In article <176d5cd49415c943$2252$1232167$c3d349d6@news.newsgroupdirect.com>,
archiverfprvhs <b5d2c1db9a2916c78b515df5f686ec6f@example.com> wrote:
>Hello, I am having problems with my AG1980, I found it at a thrift store in perfect working order (around start of 2023) and its been
>in my basement for a little while, I powered it back on, cleaning the heads and sensor, but the picture is very dark with TBC on (my
>go-to with 80s tapes) and without TBC the picture is still very dark compared to my other Panasonic PV-4651. And whenever I play a
>pre-recorded tape the screen is unbearable
>https://www.electrondepot.com/img/18v4
>https://www.electrondepot.com/img/18v6
>https://www.electrondepot.com/img/18v8

One site I ran across recently (a video-equipment repair and sales
site, don't remember the URL unfortunately) said that the AG1980 has a
fairly common age-related problem: bad capacitors. There are a bunch
of surface-mount electrolytic capacitors (many on the "color board")
which fail, and need to be replaced. Some realignment was also
recommended after the caps are replaced.

Given the age of the AG1980 it seems possible that the caps in question
might be some of those affected by the notorious stolen-electrolyte-
formula "capacitor plague". Or, they might be good caps which have simply
gotten old and reached the end of their useful lifetime (suffering
from increased ESR and reduced capacitance).

On Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:26:06 -0700, dplatt@coop.radagast.org (Dave
Platt) wrote:

>In article <176d5cd49415c943$2252$1232167$c3d349d6@news.newsgroupdirect.com>,
>archiverfprvhs <b5d2c1db9a2916c78b515df5f686ec6f@example.com> wrote:
>>Hello, I am having problems with my AG1980, I found it at a thrift store in perfect working order (around start of 2023) and its been
>>in my basement for a little while, I powered it back on, cleaning the heads and sensor, but the picture is very dark with TBC on (my
>>go-to with 80s tapes) and without TBC the picture is still very dark compared to my other Panasonic PV-4651. And whenever I play a
>>pre-recorded tape the screen is unbearable
>>https://www.electrondepot.com/img/18v4
>>https://www.electrondepot.com/img/18v6
>>https://www.electrondepot.com/img/18v8
>
>One site I ran across recently (a video-equipment repair and sales
>site, don't remember the URL unfortunately) said that the AG1980 has a
>fairly common age-related problem: bad capacitors. There are a bunch
>of surface-mount electrolytic capacitors (many on the "color board")
>which fail, and need to be replaced. Some realignment was also
>recommended after the caps are replaced.
>
>Given the age of the AG1980 it seems possible that the caps in question
>might be some of those affected by the notorious stolen-electrolyte-
>formula "capacitor plague". Or, they might be good caps which have simply
>gotten old and reached the end of their useful lifetime (suffering
>from increased ESR and reduced capacitance).
Check the electrocaps in the power supply with an ESR meter. They can
cause all kinds of video issues. Also, make sure the mechanism is well
lubed. The worm gear on the mode motor has a tendency to crack if
anything binds. The mode switch also corrodes and causes mechanism
problems.

I might just use an external TBC like a Panasonic DMR-ES20

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