Clock Vacuum Fluorescent Display Cross Reference

Here is a list of clocks that use Vacuum fluorescent displays, the type of clock chip, the make and model of the VFD, and display features.

Cosmo Time E-508, Clock chip LM8361 G4 (same pinout as a TMS1943N2l or NTE2060) , VFD Futaba 5-LT-16, 4 digit 12 hour only colon AM PM.

Sunbeam (unknown model), clock chip TMS3451NL, VFD Futaba 5-LT-79ZS/81, 4 digit can display 24 hour AM PM sleep alarm dot after last digit.

General Electric 7-4265A AM/FM/Cassette under cabinet clock radio, clock chip TMS3451NL, VFD Futaba 5-LT125Z, 4 digit can display 24 hour colon AM PM dot after last digit.

General Electric AM/FM clock radio 7-4642A, clock chip 8RS8600 (possibly same pinout as TMS1943N2l or NTE2060) , VFD NEC FIP5K15S 4 digit can display 24 hour colon AM PM alarm indicator.

  

5-LT-31 2A

5-LT-31/33
Unknown what it came out of.

 

Futaba 4-BT-04 8A

From a Heathkit GC-1415 clock

 

5-LT-02 B3 from an unknown unit

 

If you have information on a VFD display that you would like to add, please leave a comment on where I can get:

Pictures of the front and back of the display

Manufacturer and model number of the device it came out of.

The Worst Car Radio/Stereo in the World

I have a 1989 Chevrolet c2500 that someone took out the original stereo and head unit and replaced it with (what I would describe as) the worst radio I have ever used.

The radio was a Pioneer DEH P400UB I hate this thing with the hate of a thousand suns. Attempting to do anything with it while driving results in nearly wrecking the truck.

Replacing the OEM unit appears to be more trouble than it would be worth.

After lots and lots of searching I finally found a good simple to use stereo.

I got a used stereo from a 1998 Subaru Legacy. It was one of the few stereos I could find that also had lots of information online. 20 watts per channel, 4 channels, cassette tape, lcd display and simple easy to use controls.

The unit looks brand new inside and out, mounted it this morning and was able to drive around manipulate the controls with out hardly looking at it and never once came close to wrecking as with the Pioneer.

Also sound real good not quite as sensitive as the one in my 2015 forester. Made by Panasonic.

I have a cassette tape that can connect to an external device, a cassette that can do bluetooth, and a cassette that can play mp3's.
bluetooth
https://youtu.be/qBDZghOVnsM
mp3
https://youtu.be/HtoP7a615EA



I took the Pioneer radio and put it on my bench to mess with it. Even sitting on my bench where I can give it my full attention I cannot control it easily. It has a single knob that is also a joy stick and a button. It has a remote control but that still does not make it easier.

It works like this when in tuner mode:
the knob is rotated for volume
you move the knob left and right to tune a station
moving the knob up and down selects presets.
the problem is when you try to do this while driving you have to remember what does what and the slightest wrong movement will result in changing the station or moving it off frequency.

Then there is the problem of mistakenly enabling demo mode. if that happens the radio can't be turned off and you have to consult the manual to do that but the manual skips steps and is badly written.

then the other buttons on the radio have multiple functions which change depending on what you are doing. The Pioneer DEH P400UB is a $200 driving hazard distraction radio from hell. Though it does sound good it does not belong in a car.

Don't get me started on the trouble it is just to change balance, fader, and tone controls.

I built a spot welder

Using a car battery and other stuff

JVC DR-MH30SU HDD DVD Recorder Power Supply repair

Here is a video I did of my repair of the JVC DR-MH30SU HDD DVD Recorder Power Supply.
link to service manual: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wrbqfx8o73ld0ei/jvc_dr-mh20su_dr-mh30su_dr-mh30stw_full_sm.pdf?dl=0
When it asks you to login or create an account click "no Thanks, Continue to View"
Then Click Download in the upper right corner.

Thanksgiving and black Friday

Just say no.

Makita to Skil/Bosch Battery Adapter build

I had a bunch of Skill cordless tools but no battery for them, instead of buying batteries and a charger I found a way to make an adapter to connect my Makita battery to these tools


There are USB adapters for other manufacturers that you could do this with.
Milwaukee
Dewalt
Ridgid
You could make many combinations of adapters.

Clarion RF-484I Connector Pinout

I recently acquired a Clarion RF-484I (FCC ID AX292ARF484I) made for a mid 1980's Subaru (not sure which one). This is a single speaker mono radio (no stereo). The wiring diagram pinout is below. Mine had a connector that had a Blue wire for +12v, Yellow Speaker wire, white and black wires that are bridged and then go to case or common ground, and then 2 wires Red with green stripe, and Red with Blue stripe, for the dial light, it does not really matter which wire is positive or negative since they are independent of case ground or any internal circuitry in the radio. Speaker ground can be to the white wire, or to chassis ground anywhere in the car. There is a small screw on the front of the radio near the AM FM words that is used to tune the antenna for AM reception, mine did not seem to do anything. The way you use it is tune a weak AM station (or your favorite) and turn the screw till it sounds better.

The unit seems to use a max of 200ma at 13.8 volts DC without the dial light. Sound quality is fine for a mono radio, it has Volume, Tone, and push button tuning. To set the buttons. tune a station, pick a button, pull it out, then push it all the way in. Unknown if buttons can be programmed for both AM and FM (probably not). Push the volume knob in to turn on and off.