-

sulated

cli~

across

the

capacitor

to

be

tested,

and

observe

the

indicator

tube

on

your

1400

panel.

2.

If

the

capacitor

is

not

shorted,

the

bars

will

remain open.

If

the

capacitor

is

shorted,

the

bars

will

clos

e.

3. The

results

shown

by

your Model 1400

are

accurate

whether

the

capacitor

under

test

is

in-circuit

or

out-of-circuit.

Circuit

shunt

resistances

and

shun t coils

with

as

little

as

6 Ohms

impedance

will not

affect

the

accuracy

of

the

test.

TEST

FOR

OPENS

1.

Rotate

the

function

switch

to

the

position

marked OPENS. Con-

nect

the

insulated

clips

across

the

capacitor

to

be

tested"

and

observe

the

indicator

eye

on your 1400

Panel.

2.

If

the

capacitor

is

not

open

the

bars

will

remain open.

If

the

capacitor

is

open,

the

bars

will

close.

3.

The

nature

of

the

high

frequency

test

provided by the Model 1400

takes

shunting

components

into

account.

Tests

for OPENS

will

be

accurate

whether

made

in-circuit

or

out-of-circuit.

ELECTROLYTIC

VALUE

TEST

:

1.

The

test

clips

can

be

connected

directly

across

any

electrolytic

capacitor.

Polarity

is

not

important

since

the

1400

provides

an

AC

test

signal

of

sufficiently

low

voltage

so

as

not

to

damage

any

low-rated

capacitor.

2.

For

multiple

electrolytics,

test

each

section

separately.

Connect

one

test

clip

to

the

common

negative

terminal,

and

connect

the

other

test

clip

to

each

of

the

positive

leads,

one

at

a time.

Common

negative

terminal

is

usually

the

can

(or

chassis

ground)

for

metal-cased

electrolytics,

or

the

black

wire in

multi-section

tubular

electrolytics.

5

3.

Set

the

functien

switch

to.

the

proper

range,

either

2-40

Mfd.

er

40-450

Mfd.

depending

en

the

value

ef

the

electrolytic

to.

be

tested.

If

the

value

is

unknewn, try

the

higher

range

first,

as

the

larger

values

are

mere cemmenly feund in

TV

sets

and

radies.

Ne harm

can

be

dene

if

an

electrelytic

capacitor

is

tested

en

the

wrong range.

4. After

the

test

clips

are

cennected,

rotate

the main

dial

until

the

indicater

bars

are

at

a minimum

epening

(barely

teuching).

The

peinter

will

then

read

the

value

(in

microfarads)

ef

the

electrolytic

capaciter.

Nete

that a test

fer SHORTS

er

fer

OPENS

may

be

made

en

an

electrolytic

as

well

as

en

any

ether

capaciter.

Hewever,

if

an

electrolytic

capaciter

shews a definite

value

in

microfarads,

it

is

neither

epen

ner

sherted,

se

ne

further

test

is

required.

5.

If

yeu

cannet

get

the

bars

to.

teuch,

switch

to.

the

ether

electro-

lytic

range

and

test

fer

value

in

exactly

the

same

manner

as

de-

scribed

in

Step 4.

The

ranges

previded

by

the

Model 1400

cever

ever

99%

ef

all

elect

rely

tics

in

use

teday.

6. Shunt

resistances

feund in

mest

electrelytic

radio. and TV

cir-

cuits

are

nermally

high

eneugh

to.

cause

ne

difficulty

during

in-circuit

testing.

6.

Where

ne

test

can

be

ebtained

en

either

range,

check

the

sche-

matic

diagram

to.

see

if

extremely

lew

shunt

resistance

is

in

parallel

with the

electrelytic

capaciter.

Only

en

small

capa-

citers

(less

than

10

Mfd.)

is

this

cenditien

to.

be

expected.

In

such

cases,

an

eut-ef-circuit

test

can

readily

be

made

by

dis-

cennecting

ene

ef

the

capaciter

leads.

TROUBLE SHOOTING

WITH

THE MODEL 1400

GENERAL

The

Model 1400

provides a fast

means

of

troubleshooting

open,

shorted,

or

intermitten

capacitors.

To

make a

quick

in-circuit

check

of any

small

cap~citor,

proceed

as

follows:

1.

With

test

clips

connected

across

the

capacitor,

switch

to

SHORTS.

If

eye

remains

open,

capacitor

is

good.

2. Without moving

the

test

clips,

switch

to OPENS.

If

eye

remains

open,

capacitor

is

good.

3.

If

an

intermittent

condition

exists,

wiggle

the

capacitor

during

each

of

the

above

tests;

also

try

applying

heat

or

cold,

or

tapping

on

it,

while

watching

the

indicator

bars.

Any momentary

closing

of

the

bars

means

the

capacitor

is

defective.

TV TROUBLESHOOTING

Refer

to

TV

Schematic

to

locate

the

following

capacitors

for

quick

check

with

the

Model 1400:

Circuit

Trouble

Capacitors

to

Test

Vertical

Unstable

sync.

·

Integrator

network

·

Timing

network

•

Wave-shaping

circuit

•

Feed

back

network

Sound

Poor

quality

Ratio

detector

electro-

lytic

Horizontal

Poor

sync.

or

no

All

capacitors

in

duo-

raster

diode

Hor.

AFC

circuit

(weak

high

voltage)

·

Coupling

capacitors

to

hotiz.

output

tube

·

Horiz.

drive

(wave-shaping)

capacitor

•

Horiz.

Lin.

Coil

by-pass

capacitors

7.

Circuit

Trouble

Capacitors

to

Test

Power

Supply

Narrow

raster

All

power

supply
electrolytics
Boost

filter

capacitor

Tuner

Blank

raster,

All

ceramic

oscillator

no

sound

capacitors
Tuner

B +

by-pass
capacitors
Tuner

AGC

capacitors

Sync.

No

sync,

Sync

clipper

input

I

9-

weak

sync

capacitor
Sync

separator

screen

by-pass

and

plate

coupling

capacitors

Color

Killer

No

color

Blocking

capacitor

in

(Col

or

TV)

(Black-and-

~

blanker

circuit

White

O.K.)

Capacitors

in

killer

de-

tector

network

or

phase

.

detector

network

.

Capacitors

in

burst

os-

cillator

or

reactance
stages

Col

or

Matrix

Cannot

achieve

Input

coupling

capacitors

(Color

TV)

black-and-white

to

color

difference

amps.

picture

Input

capacitors

to

color

(discoloration)

CRT

grids

By-pass

capacitors

in

"X"

or

"2"

demodulators

-,

8

HI-FI

STEREO,

UHF,

FM, AND

FM

MULTIPLEX TROUBLESHOOTING

Circuit

Trouble

Capacitors

to

Test

Audio

Output

Distortion

(one

Or

Coupling

capacitors

to

(Monaural

or

both

channels)

output

stage

grids

Stereo)

Cathode

by-pass

electro-

lytics.

Audio

Amp.

Low

volume

All

audio

coupling

(Monaural

Or

capacitors

Stereo)

Volume

control

network
capacitors
Bass

or

treble

network

capacitors

Multiplex

Poor

L-R

All

caps.

in

tuned

filter

Separation

network

(FM)

Coupling

capacitors

in

L +

Rand

L - R

mixer

stages

.

.

Inverter

stage

network

capacitors

Multiplex

Only

one

Shorted

deemphasis

channel

capacitor

(FM)

operative

Open

coupling

capacitor

in

L + R

or

L - R

channel

Open

electrolytic

input

capacitor

to

Lo-Pass

network

Converter

No

UHF

re-

Heater

decoupling

capacitors

(U.H.F.)

ception

B +

decoupling

network
capacitors

All

capacitors

in

tuning

network

9

~-'-----~-.--.~.-

..

:'i',

.,.

3K

10

lW

2W

SHORTS

.

~

~~:---

~2-40

40

-450

TEST

CABLE

1-------------------

~

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,------J

R

290V

BK.

r .

,-

R-W

Gl

12.9V

--./

S.3V

BU.

R-BK.

G-W

".

330

250

22K

47K

~

~470K

_001

r

1.5

"""

220

K

2.2M

SC4

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EM84

MODEL

1400

IN-CIRCUIT

CAPACITOR

TESTER