Fitting an Alinco Lamp
                             ======================

    The  display lamps on the Alinco ALR-22 last about 2 years average  use.
    In  view  of  that fact, I think Alinco could have made it  just  a  bit
    easier  to replace them. As it is, it is a task requiring major  surgery
    and  some  manual dexterity, but it can be done by anyone who can use  a
    soldering  iron with proficiency ! Should you wish to do this job,  here
    are some notes which may help -


    1. Obtain 2 miniature wire-ended lamps 12V 60mA (Tandy).

    2. Remove 8 screws securing top & bottom covers.

    3. Remove  top cover. Carefully remove bottom cover, taking care not  to
       rip the terminals off the loudspeaker. Unsolder the speaker wires.

    4. Remove  the  volume, squelch & channel change knobs. A tip for  doing
       this  is to wind a few turns of nylon cord around the spindles behind
       the knobs, then gently pull. This won't damage the knobs.

    5. Remove the nuts securing the volume/squelch pot and channel switch.

    6. Remove 4 screws (2 top, 2 bottom) securing the front panel.

    7. Gently  pull  the  front  panel forward, taking care  not  to  damage
       cables.

    8. Remove  2  Philips screws holding the first "layer" of PC  board  and
       gently move the board to gain access to the mounting pillars.

    9. Remove  the  mounting  pillars. The front panel can  now  be  removed
       revealing the LCD display.

    A. Locate  4 metal lugs on LCD mounting frame. Gently bend them so  that
       the frame can be removed. CARE REQUIRED !!

    B. Do  the  next bit CAREFULLY !! Remove the black PCB  mounting  frame.
       This will come away with the front glass. Place it to one side taking
       note  of which way up it goes. The frosted glass diffuser comes  away
       next, then a green colouring strip and a plastic backing sheet.

    C. The  lamps  will now be revealed. Unsolder the old lamps,  and  using
       these  as  a pattern, cut and bend the wires on the new lamps  taking
       care  not to bend the wires too close to the glass. Solder in the new
       lamps.

    D. Re-assemble the LCD display in reverse order. Make sure the lamps fit
       snugly  in  the recesses of the frosted diffuser, and that the  white
       plastic  backing sheet doesn't obscure the LCD connection pads on the
       edge of the PCB. CAREFULLY re-assemble the rest of the LCD display.

    E. At  this  point it's a good idea to apply power to the radio to  make
       sure that the lamps and the LCD display still work !

    F. If  all  is  well, re-assemble the radio using steps 9 through  1  in
       reverse order.

    If you're in doubt whether you could do this, LEAVE IT TO AN EXPERT ! It
    is tricky, but not impossible.

    Nick G6NHK @ GB7DDX

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    (Downloaded from GB7SYP)