Philips MCD 288 Micro Theatre no picture/signal - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2025, 07:13:08 pm
content: Hi have a problem with Philips MCD288 Micro theatre it's a radio, cd, dvd and usb player with 2 speakers and a subwoofer Everything works bar the output of the picture to tv the disc reads and chapters come up and can skip to different parts of dvd and cd plus sound is coming from tv speakers and system speakers but no picture just getting no signal on tv. I have tried different leads but no joy there is 2 options for video output but none are giving me a picture. What can be stopping the picture signal to the TV ? Thank you for any info and help

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2025, 07:33:34 pm
content: Service manual attached for the version with VGA out.There is also a version with an HDMI out. I don't have the manual but it might be somewhere out there.Time to use the screwdrivers!

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2025, 06:30:38 pm
content: Thanks for the service manual Swake, just a bit of update sound is better with cds rather than dvds on tv but on both only one channel, this is with the output to video box and on other channel on av output but that could be the leads so I would say only one output on 1 channel, both speakers are good on unitSo at moment output to tv has no video signal and only 1 channel for audio on both av outputs [ Mini Din 9 Pin and 3.5 to RCA phono plugs ]

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2025, 07:27:10 am
content: The words 'video box' triggered me as I did not understand what you meant. So had a quick look. There are some surprises in that thingWhat looks like a VGA connector is not VGA at all but used to connect the sub-woofer. The power amplifier for the L & R speakers is in the sub-woofer box. The cinch audio outputs are... speaker level outputs! The video box is just a passive adapter for the signals on that PS2 connector.The sound circuit is pretty much using all different components from the video signal except for one thing and that is the PS2 connector.There were multiple video standards in that time both for the signals and the connections and the connectors. Player and TV have to match (PAL/SECAM/NTSC/RGB/YUV/SCART/S-Video/Sync methods/...). Verify that the TV supports the correct signal type, make sure it is on the correct input and setting, ensure the used cables are proper quality (no pins oxidised or bent). Eventually try using the SCART connection, that is frequently the easiest one to debug with the right cable having all the pins connected.

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2025, 11:19:51 am
content: TV is LG M1931D which has Red Blue and Green don't have the orginal video box connector but bought a Mini Din 9 pin connector to RCA red white yellow phono plugs connected to scart on TV this might not be right. The Mini Din 9 pin output is more suited to Red Green Blue connections have belled out the pins and the pins go to to correct connections pin 4 to Composite Video and Pins 8 and 9 to Left and Right Audio not sure if philips setup is same but the av cable to the same scart should work but not getting signal just sound on 1 channel

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2025, 01:10:47 pm
content: According to the service manual the RGB pins on that mini-din connector are pins 9,8 and 7 respectfully. You might want to check with a multimeter if your cable complies with that.Else you might have more luck with pin 3 CVBS = Composite video, also know as the 'yellow cinch'.

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2025, 01:54:33 pm
content: Thanks again Swake if going with the 9 pin setup which pins are video and audio left and right and which is the video and audio on the av cable while on subject the av cable 3.5 there is 4 spots on that plug and getting mixed reports on internet the right way as in the tip is number 4 and says video yet on another plug it says in at the base of the shaft number 1 is video I was always led to believe that the tip was video then audio audio and then ground .Thank again

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2025, 02:09:41 pm
content: I have a great selection of av cables and its unbelieveable how many thats different so I'm hopefull I will get one that will suit this system will try them out and will update

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2025, 02:24:16 pm
content: On a jack connector it is custom to define the base as ground. And the tip as pin 1. It is not always like that but most of the time.According to the service manual pin 4 is ground and that would be the base, this sounds good. There is something that looks like a small ground plane on the PCB that is connected to the base of the jack connector, this is again confirmation that the base is ground.

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2025, 05:19:37 pm
content: Hi Swake, your picture of the Mini Din 9 Pin is not the same as the Philips it has 3 pins at the top nearly in line with the middle 4 but there's a space between pins 7 & 8.No joy connection to TV good as I tried a video player and dvd player all work the Av cable 3 different configuations no joy and even tried the audio cables in case the signal was on that pin but no good the Mini Din 9 pin cable is not the orignal its a Genesis 2 cable with pin 4 comp video and pin 8&9 audio no joy with that either the Philips Mini theatre might be a different output pins to the Genesis 2 cable

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 05:48:01 pm
content: Right I think I've worked out the pins on both Av socket and Min din 9 pin socket if its right thats why I'm not getting a video signalThink the av male plug is not long enough it needs to be 17mm long its an oddball one but its out there 1=tip video 2= audio 3= audio and 4 =Ground. Normal 15mm don't reach the last connectionMini Din 9Pin Pin1=Blue, Pin2=Green, Pin3=Red, Pin4=19.9, Pin5=RGBsw, Pin6=DVD L, Pin7=CVBS, Pin8=SPIDF, Pin= DVD RSo need to find a 3.5 4 pole plug 17mm long and either a Mini Din 9Pin lead and modify it to suit or a solder Male Plug

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 05:31:54 pm
content: After solving the no signal problem I now have a faulty transformer finding it very hard to source a replacement but it have to be at the right price as the system is old but would like to try and get it going again Its a Toroidal Transformer with primary 230v input and 24v,16v and 6v secondary outputs with the NRE 403D-12 / LVDO21875 description on it. Any help would be grateful. Thank you

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 06:32:48 pm
content: Hi Everyone the Toroidal transformer is blown was able to find the fault and the windings is blown have tried so source another Transformer with 3 Outputs 24v, 16v and 6v but can't find one, if I was able to put in 2 or 3 EI Transformers would that work as the 3 voltages can be linked to a connector just the sizing of the Transformers I would need help with. Can anyone help if this can be done Thank you

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 06:56:18 pm
content: Yes that will work, you need to find transformers that correspond to the power level of the winding you replace of course.If it is a secondary winding that is broken you only have to replace that one.Manually rewinding the transformer can be done too. Takes some patience, toroidal is the easiest one.

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 07:20:20 pm
content: Hi Swake No its the Primary side and its deep more or less in the core and 2 or 3 pieces have come out badly damaged I know the voltage I need its the power needed Im not sure if that makes sense

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 10:27:03 pm
content: 4 secondary windings, 2 single and 2 double.You can't go too big, but you can go too small.Rough estimate:Looks like the schematic shows 4A fuses on both 16V windings -> 2 x 4 x 16 = 128 VA16,5V has a single 2A fuse -> 2 x 16,5 = 33VA6.5V no fuse but mention standby/ecopower. That must be something small, maybe 5VA?24V no fuses, Looks like they made a delay on power on for the main amp with this and it powers the VF display. So fairly low power too. Let's say 12VA.

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 05:58:03 am
content: Thanks again Swake much appreciated for your help

author: jnics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 05:27:16 pm
content: Between one thing and another I've decided to buy a toroidal transformer with dual output and rewind some of the secondary windings as the EI transformers option I need too many of them for all the outputs have kept the orignal windings so hopefully the voltage ends up the same. If anyone has any input on this way or if its wrong please let me know. Thank you again for any info.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 05:34:57 pm
content: Keep in mind you need to keep the same number of windings in the same configuration. You might be tempted to join for example the 2x16V and the single 16,5V but that is going to end in smoke on the electronics side.Make a limited number of turns and measure the voltage, then extrapolate to have the exact value you want.