[sdiy] Oberheim Prommer EProm burner

[Mike]

> > I have an Oberheim Prommer  but it seems the screen doesn't light up....
> >
> > 8^(
> >
> > I get levels in the audio inputs but cannot do much without the vacuum
> > florescent?
> >
> > Are these easy to replace?
> >
> > Anyone know of a suitable replacement?
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Nate
>
> If it's actually physically damaged,  the display itself might be the
problem.
> Or if it has an open filament,  but I don't think I've run across one of
> those yet.  More likely it's missing some power supply voltage that's used
by
> only the display and nothing else,  I'd look for that...
>
> My researches seem to indicate that very few of these were off-the-shelf
> items,  most of them being very application-specific and custom made.  I
> don't know for a fact that this is the case with the unit you refer to
there,
> just that this is how it's seemed to me so far.
>

Is it an actual VFD or a cold cathode type?

There are also two types I have found: the VFD which need a heater voltage
(usually about 3 volts), and alowerer segment voltage, and the 'cold
cathode' type which use a higher segment voltage, but no heater.  If you can
get a some makers details that might clear up which one you have.

If it's cold cathode, with Roy on this one:L I used to repair modules for a
domestic appliance company. There were VFD's in a lot of cooker clocks. The
only time I ever had to replace the actual display was when it had suffered
physical damage and air had got in. Even when failing due to age, the
segments tend to fade away in stages, not all go out at once. If every
segment is off, the first port of call is the high voltage power source,
it's not that high a voltage, (though in the clocks I had to be careful
because it was mains derived). My guess in the oberheim is to look for a
small inverter unit, something like the devices used in the Akai samplers to
power the R/L display backlights.

If it's a hot cathode type, then  the heater may have  failed, and you need
a new device, anything else and you are looking for voltage supplies. sadly
I'm in the UK, or I'd invite you to bring it over. Since the oberheim was
alimited production device, I think it's likely it had a generic display,
not a custom, because, if my memory serves me well, custom orders were
around the 10K mark from most makers.

Note on hot cathode types.

http://hem.passagen.se/communication/vfd.html

Hope this is of use.

||\/||ike