Demagnetizer

[moviebuff2]

Hi

I have a tape demagnetizer for cassette tape player. The whole apparatus looks just like a normal cassette tape. The demagetizer functions on a small battery. On one side of the demagetizer, there is a led to indicate the battery level; on the other, there is a short instruction.

My question is: how should I insert the demagnetizer into the cassette player. Should the side with the led face out (or up for horizontal loading) or should the side with instruction face out?

Thanks

[ROF]

It shouldn't matter but maybe the instructions say something?

[moviebuff2]

Hi

The instruction does not say anything about how to insert the demagnetizer. The only things it says are 1) to lower all volumes to zero and 2) not to wear headphone while demagnetizing.

[ROF]

Those should be more than instructions, especially the headphones. The noises the demagnetizer will produce as it passes over the heads could do more damage to your hearing than the music kids listen to today. The demagnetizer cartridge should be reversible meaning it shouldn't matter which side faces outward.

[Kurt S]

It doesn't matter which way you insert it.

The way those cassette devices work is to put a wire coil in a small mount that snugs up against the record/playback head. When you press the play button the head moves forward pressing up against the coil mount. this coil mount moves back and triggers a switch which then activates a circuit that start out with a very strong signwave signal (I think it's around 1 or 2 Khz) and decreases rapidly thus demagnitizing the head.

[moviebuff2]

Thanks.

Now I understand why there is no instruction such as "load cassette this way only".

I used to use it until I got a 2-prong head demagnetizer. I like this one better and have been using it for many years. Consequently, I forgot how I used the first one.

[levick]

The two prong versions are better in fact! Depending on the cassette mech, you also need to deguass the capstan and erase head, and any steel guide rods if fitted....