CT-800 Lamp Modifications

[Texaco]

Hi all,

I recently picked up a CT-800 for a whopping $30 in what I'd call fantastic condition. The lamps are out, which didn't surprise me for a 40+ year old model, and I've ordered replacements to bring the tuner back to life at night. Upon receiving I tore the unit down and did a deep clean of the front plate, tuning dial, and other knobs/switches (the photos below were pre-clean) but it's still pretty spiffy on its own.

One of the things that I dislike about these models/vintage of Yammies is the sickly pale blue/green appearance of the dials and indicators. I'd read a write-up about removing the filters from the CT-810 which highlighted the tuning indicator blue filter, but my real question is how (if even possible) can I remove the blue tint from the signal and tuning strength indicators? I originally thought the metal foil on there was blue backed, but discovered quite quickly that it was not. With the unit being new to me I didn't want to do much more exploratory surgery, so here I am asking the collective minds of AK!

Photos for fun, since everyone (myself included) loves looking at the gear!


Ryan



Yamaha CT-800 Tuner Front by Fellsway Media


Yamaha CT-800 Tuner Rear by Fellsway Media


Yamaha CT-800 Tuner Dial by Fellsway Media

 

[ivandezande]

The filters are in the corners of the meters behind the lights IIRC...surgery is needed. Getting all the lights to look the same in these tuners is a bear.

 

[Olddawg]

Hey Guys
New here myself this may have been discussed a lot but I'll ask anyways
I have a CT 810 that I am replacing the lights on.
I added a bridge and cap to convert over to clean dc, put in clear white LEDs and the tuning pointer is greenish yellow which is the right look but the meters are blue as can be.
Suggestions on how to get that more harmonious?
Thanks much

 

[avionic]

put in clear white LEDs

May want to try warm white LED's.. Welcome aboard dawg

 

[herot02]

Any movement on this? I'm curious. I just picked up a CT-800 and the lights are pretty dim. I'm actually like to ADD lights to it, that would illuminate the entire bandwidth of the font, but I'm not sure how to set up additional LED lights or a strip and if there's a way to wire them to draw power from the unit. If anyone knows how to add custom lighting, and wire it, please let me know.

 

[Olddawg]

I did some leds in a CT 810. Follow the wires from the lights back to the two sets of posts on the circuit board. I believe one set will have a resistor mounted on or under the board but anyway check the voltage there. Then take a bridge rectifier and stick a capacitor on the output leads. Then you can google a led calculator and plug in the number of leds and their values in the calculator and it will tell you what resistors you will need in the circuit and how to connect. Best of luck

 

[herot02]

I did some leds in a CT 810. Follow the wires from the lights back to the two sets of posts on the circuit board. I believe one set will have a resistor mounted on or under the board but anyway check the voltage there. Then take a bridge rectifier and stick a capacitor on the output leads. Then you can google a led calculator and plug in the number of leds and their values in the calculator and it will tell you what resistors you will need in the circuit and how to connect. Best of luck

holy crud. yeah I need to either A go to school to learn this, or B watch some series of youtube videos to explain half of what you said. I don't know what a bridge rectifier, capacitor or resistors are. damn. Got any places to go online to learn this or watch somebody do it?

 

[avionic]

Then take a bridge rectifier and stick a capacitor on the output leads.

Why ??? The OEM lamps are DC powered.. D604 rectifies 14VAC to roughly 13.4 VDC to power the 12v@60ma incandescent lamps.