Mercury 1400 User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
MERCURY
ELECTRONICS CORP.
manufacturers of quality electronic products

INTRODUCTION
The Model 1400 is a valuable service aid for in-circuit testing
of all types of capacitors, from the smallest ceramic types to
large electrolytics. The 1400 will check for open or shorted cap-
acitor 1s without the necessity of removing them from the circuit.
Capacity values are measured in-circuit on all popular electrolytic
capacitors.
An important feature of the electrolytic test, not found in other
instruments sold even at much higher prices, is the low test volt-
age that protects the low-voltage electrolytics used in transistor
radios. Many of these small electrolytic filters are rated as low
as 3 working volts D.C. The Mod el 1400 tests these and all
others with perfect accuracy with no ch ance of damage.
SPECIFICATIONS
Shorts Test - Effective in-circuit with shunt resistance as low as
6 ohms.
Open Test - Effective on all capacitors in-circuit down to capa-
citors as small as 7 mmfd.
Electrolytic Test - Values of electrolytic capacity found in-circuit
over the range of 2 Mfd. to 450 Mfd.
Indicator - EM84 ultra-modern bar indicator tube. Simple instruc-
tions printed right on the instrument panel for accurate interpreta-
tion of all test results.
Power Supply - Line isolated with special low voltage for elec-
trolytic test.
Case -Smart- modern styling in Mercury's exclusive metal case
design. Compartment for coaxial cable and cheater line cord
ensures convenient, safe storage.
1
3

DESCRIPTION
The simplicity of the Model 1400 Panel is indicative of the ease
with which a complete in-circuit test of all the capacitors in a radio or
TV
set can be accomplished.
The knob at the left controls the functions of the instrument, with
steps in proper sequence for normal troubleshooting procedure. This
knob also turns on the instrument power. The 1400 panel has a power
indicator jewel in the lower right.
The large center dial is used for reading capacity values of elec-
trolytics, both in or out-of-circuit.
The indicating eye is at the upper right. Instructions for prop,er
interpretation of eye readings are printed right on the panel, just above
the eye window. This saves value troubleshooting time, and can reduce
the diagnosis of a difficult intermittent condition to mere seconds.
The co-axial cable test lead, with fully insulated test clips, is per-
manently
connected to the instrument and stores conveniently in the
compartment below the chassis along with the cheater line cord. Tests
for SHORTS, OPENS, and ELECTROLYTIC VALUES can be made
either in-circuit or out-of-circuit without changing test leads or clips.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Preliminary
4.
1. Always make tests on a receiver which is disconnected from the
power line.
2. ' Make sure capacitors being tested are fully discharged first. Any
charge on capacitors can give erroneous test results and may
damage
the Model 1400.
3.
Plug the Model 1400 into 117V. A.C. power line and rotate left
hand knob to the position marked SHORTS. Power jewel will
glow and eye indicator bars will glow.

TEST FOR SHORTS
1. With the function switch set to test for SHORTS, connect the in-
sulated cli~ across the capacitor to be tested, and observe the
indicator tube on your 1400 panel.
2. If the capacitor is not shorted, the bars will remain open. If the
capacitor is shorted, the bars will clos e.
3. The
results shown by your Model 1400 are accurate whether the
capacitor under test is in-circuit or out-of-circuit. Circuit shunt
resistances and shun t coils with as little as 6 Ohms impedance
will not affect the accuracy of the test.
TEST FOR OPENS
1. Rotate the function switch to the position marked OPENS. Con-
nect the insulated clips across the capacitor to be tested" and
observe the indicator eye on your 1400 Panel.
2. If the capacitor is not open the bars will remain open. If the
capacitor is open, the bars will close.
3. The nature of the high frequency test provided by the Model 1400
takes shunting components into account. Tests for OPENS will be
accurate whether made in-circuit or out-of-circuit.
ELECTROLYTIC VALUE TEST :
1. The test clips can be connected directly across any electrolytic
capacitor. Polarity is not important since the 1400 provides an
AC test signal of sufficiently low voltage so as not to damage
any
low-rated capacitor.
2. For multiple electrolytics, test each section separately. Connect
one test clip to the common negative terminal, and connect the
other test clip to each of the positive leads, one at a time.
Common
negative terminal is usually the can (or chassis ground)
for
metal-cased electrolytics, or the black wire in multi-section
tubular electrolytics.
5

3. Set the functien switch to. the proper range, either 2-40 Mfd. er
40-450 Mfd. depending en the value ef the electrolytic to. be
tested.
If the value is unknewn, try the higher range first, as the larger
values are mere cemmenly feund in TV sets and radies.
Ne harm can be dene if an electrelytic capacitor is tested en the
wrong range.
4. After
the test clips are cennected, rotate the main dial until the
indicater bars are at a minimum epening (barely teuching). The
peinter will then read the value (in microfarads) ef the electrolytic
capaciter.
Nete that a test fer SHORTS er fer OPENS may be made en an
electrolytic as well as en any ether capaciter. Hewever, if an
electrolytic capaciter shews a definite value in microfarads, it
is neither epen ner sherted, se ne further test is required.
5. If yeu cannet get the bars to. teuch, switch to. the ether electro-
lytic range and test fer value in exactly the same manner as de-
scribed in Step 4.
The ranges previded by the Model 1400 cever ever 99% ef all
elect rely tics in use teday.
6. Shunt resistances feund in mest electrelytic radio. and TV cir-
cuits are nermally high eneugh to. cause ne difficulty during
in-circuit testing.
6.
Where ne test can be ebtained en either range, check the sche-
matic diagram to. see if extremely lew shunt resistance is in
parallel with the electrelytic capaciter. Only en small capa-
citers (less than 10 Mfd.) is this cenditien to. be expected. In
such cases, an eut-ef-circuit test can readily be made by dis-
cennecting ene ef the capaciter leads.

TROUBLE SHOOTING WITH THE MODEL 1400
GENERAL
The Model 1400 provides a fast means of troubleshooting open,
shorted, or intermitten capacitors. To make a quick in-circuit check
of any small cap~citor, proceed as follows:
1. With test clips connected across the capacitor, switch to
SHORTS. If eye remains open, capacitor is good.
2. Without moving
the test clips, switch to OPENS. If eye remains
open, capacitor is good.
3.
If an intermittent condition exists, wiggle the capacitor during
each of the above tests; also try applying heat or cold, or tapping
on it, while watching the indicator bars. Any momentary closing
of the bars means the capacitor is defective.
TV TROUBLESHOOTING
Refer to TV Schematic to locate the following capacitors for quick
check with the Model 1400:
Circuit
Trouble
Capacitors to Test
Vertical Unstable sync.
· Integrator network
· Timing network
• Wave-shaping circuit
• Feed back network
Sound Poor quality Ratio detector electro-
lytic
Horizontal Poor sync. or no
All capacitors in duo-
raster
diode Hor. AFC circuit
(weak high voltage)
· Coupling capacitors to
hotiz. output tube
· Horiz. drive (wave-shaping)
capacitor
• Horiz. Lin. Coil by-pass
capacitors
7.

Circuit Trouble Capacitors to Test
Power Supply Narrow raster All power supply
electrolytics
Boost filter capacitor
Tuner Blank raster,
All ceramic oscillator
no sound capacitors
Tuner B + by-pass
capacitors
Tuner AGC capacitors
Sync.
No sync,
Sync clipper input
I
9-
weak sync
capacitor
Sync separator screen
by-pass and plate
coupling capacitors
Color Killer No color Blocking capacitor in
(Col or TV) (Black-and- ~ blanker circuit
White O.K.)
Capacitors in killer de-
tector network or phase
.
detector network .
Capacitors in burst os-
cillator or reactance
stages
Col or Matrix Cannot achieve
Input coupling capacitors
(Color TV)
black-and-white
to color difference amps.
picture
Input capacitors to color
(discoloration)
CRT grids
By-pass capacitors in "X"
or "2" demodulators
-,
8

HI-FI STEREO, UHF, FM, AND FM MULTIPLEX TROUBLESHOOTING
Circuit
Trouble
Capacitors to Test
Audio Output Distortion (one Or Coupling capacitors to
(Monaural or both channels) output stage grids
Stereo)
Cathode by-pass electro-
lytics.
Audio Amp.
Low volume All audio coupling
(Monaural Or capacitors
Stereo)
Volume control network
capacitors
Bass or treble network
capacitors
Multiplex Poor L-R All caps. in tuned filter
Separation network
(FM)
Coupling capacitors in
L + Rand L - R mixer
stages
. .
Inverter stage network
capacitors
Multiplex
Only one Shorted deemphasis
channel
capacitor
(FM) operative
Open coupling capacitor
in L +R or L - R channel
Open electrolytic input
capacitor to Lo-Pass network
Converter No UHF re-
Heater decoupling capacitors
(U.H.F.)
ception
B + decoupling network
capacitors
All capacitors in tuning
network
9

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MODEL 1400 IN-CIRCUIT CAPACITOR TESTER