Is my monitor shagged?

[LeedsFan]

My Hanatrex monitor seems to work OK..... but only if I place a hairdryer in the back of the cab for about half an hour to warm everything up. My cab is currently in the outside garage and it's quite cold.  Whem I move house in the new year it will be coming indoors. But for now it's out there while I work on it.

If I try to switch on without warming up I get crackling noises and I can see bluey/purple sparks on the top of the tube. There is also a faint burning smell as well.  Not good! 

But like I say.... warm things up and everything seems OK. Should it be like this?

[Witchboard]

It's shagadellic baby...YEAH!  Sorry, couldn't help myself. 

I'm not sure what would cause sparking around the tube unless something was up with the deguasing coil.  I really only replied so I could say my first line.  One of the more monitor savvy fellas should drop in soon. 

[disaac]

The sparks can't be a good thing, but my monitor gets all out of focus when its cold.  It slowly comes back to focus when it warms up.  This is when I had it outside. 

Since I am still working on the outside of the cabinet, I yanked the monitor out and put it inside to keep it warm.

[proview]

Hello everyone.

@LeedsFan

It sounds as if it is just a condensation problem to me. I once left a TV that I had just transferred from another house in the car all night. When I took it inside the next day I could seen a slight 'sheen' over everything which was condensation. As soon as I switched on I had lights dancing everywhere. Once it had warmed up to room temperature it never had that problem again. I think the line about the hairdrier is the giveaway to your problem.

Regards to all

John.

[menace]

i think the post above has hit it.  Also make sure your anode cap is on securely--if not you get that free ozone maker effect 

[Ken Layton]

You do indeed have a moisture condensation problem and you could be damaging your monitor. Moisture (due to the temperature variations) is condensing under the rubber suction cup and going into the picture tube! Moisture and 20,000 volts do not mix! The arcing is actually etching into the glass and it is also eating away the rubber of the suction cup. If you continue to operate your monitor this way you will corrode the internal high voltage connection inside the 'hole' where the high voltage connector goes. The flyback will also be damaged. I know this from experience. My friend has an RV park location where the game room is an unheated metal pole building. The games sit in there in the winter and I've had to replace at least 3 flybacks because of this.

If the rubber suction cup gets to arcing enough if will catch fire inside your game and eventually burn your garage down!

First thing you need to do is heat that garage constantly to dry things out. Next get some 99% rubbing alcohol and some terrycloth rags. With the monitor power disconnected and the picture tube discharged of all high voltage, unhook the rubber suction cup, moisten a terrycloth rag with the 99% rubbing alcohol and carefully swab out the grooves that the arcing has created in the glass. Now use the alcohol and rag to clean off the rubber suction cup (both sides!). The rubber will likely have some etching tracks in it too so clean it real good. Look closely at the metal clip in the suction cup. This is what connects the high voltage to the tube. Is the metal still clean and shiny? if so, great you are finished and put everything back together and play your machine. If the metal clip is tarnished you're going to be ordering a new flyback.

[LeedsFan]

If the rubber suction cup gets to arcing enough if will catch fire inside your game and eventually burn your garage down!

First thing you need to do is heat that garage constantly to dry things out.

   This does not sound good at all!  But I'm glad it's only a condensation problem and nothing inherrently wrong with the monitor just now.

I cannot get any heating in the garage just yet. I'm actually moving on the 2nd / 3rd of January so I may wait till then.  Do you reckon that once indoors this problem will disappear?  And if so do I still need to go through  with your maintenance advice?

I understand what you mean Ken, but I really do not feel confident about messing with monitors.