Valentine's gift (or is it a shameless trick?)

[Kevin Kuehn]

Besides too much current, likely age and insulation breakdown played a good role. That part of the circuit is a harsh environment for electrical components.

Keep an eye out for these Pomona Cathode Current Test Adaptors. They come with common cathode pins interrupted. Use an analog VOM to monitor current. I didn't have a clue what they were intended for until I started working on my first TV.

Kevin