Washed out picture on Zaxxon

[acevedor2]

Hey guys, got my Zaxxon cab this weekend.  It's actually in pretty good shape.  Monitor is not burned in, but looks a little washed out - almost as if you were wathcing a monitor with the brightness turned up.  it just isn't sharp the way it should be.  Any ideas on why it is like that.

Additionally both it and the Neo Geo cab I picked up this weekend seem to only have a 2 prong power plug.  I can't really tell if the third prong has been cut off.  Is this normal, or should they all have three prongs? 

[modessitt]

Try adjusting your focus and brightness controls, as well as your color pots to see if you can get the picture sharper and with better contrast.  Didn't see a monitor type in your post.....   j/k

You should also check to see if a cap kit has been installed recently.  If there is dust on your caps, then probably not and you should do this first when dealing with monitor issues if it hasn't been done in a while.

As far as your plug.....some older games didn't have the 3-prong plugs, and some have been replaced by prior owners with whatever was lying around.  It's probably a good idea to go ahead and replace it with a 3-prong plug, attaching the green ground wire to your cabinet grounding straps if the game doesn't have an obvious place to attach it.

[acevedor2]

Thanks I'll try those.  I am not even sure where all of those adjustments are but I'll figure it out.  I am brand new at this.  The cab is original and it doesn't look like the monitor has EVER been touched.  Would a cap kit help this out?  I don't have any experience doing it but it can't be too diifcult - can it?

The monitor is an WG 4675.

[modessitt]

First - read up on how to properly discharge a monitor or this could be your last attempt to fix a monitor.

Second - Yes, a cap kit could fix the washed out colors.  I would also add that messed up colors could also be a sign that you needto degauss the monitor.

Third - WG6475 isn't the monitor type, but a part # of a piece of the monitor assembly.  Check the first sticky on this forum for links to the two monitor ID sites.  You'll find it labeled:  "Read this first before posting in this forum".

Fourth - if you have moderate soldering skills and can recognize polarity marking both on the board and the part, then a cap kit is not that difficult, just a little time-consuming.  If you have access to one, a rejuvenator will also help brighten your colors.

Bear in mind that it is not uncommon after a cap kit to have to readjust the brightness and contrast/color pots to get a good picture.  Your monitor was used to working with the "old" caps and will need to be reset to the ranges provided by your "new" caps.

[acevedor2]

Awesome info - thanks.  I had read about discharging the monitor, in addtion to reading what the wiki had to say and then searching the BYOAC for any info specific to my symptoms.  Can't believe I missed the sticky.    Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.  I will post pics and model numbers of the monitor as soon as I get a chance to get them (the next day or two).  Thanks again for all the help.
Cheers.

[SirPeale]

Third - WG6475 isn't the monitor type, but a part # of a piece of the monitor assembly.  Check the first sticky on this forum for links to the two monitor ID sites.  You'll find it labeled:  "Read this first before posting in this forum".

Actually, I bet he's got a K4600 series monitor.

[modessitt]

Maybe.  Depends on if it's an original monitor or not.  Last 3 Zaxxon cabs I've worked on had G07's though.