Scary sound, sparking in CRT neck - HELP! [RESOLVED]

[benll64]

Well, after months of planning and preparation, I finally got my hands on a brand new 19" CRT monitor. It's a Neotec, model NT-1000, built in April 2010. One of their last CRT models to be made. No isolation transformer needed.

Last night I plugged it in, hooked it up to my new ArcadeVGA card, and flipped the switch on my surge protector. I was greeted with a blank screen, a moment or two of silence, and then 10 seconds of a constant, loud, medium-pitched "screetching/nails-on-the-chalkboard/static/white noise" sound. I panicked and switched everything off.

I tried it again today, same thing. The room was much darker this time, though, and I noticed the CRT neck was not emitting a constant soft glow (like a traditional light bulb), but furiously sparking. As I sat and watched the pretty light show, it became obvious that the sparking lights in the neck were making the sound. It was like little bolts of lightning, but instead of moving randomly, they were all moving in the same, straight direction. I let it go for about 30 seconds - the sound never stopped, and I never got a picture of any kind. Also, my keyboard's lights flashed on and off the whole time. No beeps from the motherboard, though.

My theory is that the electric current is not even getting into the CRT itself, because there is absolutely no change in the front of the monitor during this whole process. You know the sounds a typical old TV makes when it starts up, even if there's no image, you can tell that it's on? I'm not getting that. Just the sparking/scratching sound from the neck.

I made up my own molex connectors for the power and the video signal cables on the monitor side. I followed Andy's diagram on Ultimarc's website to make my own VGA breakout cable.

Any ideas? Has anyone experienced this? It's a brand new monitor, so I'm really disappointed.

[Kevin Mullins]

Honestly.... sounds like the neck on the CRT is cracked. (crt has lost vacuum)
Is the arcing/sparking a blueish purple kind of color instead of the usual orange glow?

[benll64]

Crap, I was afraid of that. The sparking is definitely a purple-blue-white color. No "usual orange glow" at all.

Did it just come damaged from the factory due to careless shipping?

Could it be anything else.

Thanks, Kevin.

[Le Chuck]

You would have heard it if it broke when you were installing it.  I popped a CRT neck once and it sounded small bomb went off.  I'd contact the seller and send it back ricky-tick.  Hopefully they ship insured. 

[Kevin Mullins]

Yeah, you would have known if you had broken it. All it takes is a tiny hairline crack and the inrush of air is unmistakable. Sometimes bumping the neckboard too hard can cause it, especially during shipping.
But getting the seller to do anything about it....well, that's between you and them to work out.
From your description though I'm 99.9% certain that's what it is.

[BurgerKingDiamond]

just confirming. I've broken a tube before and there's no missing it. You'd know if you did it.

[ahofle]

Not to disagree with the experts here, but I actually experienced something similar with a CGA monitor I bought last year.  First time I plugged it in (it was pretty cold), I got the crackling sound and if memory serves me correctly, sparkling by the neck.  I did however get an image on it after it warmed up and the crackling eventually went away and the monitor was fine.
I assume you have hooked another monitor up to the AVGA just to make sure everything is good there?  Did you make your own VGA breakout cable?  I would also confirm that is good as well.  My CGA monitors emit a horrid high pitched noise when no signal is driving it.

[benll64]

Ya, I thought mine might need a "warm-up" period, but I let it go for a minute or so and it didn't get any better.

So, I got a flashlight and looked really closely, and sure enough, the neck glass was cracked.

Fortunately, I bought it from a local supplier, and they were really good about exchanging it. I'm up and running with a working, non-broken tube now!

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

[Kampfflieger]

NECRO BUMP

Do you have at hand the service manual or the schematics for that monitor? (NT-1000)

Thanks!!