Conion/Helix/Clairtone LED dial light version 2.0

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caution

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Mar 25, 2014
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I thought I'd share how I upgraded the dial light for our highly valued member DAFUZZ. I took advantage of the situation to try a new approach to the wiring over what I did in my C-100F restoration last year.

On one hand I am glad I rewired my box to work on batteries, mains or wall wart, and it does look great, but it will start to blink in and out if the bass starts kicking. It also involved some amount of rework on the switch board to feed 15VDC to the dial board instead of the default 7VAC from the transformer.

This time I decided to keep using 7VAC to avoid dropouts, and build a little rectifier circuit out of four 1N4002 diodes and a cap, giving me about 8.5VDC. Using three LEDs rated at 3.2V/20mA, the resistance I was given by this site was 270 ohms, but when it's in the circuit, it only measured about 7.5mA, but it's still very bright. I also applied some aluminum tape on the far end for more even light.

I used the edge of a diamond cutting wheel to cut a groove in the board for the LED leads to stick through to the back side, and then used a couple of drill bits to even it out. A little R6000 to glue the LEDs into place with some tape (the non-sticky side) over the slit to ensure the glue cured with a smooth surface.

After a lot of soldering, nylon tubing, shrink tubing and burnt fingertips, we have a winner that just BARELY fit. I'm almost thinking it got pushed a bit by the switch board mounting plate, but everything is insulated and seems to be working fine :-)

PS - Sorry about the big band music, I picked up a pile of cassettes at Goodwill for testing, haha!

But first, some new belts for the decks...
















https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqp2ApiyTcU
 

THAFUZZ

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Dude! That looks amazing!!! She looks gorgeous. :drool: I can't believe You did that for Me. Mega Thanks, Brother. It was so cool hanging out with You and shooting the sh!t for hours. We gotta do it again, and have more beers. :drunk: :beer2: Thanks Eric.
 

baddboybill

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Jul 14, 2009
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Awesome job!!! Looks and sounds fantastic. Just a little info though a spring can be made for the deck door to open up on its own 😉




Bad Boy Bill
 

THAFUZZ

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I saw that too. I managed to find the spring and provide it to Eric too. I also gave him the door spring from a GF777 door. He thought that might work, and even be a better swap.
 

blu_fuz

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That's just great. One day when I'm not too scared to open my Clairtone again, I will add some kind of LED setup for the tuner/VUs. Nice job.
 

Lasonic TRC-920

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WOW!

Fantastic Mod. Ever since SuperDuper's M70 LED tuner mod, every radio I have without it just SUCKS! :thumbsdown:

The thing is, the bigger the tuning dial, the harder it is to fill it with even light and bright enough to see in a well lit room.

That came out PERFECT!
 

trippy1313

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blu_fuz said:
That's just great. One day when I'm not too scared to open my Clairtone again, I will add some kind of LED setup for the tuner/VUs. Nice job.
Are these pretty hard/fragile boxes to take apart?


Great mod, looks nice and clean.
 

blu_fuz

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trippy1313 said:
Are these pretty hard/fragile boxes to take apart?


Great mod, looks nice and clean.
The C100 and AKAs are kind of a radio that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" because if you aren't patient and ready for a web of wiring you could be into a bigger project than you bargained for.
 

trippy1313

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blu_fuz said:
The C100 and AKAs are kind of a radio that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" because if you aren't patient and ready for a web of wiring you could be into a bigger project than you bargained for.
More so than a 931? Or similar?

Sorry, a little off topic.
 

blu_fuz

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Lasonics are a mess, but the C100 wiring will drive you nuts the first couple times. Pictures and labeling is a MUST.
 

BoomboxLover48

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Great job! :rock: This is the correct way of LED modification. :yes:

I did the same in another easy way. :-)

I know these boxes are prone to damage when you take it apart and a bear to put all together.

So LAZY me I used a very small step down transformer of a phone and used it for the DC voltage source without taking apart the box or tapping from the power rail. Used 3 peel and stick LED on either side of the dial and it came out really nice. It stick well on the either side of the dial ends.

It only works when is plugged to AC because I tapped the AC input line from the power supply board. :thumbsdown:

After the modification mine looks very much the same!
 

trippy1313

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Lasonic TRC-920 said:
WOW!

Fantastic Mod. Ever since SuperDuper's M70 LED tuner mod, every radio I have without it just SUCKS! :thumbsdown:
I feel the same. My 920 is in the kitchen, and I don't hardly turn on the light because it looks so sad compared to my M70.
 

Lasonic TRC-920

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I feel the same. My 920 is in the kitchen, and I don't hardly turn on the light because it looks so sad compared to my M70.

Yeah, the 920 has one of the most pathetic tuner lights there is
 
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