Strobe light in the TD125MKII

[diyman]

The strobe light in my TD125 just expired. Can I replace it with LEDs assuming I get the power supply voltage correct?

 

[rayfutrell]

It probably can be done. There was a circuit for an LED strobe light in Audioexpress magazine, don't recall the issue. It would be easier just to replace the defective neon bulb with a new one.

 

[kevinkr]

They are sporadically available on eBay..

 

[rayfutrell]

I think the Thorens strobe uses the NE-2 neon lamp. They are common as dirt and just as cheap. Any electronics store should have them. see here.
Neon Lamp, NE-2, 6x20, 30mm leads NE-2-6x20x30 - All Spectrum Electronics

 

[kevinkr]

I had a MKI (same one used in MKII) up until a couple of years ago, the original neon lamp definitely is not an NE-2, but one can be made to work..

See this foreign thread for details: AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Replacement for TD125 Mrk 2 Neon strobe

 

[rayfutrell]

The LED strobe light is in the Dec 2010 issue of Audioexpress magazine. It uses a 14 LED array driven by a 12 volt AC wall transformer. The LEDs are in series and only turn on around the peak of the AC waveform and produce a pulse of light. A very simple and ingenious circuit. You should be able to scale the circuit and use a 6 volt AC transformer and 7 LEDs for a smaller strobe light.