I BUILT AN IN-HOUSE CABLE SYSTEM TO RUN MY RESTORED SETS FROM A SINGLE SOURCE. ALL I DID WAS MAKE A SERIES OF SPLITTERS AND TIE IT INTO THE VCR (WHICH I JUST USE FOR A TUNER) I ADDED A SIGNAL BOOSTER SINCE VCR'S WEREN'T DESIGNED TO FEED MULTIPLE SETS. THIS ARRANGEMENT WORKS VERY WELL. NOT ONLY DO I HAVE A SIGNAL FOR THE RESTORED SETS, BUT I HAVE ONE FOR THE BENCH. I CAN RUN UP TO 16 SETS FROM THIS SETUP.
FOR POWER, I USE POWER STRIPS. SINCE I RENT CURRENTLY, I CAN'T DO ANY REWIRING (UNLESS I WANT THE LANDLADY TO KILL ME). IF YOU CAN, YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT YOUR SETS ON A DEDICATED CIRCUIT. REGARDLESS, YOU WANT A WAY TO SHUT OFF ALL SETS AT THE SAME TIME (EXCEPT YOUR DESIGNATED DAILY WATCHER). I ONLY HAVE TWO 15 AMP CIRCUITS IN THE LIVING ROOM. PROBLEM IS, THEY TIE INTO THE UPSTAIRS AS WELL. I CAN RUN 7 BEFORE I START TRIPPING BREAKERS. I WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE AND HAVE TWO SEPERATE POWER STRIPS ON THE TWO DIFFERENT CIRCUITS. WHAT I REALLY WANT IS AT LEAST ONE COLOR SET PER BLOCK. THE KITCHENETTE IS ON ITS OWN, BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO RUN AN EXTENTION CORD. I WILL IF I HAVE TO. YOUR OUTLETS MUST BE WIRED PROPERLY. IF HOT AND NEUTRAL ARE REVERSED, THE HOT CHASSIS FIX IS USELESS. YOU DID FIX THE HOT CHASSIS PROBLEM... DID YOU, ARE YOU BULLSHITTING ME?
I HAVE TO BE PRACTICAL AS I DISPLAY THE SETS. WITH A SMALL PLACE LIKE MINE, ARRANGEMENT IS CRITICAL. I HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VERTICAL SPACE. THAT MEANS STACKING SETS. SOME OF MY FLOOR MODELS ARE ACTUALLY LIGHTWEIGHT. OTHERS WILL PUT ME IN TRACTION FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. THIS COULD MAKE FOR AN INTERESTING DISPLAY.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER:
MOUNTING FEET ON MANY TABLETOPS MAY BE RUSTY OR MAY HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE NAIL OR SCREW THAT HOLDS THEM ON, OR MAY BE MISSING ENTIRELY. I USE CHEAP SCREW-IN REPLACEMENTS FROM A HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE. SOMETIMES, I MAY USE PIECES OF CARDBOARD UNDER THE FEET. SINCE I HAVE NOT REFINISHED ANY CABINETS YET, THIS IS REALLY NOT AN ISSUE.
IF THE CABINET HAS WHEELS, MAKE SURE THE SHAFTS ARE LUBRICATED, BUT NOT TO THE POINT WHERE LUBRICANT GETS ON THE CARPET.
PETS CAN BE A PROBLEM. DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO TO KEEP THEM FROM BITING CORDS, PISSING BEHIND THE SETS, ETC.
I DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN NEAR MY SETS. DO THEY HAVE THE SENSE TO SHUT OFF A SET IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG? DO THEY KNOW NOT TO PLUG IN AN UNRESTORED SET AND TRY IT OUT?
I ONLY RUN MY RESTORED SETS ABOUT 2 HOURS A WEEK. THIS IS TO KEEP THE ELECTROLYTICS IN TOP SHAPE AND TO PRESERVE THE CRT'S.
NEVER PLAY AN OLD SET UNATTENDED. WHAT IF A PROBLEM CROPS UP? YOU DID ADD FUSES, RIGHT? DO YOU REALLY WANT THAT FLYBACK IN YOUR RCA CTC(WHATEVER) TO START BURNING THROUGH AND EVENTUALLY DESTROY IT?
THIS PAGE IS JUST SUGGESTION. DISPLAY YOUR SETS AS YOU WISH. THIS IS HOW I DO IT. I WILL ADD SOME PICS AS I REDO THE DISPLAY.