Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

Just an FYI to those of you with a Microtek 120TF
or Polaroid Sprintscan 120, or those considering
buying one.

Microtek does not sell replacement bulbs, and
does not repair them any longer. They were kind
enough to offer a brand new unit to replace my
old one, for the special price US $1450. B&H
sells them for $50 more.

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

Recently, viewerofrecphoto <chasfs@yahoo,com > posted:

> Just an FYI to those of you with a Microtek 120TF
> or Polaroid Sprintscan 120, or those considering
> buying one.
>
> Microtek does not sell replacement bulbs, and
> does not repair them any longer. They were kind
> enough to offer a brand new unit to replace my
> old one, for the special price US $1450. B&H
> sells them for $50 more.
>
This sounds odd. What service options did they offer you?

Neil

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

On Aug 10, 8:39 pm, "Neil Gould" <n...@myplaceofwork,com > wrote:
> Recently, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > posted:
>
> > Just an FYI to those of you with a Microtek 120TF
> > or Polaroid Sprintscan 120, or those considering
> > buying one.
>
> > Microtek does not sell replacement bulbs, and
> > does not repair them any longer. They were kind
> > enough to offer a brand new unit to replace my
> > old one, for the special price US $1450. B&H
> > sells them for $50 more.
>
> This sounds odd. What service options did they offer you?
>
> Neil

No other options. Apparently they are no longer servicing
the 120TF. If you're under warranty, you probably get a new
replacement unit. If you're out of warranty, you can buy one for
the special price.

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

Microtek hasn't serviced scanners for a few years now. If it is under
warranty, they will replace it. If it is out of warranty, they will offer
you a discount based on a sliding scale. I have seen comments from people
confirming what Neil said in regard to the value of the discounts.

Doug
--
www .BetterScanning,com - Custom Film Holders and Accessories for Agfa,
Microtek and Epson Scanners

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

Recently, - <xvvvz@hotmail,com > posted:

> Microtek hasn't serviced scanners for a few years now. If it is under
> warranty, they will replace it. If it is out of warranty, they will
> offer you a discount based on a sliding scale. I have seen comments
> from people confirming what Neil said in regard to the value of the
> discounts.
>
> Doug
>
Actually, chasfs@yahoo,com made the comment, but I can confirm that this
is not a new practice, as Microtek sent a new replacement 120TF instead of
repairing mine about 1-1/2 years ago. Still, I thought manufacturers were
obligated to supply parts for a number of years (7?) under U.S. law and
some similar requirement in Europe. Anyone aware of the facts?

Neil

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

Neil Gould wrote:
> Recently, - <xvvvz@hotmail,com > posted:
>
>> Microtek hasn't serviced scanners for a few years now. If it is under
>> warranty, they will replace it. If it is out of warranty, they will
>> offer you a discount based on a sliding scale. I have seen comments
>> from people confirming what Neil said in regard to the value of the
>> discounts.
>>
>> Doug
>>
> Actually, chasfs@yahoo,com made the comment, but I can confirm that this
> is not a new practice, as Microtek sent a new replacement 120TF instead of
> repairing mine about 1-1/2 years ago. Still, I thought manufacturers were
> obligated to supply parts for a number of years (7?) under U.S. law and
> some similar requirement in Europe. Anyone aware of the facts?
>
> Neil

Well, if it was made in Detroit, Cleveland, Windsor, or Matamourous (I
think that's where Ford's Mexico plant is located)... they'd be
obligated to assure repair parts for 10 years after the end of the model
year.

I don't think there's any such law for manufacturers of electronics;
only that it can't cause interference with commercial radio/TV broadcasts.

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

On Aug 10, 2:03?pm, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > wrote:
> Just an FYI to those of you with a Microtek 120TF
> or Polaroid Sprintscan 120, or those considering
> buying one.
>
> Microtek does not sell replacement bulbs, and
> does not repair them any longer.

Is the bulb visible enough to determine the bulb type? There are many
CFL bulbs, I think they call them, available. Are you able to replace
the bulb yourself?

Bob AZ

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

On Aug 13, 12:04 am, Bob AZ <rwatson...@aol,com > wrote:
> On Aug 10, 2:03?pm, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > wrote:
>
> > Just an FYI to those of you with a Microtek 120TF
> > or Polaroid Sprintscan 120, or those considering
> > buying one.
>
> > Microtek does not sell replacement bulbs, and
> > does not repair them any longer.
>
> Is the bulb visible enough to determine the bulb type? There are many
> CFL bulbs, I think they call them, available. Are you able to replace
> the bulb yourself?
>
> Bob AZ

I opened it up and found a CCFL tube, about 2.7mm diameter by 92mm
long.
The closest I can find is
http :// www .digikey,com /scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=289-1004-ND

Its under $20, so what the heck we'll give it a shot.

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

Recently, viewerofrecphoto <chasfs@yahoo,com > posted:

> On Aug 13, 12:04 am, Bob AZ <rwatson...@aol,com > wrote:
>> On Aug 10, 2:03?pm, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > wrote:
>>
>>> Just an FYI to those of you with a Microtek 120TF
>>> or Polaroid Sprintscan 120, or those considering
>>> buying one.
>>
>>> Microtek does not sell replacement bulbs, and
>>> does not repair them any longer.
>>
>> Is the bulb visible enough to determine the bulb type? There are
>> many CFL bulbs, I think they call them, available. Are you able to
>> replace the bulb yourself?
>>
>> Bob AZ
>
> I opened it up and found a CCFL tube, about 2.7mm diameter by 92mm
> long.
> The closest I can find is
>
http :// www .digikey,com /scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=289-1004-ND
>
> Its under $20, so what the heck we'll give it a shot.
>
Hmm. According to JKL, that bulb has an average rated lifespan of 40,000
hours.

http :// www .jkllamps,com /files/BF%203-20B.pdf

This would make me suspect a power component as the cause of the bulb not
lighting. With a starting voltage of over 400V, it might be hard to test
the bulb outside of the unit... any components on the circuit board
looking a little "cooked"?

Neil

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

On Aug 13, 3:11 pm, "Neil Gould" <n...@myplaceofwork,com > wrote:
> Recently, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > posted:
>
>
>
> > On Aug 13, 12:04 am, Bob AZ <rwatson...@aol,com > wrote:
> >> On Aug 10, 2:03?pm, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > wrote:
>
> >>> Just an FYI to those of you with a Microtek 120TF
> >>> or Polaroid Sprintscan 120, or those considering
> >>> buying one.
>
> >>> Microtek does not sell replacement bulbs, and
> >>> does not repair them any longer.
>
> >> Is the bulb visible enough to determine the bulb type? There are
> >> many CFL bulbs, I think they call them, available. Are you able to
> >> replace the bulb yourself?
>
> >> Bob AZ
>
> > I opened it up and found a CCFL tube, about 2.7mm diameter by 92mm
> > long.
> > The closest I can find is
>
> http :// www .digikey,com /scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=289-100...
>
> > Its under $20, so what the heck we'll give it a shot.
>
> Hmm. According to JKL, that bulb has an average rated lifespan of 40,000
> hours.
>
> http :// www .jkllamps,com /files/BF%203-20B.pdf
>
> This would make me suspect a power component as the cause of the bulb not
> lighting. With a starting voltage of over 400V, it might be hard to test
> the bulb outside of the unit... any components on the circuit board
> looking a little "cooked"?
>
> Neil

Its not an exact match - the original bulb is thinner and longer.
Microtek rated
the bulb for 6000 hours. The driver board looks pristine, so I figure
its easy enough
to solder in the new one and try it.

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

On Aug 14, 6:44 am, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > wrote:

> Its not an exact match - the original bulb is thinner and longer.
> Microtek rated
> the bulb for 6000 hours. The driver board looks pristine, so I figure
> its easy enough
> to solder in the new one and try it.

Please let us know of the results.

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

On Aug 14, 7:17 am, Noons <wizofo...@yahoo,com .au> wrote:
> On Aug 14, 6:44 am, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > wrote:
>
> > Its not an exact match - the original bulb is thinner and longer.
> > Microtek rated
> > the bulb for 6000 hours. The driver board looks pristine, so I figure
> > its easy enough
> > to solder in the new one and try it.
>
> Please let us know of the results.


I'm sorry to say, the new bulb did not make a difference. It does
light, sometimes, but after using it for a couple of scans, it goes
out and won't relight. Same behavior as the old bulb.

>From what I can tell, the driver board has 3 inputs, Ground, CTL and
+12, so its not as easy as replacing it with an off the shelf inverter
board.

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

Recently, viewerofrecphoto <chasfs@yahoo,com > posted:

> On Aug 14, 7:17 am, Noons <wizofo...@yahoo,com .au> wrote:
>> On Aug 14, 6:44 am, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > wrote:
>>
>>> Its not an exact match - the original bulb is thinner and longer.
>>> Microtek rated
>>> the bulb for 6000 hours. The driver board looks pristine, so I
>>> figure its easy enough
>>> to solder in the new one and try it.
>>
>> Please let us know of the results.
>
>
> I'm sorry to say, the new bulb did not make a difference. It does
> light, sometimes, but after using it for a couple of scans, it goes
> out and won't relight. Same behavior as the old bulb.
>
>> From what I can tell, the driver board has 3 inputs, Ground, CTL and
> +12, so its not as easy as replacing it with an off the shelf inverter
> board.
>
Sorry to hear that the easy solution wasn't the fix.

If I follow what you've described, that it works soon after you turn the
unit on, but soon stops working, it sounds as if there is a bad capacitor
in the lamp's trigger voltage circuit.

Thanks for the follow-up.

Regards,

Neil

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

On Sep 18, 10:09 pm, "Neil Gould" <n...@myplaceofwork,com > wrote:
> Recently, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > posted:
>
>
>
> > On Aug 14, 7:17 am, Noons <wizofo...@yahoo,com .au> wrote:
> >> On Aug 14, 6:44 am, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > wrote:
>
> >>> Its not an exact match - the original bulb is thinner and longer.
> >>> Microtek rated
> >>> the bulb for 6000 hours. The driver board looks pristine, so I
> >>> figure its easy enough
> >>> to solder in the new one and try it.
>
> >> Please let us know of the results.
>
> > I'm sorry to say, the new bulb did not make a difference. It does
> > light, sometimes, but after using it for a couple of scans, it goes
> > out and won't relight. Same behavior as the old bulb.
>
> >> From what I can tell, the driver board has 3 inputs, Ground, CTL and
> > +12, so its not as easy as replacing it with an off the shelf inverter
> > board.
>
> Sorry to hear that the easy solution wasn't the fix.
>
> If I follow what you've described, that it works soon after you turn the
> unit on, but soon stops working, it sounds as if there is a bad capacitor
> in the lamp's trigger voltage circuit.
>
> Thanks for the follow-up.

yeah, same feeling here...

Re: Microtek 120TF Scanner - no support

On Sep 18, 8:09 am, "Neil Gould" <n...@myplaceofwork,com > wrote:
> Recently, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > posted:
>
>
>
> > On Aug 14, 7:17 am, Noons <wizofo...@yahoo,com .au> wrote:
> >> On Aug 14, 6:44 am, viewerofrecphoto <cha...@yahoo,com > wrote:
>
> >>> Its not an exact match - the original bulb is thinner and longer.
> >>> Microtek rated
> >>> the bulb for 6000 hours. The driver board looks pristine, so I
> >>> figure its easy enough
> >>> to solder in the new one and try it.
>
> >> Please let us know of the results.
>
> > I'm sorry to say, the new bulb did not make a difference. It does
> > light, sometimes, but after using it for a couple of scans, it goes
> > out and won't relight. Same behavior as the old bulb.
>
> >> From what I can tell, the driver board has 3 inputs, Ground, CTL and
> > +12, so its not as easy as replacing it with an off the shelf inverter
> > board.
>
> Sorry to hear that the easy solution wasn't the fix.
>
> If I follow what you've described, that it works soon after you turn the
> unit on, but soon stops working, it sounds as if there is a bad capacitor
> in the lamp's trigger voltage circuit.
>
> Thanks for the follow-up.
>
> Regards,
>
> Neil

There are 2 caps on the driver board - one connects to the lamp output
and the transformer. Its labeled "1S 3KV SEC:". The "S" might be an
"8"

The other cap is near the input, between ground and +12V and is
labeled
".47uf 50V"