Crumar Musical Instruments User Group.

Hello,
This is my first post to this group. 
I am now using the Spirit synth that I purchased new in the 80's and have 
finally got around to actually playing it. 
Problems with power. Although the keyboard is in pristine condition, maybe 
it's having problems from sitting in the case all these years but to get 
power to the unit you have to wiggle to power cord in the back. 
Now here is the weird problem. When I get the power cord to make contact, and 
the "on" rocker switch is lit, the 2 lights (in Mod X and shaper Y) won't go 
on.
I gentle tap on the right side of unit gets those 2 blinking.

What I've done: opened it up and checked all connections. It looks spanking 
clean inside and all connections look solid.
Anyone have any ideas?
I'm not an electrical engineer, but do use common sense, i.e., if a 
connection isn't working I replace. I've been fixing all my vintage guitar 
equipment this way for years.
Thanks,
Bob

Hi Bob!

As you already seem to have checked all connectors (I would have 
suspected the ones of the right-handside printed circuit board), you 
could check the 20V DC supply-voltage which is fed directly to the 
anodes of the two LED´s you decribed. If you can´t measure it at the 
LED´s anodes, you´ll have to check the corresponding connector and 
the power supply board.
Next guess is checking the 12V DC supply of the board on the right.

If you need the schematics, I´ll be glad to post them to you somehow.

Cheers & have a nice week-end,

Reinhard

Hi Bob,

I had trouble with the Spirit I bought. The power transformer is only held in place by its own wires. Given the mass of the transformer, it
doesn't take much of a knock to stretch and break these wires. That is what had happened to mine. I managed to solder / splice them back
together without having to get a replacement transformer. I used a heavy-duty cable tie to secure the transformer to the PCB to prevent it
happening again.

This doesn't sound like the problem you have, but it may be worth checking (perhaps there is a small break that gives intermittent
operation). I'd definitely recommend you secure the transformer anyway - for the future!

Cheers,
Matt Nolan.

Hi Matt,
Thanks for that info. I haven't had the thing opened since I posted 
the original message but everything inside looked quite sound.
I only started using the thing about a year ago, and bought it new 
way back when. 
I'll just have to wait until I get access to some testing gear and 
check some of the stuff that's been recommended.
BTW, I haven't had this problem since I last posted.
also,
When I do use the Spirit at a gig, since I play mainly guitar, I 
don't use it that much, folks walk up and gawk at the thing and ask 
questions. It's fun to see the reactions. Mainly: "what is it?"

also, also, I noticed an earlier thread about the Spirit and seriel 
numbers. the number on this one is 110. So I guess that means there 
was more than 100 made?
Bob


--- In crumar@yahoogroups.com, Matt Nolan <matt@r...> wrote:
> Hi Bob,
> 
> I had trouble with the Spirit I bought. The power transformer is 
only held in place by its own wires. Given the mass of the 
transformer, it
> doesn't take much of a knock to stretch and break these wires. 
That is what had happened to mine. I managed to solder / splice them 
back
> together without having to get a replacement transformer. I used a 
heavy-duty cable tie to secure the transformer to the PCB to prevent 
it
> happening again.
> 
> This doesn't sound like the problem you have, but it may be worth 
checking (perhaps there is a small break that gives intermittent
> operation). I'd definitely recommend you secure the transformer 
anyway - for the future!

> 
> Cheers,
> Matt Nolan.