Pioneer PL-550 replacement neon light

[pchw]

Bought a Pioneer PL-550 turntable from a garage sale a few weeks ago.
It has 2 problems.
1. The strobe light is gone.
2. One channel has no sound.

First problem was due to a burnt neon light (Pioneer part PEL-011). The 2nd problem is likely to be some broken connection somewhere.

I tried to locate a replace neon light but was not able to find any replacement or specs of the parts from Google. There are some so called universal replacement from ebay such as
(ONE) Universal Turntable Replacement NEON Strobe Light Lamp Bulb 120VAC | eBay
However, these neon light works on 120VAC, but the circuit (attached) seems to indicate a lower voltage DC power supply.

Any suggestion to what can be a viable replacement parts of the burnt neon light?

Thanks!!

 

[rayma]

these neon light works on 120VAC, but the circuit seems to indicate a lower voltage DC power supply. Any suggestion to what can be a viable replacement parts of the burnt neon light?

A neon bulb conducts around 90V. A standard NE-2 bulb should work. They're sometimes used for voltage clamps, like in this case.
Some have a built-in resistor, don't use those here. NE-2: Jameco Valuepro : Wire Terminal Neon Lamp A1A (NE-2) : Opto & Illumination

 

[pchw]

Thanks, will order a couple NE-2 to replace the deflective one.

 

[PRR]

> neon light works on 120VAC, but the circuit seems to indicate a lower voltage DC power supply.

120VAC is easy.

I guess "too easy" for Pioneer. Neons do work fine on DC, or on plulsating DC. Here Pioneer gets a signal from "jungle chip" PD1001 to toggle a 2SC1279 from a DC supply to the neon.

This can give a clean crisp light pulse instead of the roundy-pulse of a neon on AC.

There's a 250V cap, but the transistor is rated 160V, but it may not take the full DC, and if it tries there is enough resistance so it breaks-down without harm. The neon starting voltage is over 90V, but clearly under 160V (or it would not light on peaks of 110VAC). It all seems like "plain neon pulse" to me. A no-resistor neon.

Agree NE-2, or whatever fits the mount.

Or to go mod, any LED with maybe 5K 5W in series. Cathode to Q4 Collector.

But there may be other failure.

 

[pchw]

Thanks a lot for detail explanation.

Let see the replacement NE-2 will work out. If not, I will try the LED and give it a modern look. The bad channel turned out to be a bad contact. The TT is singing in the dark now

 

[Chtyan]

Ne 2 bulb

Hey Fred, Did that Ne 2 bulb work on your Pioneer pl550? I have the same issue. A non working strobe light. Thanks