HeNe laser PSU

[colouredmirrorball]

I borrowed a HeNe laser from dad's work. After a few hours of happy lasing the PSU broke down. As it is a borrowed unit I should replace the PSU. I have no clue about how it works, I'm a complete n00b when it comes to gas lasers. I am pretty sure the fault is with the PSU but what parts? Shortly after the breakdown, I could hear some sparks but nothing happened. When I first put it on before the breakdown, there were no sparks. After a few days the laser needed several sparks to start and now it doesn't do anything. There seems to be something glowing inside the PSU but I can't say what it is due to my limited knowledge. Also, "something" is leaking an oil kind of liquid.

This is a very old unit. It was mainly used for the demonstration of gas lasers. The producer is the Compagnie Belge des Lasers. A quick Google search had no results, that producer is probably gone for a long time.

I could simply replace the PSU with a cheap one from Ebay but I don't know what model I should use or how to connect it.
Pictures will follow within a few minutes.

[flecom]

sounds like a bad capacitor, normal aging

[shrad]

electrolytics of such an age often leak sulphuric-acid based liquid, brown-yellowish, smelling bad and leaving a greasy feeling on the fingers... relax as it is not nasty, but it could oxydate the circuitry and the surrounding components, so it would be better to replace it

if you need a vintage replacement capacitor, I may have one in my drawers, and it would be cheap as hell to repair the PSU while keeping the old style

[colouredmirrorball]

if you need a vintage replacement capacitor, I may have one in my drawers, and it would be cheap as hell to repair the PSU while keeping the old style

Thanks for your help guys!
That sounds interesting shrad, do you go to the Lighttown Lem?
I only have pictures of the head, not of the PSU so it wouldn't be of much interest. The laser is temporarily unavailable so I can't take new ones.

[shrad]

unfotrunately I don't go to that LEM, and it would be difficult to go (still no car, driving lessons in progress...)

if you can tell me which value you need (and if it really is a blown capacitor), I can check and send you a capacitor quickly

[-bart-]

I'll be there and will have a look.
Can you post a picture with the internals?
Then I'll know what I'm up against.

[colouredmirrorball]

I don't know if I will be allowed to bring it. It is a borrowed unit.

[-bart-]

Correction: it's a broken borrowed unit.
Only by bringing it, it won't get worse than that.

[jeejeedr]

Correction: it's a broken borrowed unit.
Only by bringing it, it won't get worse than that.

If he does't drop it

[jeejeedr]

If needed, I have a spare hene power supply. If you cannot fix it, remember me about it when we go to the LEM.

edit: what power is the hene?