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Author Topic: could a dying CRT be dangerous?  (Read 2133 times)

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ericball

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could a dying CRT be dangerous?
« on: June 21, 2021, 01:21:45 pm »
Many years ago I squeezed a decased IBM P200 (19.1" viewable, 1600 x 1280 at 60 Hz) into the Tempest cabinet I salvaged.  While I never 100% completed the project, I've been using it to process MAME ROMsets.  But it looks like the monitor is dying:
  • top (actually left side) has pincushion distortion
  • the screen extends off the bottom (actually right side), might have some distortion too
  • occasionally & randomly the screen flickers
Given the monitor is ~15 years old, I suspect some of the capacitors etc are going.  However the flickering has me a little worried that something could be arcing (although I don't hear or smell anything) which would be a potential fire hazard.

Yes, I probably could / should replace it with an LCD.  (I even have a spare Dell 2007 which has similar specs).  However, the look of a CRT is significantly closer to the original color vector monitor and that beast was a pain to get in the cabinet so will probably be even more difficult to get out.

MAME Projects % completed:
2004 3 sided cocktail cabinet w/ modular CP <25% (discarded)
2004 Tempest cabinet & CP > 75% (sold)
2017 Raspberry Pi Zero W w/ Lakka microconsole 50%
2021 Vertical Bartop - in progress > 80%, 100% functional (sleeping)

bobbyb13

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Re: could a dying CRT be dangerous?
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2021, 06:28:00 pm »
Run it in a dark room and look for a fireworks show!

If it isn't arcing due to anode wire insulation problems then I can't imagine it being dangerous unless you mess with the high voltage stuff without discharging it properly.

Definitely sounds like it needs some capacitor work though.
Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools! I can fix it.