Preparing to Start Work

PREPARING TO START WORK

All you really need is a table or bench somewhere, preferably a place that can be left undisturbed for a few days in case you have to order parts or the repair job turns out to be bigger than you thought. For safety, choose a spot that is free of grounded objects and use an isolation transforer or a Ground Fault Circuit Interupter. Either one of these two items will prevent you from becoming toast in case you get zapped. A place that is about twice the size of your VCR and room for a TV or monitor is the minimum space you will need. More is always better.

Before removing the covers, BE SURE IT'S UNPLUGGED! The Database Pages may have some information for the covers on your VCR and it's sensitivity to room light with them removed. Once the covers are off, you need to:

Identify the 120 volt danger spot on the VCR. Always know where it is and stay clear of it.
Discharge yourself. The human body can hold a huge charge of static electricity. In fact several thousand volts. Grounding wrist straps are available for this purpose for as little as $10, but not actually necessary. All you really need to do is get into the habit of discharging yourself by touching a large nearby object before touching anything inside your VCR.
Because static electricity from you is always a possibility, don't touch the circuit boards inside. If you do need to handle them, always grab them by the edges. If you need to replace a part on a board, discharge yourself again before proceeding. It's rare when static electricity destroys something inside a VCR, but don't forget - it can happen! And when it does, your VCR won't tell you about it. You will just suddenly have a new symptom to deal with.
Do as much as you can with the unit unplugged - once again for safety.

A good set of tools to start with are:

a small flat blade screw driver.
a set of needle nose pliers.
wire cutters.
Q-tips and cleaning fluid.
two philips screw drivers - a number 1 and a number 2 size. Chrome Vanadium is now an inexpensive material. It is a superstrong metal alloy used in Indy cars and landing gear for fighter jets. It is also now used in screw drivers and the price is right. For less than $3 you can get a screw driver made out of Chrome Vanadium. The one I bought three years ago still shows no wear what so ever. I highly recommend them. If you strip a philips screw with a cheap screw driver, your only choice may be to drill it out. Not much fun.

If you have not read the Saftey Page yet, now is the time to do so.