Actually my Yamaha RX-530 still works just fine after 17 faithful years of service. What I need is the backlight bulb for the display. I ahd it replaced several years ago after a lightning strike, and the service place charged me a lot of money just to swap out a little bulb. Anyone have a clue where I can get one? Internet search hs yielded little result. If you can't tell me where to get it, can anyone tell what wattage and voltage it might be, and maybe I can get on at rat shack.

Is the bulb mounted in a socket or is it soldered in?

Since you're planning to fix yourself you need to remove it anyway. Take it to Radio Shack and compare it to what they have in stock. I have no idea what voltage it is. Only way I know of to tell is with a service manual.

I have a RX-V870 and it has blown the light again.

It is a real easy fix. Except you have to disconnect all your components and reconnect.

DO NOT TOUCH THE TRANSFORMER or what ever the huge thing is.

Remove the top and the light sits in a socket behind the display.

Just pull it out and clip the wires and take it to RatShack and get a new one. Then splice it back to the wires you cut.

I will tell you I did this but it blew the new bulb after a couple of weeks. My buddy told me I may need to step up to a higher watt/volt bulb.

I am currently trying to decide if I want to do it again.

My local Radio Shack was a strikeout as expected. The only thing these idiots in this particular store care about is selling cell phones to stupid people.

I live in San Antonio, and one of our big electronics stores is Bjorn's. I tried there and wanted to strangle the guy in customer service.

ME: "I see you sell and service Yamaha. I'd like to buy this bulb for my Yamaha receiver."

HIM: "We don't sell individual parts."

ME: "Do you think you could look up a part number for me?"

HIM: "We don't have access to part numbers. You might try contacting Yamaha direct."

ME convinced I was being stonewalled: "OK" [/lost future sale of any big ticket electronics]


It makes me wonder how they "service" anything when the "don't have access to part numbers."

By the way, Yamaha has one and only one parts distributor in the US. They have not returned my emails. I hate throw-away economies. I just want a GD $2 light bulb.

Burdizzo - your receiver is 17 years old! What do you really expect? The typical service shop would probably open it up, take the bulb out, measure the voltage going to it with a volt meter, and match it to a bulb on some online store like bulbs.com.

I guess I expect to be able to find some parts like a light bulb still in use, sort of like most of the parts I can still buy for my 37-year-old car. Hell, I can't even get anybody to tell me if the part is NLA (no longer available).

The bulb is probably still available. I bet it is a commodity part. I wouldn't be surprised if its the kind of thing that is still used in power plant control panels or some other long-lasting system.

It isn't a Yamaha unique thing. It's just that your receiver is probably not something that repair shops see now.

Burdizzo, I no what you mean about ratshack. They have the bulbs, they are in the sliding drawers near the antennas and vcr connections, etc...

If I remember correctly I used a 6V bulb and it blew after a couple of weeks, my buddy told me to try a 12V and see if it would last longer...

You might try altex also...