u/aridsoul0378

I’m trying to upcycle a Panasonic Ranger 505 portable TV. My goal is to use an ESP32 microcontroller and an RF modulator to generate custom graphics on the CRT.

I think I may have made things a little more difficult than I needed to. When I first started the project, I wasn’t planning on using the CRT, so I removed the motherboard, CRT, and transformer. Unfortunately, while I was removing the CRT, I damaged the flyback transformer and, in a moment of questionable judgment, snipped some of the wires.

Since I still have all of the original components, I’m hoping I might be able to put everything back together if I can find the correct replacement flyback transformer. The problem is that the only service manual I’ve been able to find for the Ranger 505 is for the European model.

I know the European model uses PAL while the U.S. model uses NTSC. However, since I would mainly be using the service manual to figure out how everything was originally wired and I wouldn’t be modifying the VHF/UHF tuner or other video circuitry on the motherboard, would the European service manual still be useful for figuring out the wiring?

I’m also planning to use an ESP32 to run the project and power everything from a DC power supply rather than using the original AC power arrangement.

Assuming I can find the correct replacement flyback transformer, is this TV realistically repairable using the European service manual as a wiring reference, or have I taken this project too far and should I just consider it a lost cause?

I’ve been working in television broadcasting for almost 20 years, but my current company is being bought out by another company. Ironically, I’ve actually worked for the company buying us before, and I’m not really interested in going back there again.

I have an associate degree in Advanced Mechatronics Engineering, and I’m thinking this could be a good opportunity to switch careers. I’m especially interested in getting into instrumentation and automation.

Before I start rewriting my resume and applying for jobs, I’m wondering if it makes sense to first look through job postings for the kinds of positions I’m interested in. My thinking is that it would help me get a better idea of the skills, experience, and keywords employers are looking for so I can include the right things on my resume.

Then after that, I could put together a more general industry-focused resume and tailor it to each company and job I apply for.

A few years ago I had to have my right middle finger amputated above the second knuckle. As a result whenever I'm using work gloves, I find that I get caught on things because of the empty space in the right middle finger of the glove. I typically use the work gloves that have the Palms dipped in the nitrile stuff for added grip. I am thinking about trying to modify a glove so that it only covers the stub of the middle finger but I am not sure how well the glove would take to being sown because of the nitrile coating on the palm. Is it possible to sew up the fabric if it's coated in something like nitrile or am I better off just finding a different type of glove that doesn't have the nitrile coating?