exploding tv

[tikbalang]

i had a 14" tv explode in my car last year when i was on a 6hour road trip. it was not a fiery explosion, just a very loud thud, and because i was driving slowly through rough road, i thought a big rock hit the car underneath. what was weird was i felt "wind" on my arms even though the windows were closed.

the tv was on the the floor below the rear/right seats. i didn't want it on the seats because it might bounce once i got on the rocky road. nothing looked broken on the tv. i didn't know it was damaged until the owner told me about it. it was fixed locally but a slight discoloration remained on the screen.

what could have caused this? what's the safe way to transport unboxed tv's?

i'm going to the same place again at the end of the month, in the same car, this time with MY tv.

[Zebidee]

Wow.

You should only transport CRTs by putting them ON the seat, glass towards the back, preferably with the seat belt on.  Front seat is usually best.

ESPECIALLY on a bumpy road. 

[Level42]

No, no glass NOT towards the back, but ON the seat !

People always think wrong about transporting TVs/Monitors. The FRONT (where you see the picture) is the strongest part of the whole TV/monitor. Its also the heaviest part. Put the TV with the picture screen on the SEAT. Put a cloth or something under it, so that safetybelt (holders) cant scratch the screen.
Also, because the heaviest part is now lowest, it's ver stable.

CRT's don't EXplode, but IMplode because there's a vacuum inside. This could well explain the "wind" you felt.

[kelemvor]

As long as the glass is facing some part of the seat, I think you're good.  I always put it so the bottom is on the bottom and the glass is facing into the back of the seat.  Never had a problem but I don't think I've transported TVs very often.

[Zebidee]

Done it more times than I care to remember ....... 

They are designed to sit stably on their bottoms, so that is the most obvious place for them to sit.  If you put the screen down, you may damage something else like front-mounted control widgets.  Seatbelt is to counter any forward momentum from a sudden stop etc.  Front seat is best because they usually have lap-sash seatbelts, which secure the top better (any serious momentum will likely cause the CRT to want to roll forward, top moving first, so securing the top is important).

[Level42]

Yes and that is why transporting them ON the screen is the best since it WON'T top over...but hey, here is someone speaking who used to move his computer monitors about every week to go to computerfairs.

If you have a TV that is SO ancient that it has physical controls that are sticking out, than I doubt it's still worth moving at all

[Level42]

Done it more times than I care to remember ....... 

They are designed to sit stably on their bottoms, so that is the most obvious place for them to sit. 

No. They were designed to show you a picture. It's a bit hard to see the picture when it's laying on the screen. The glass screen is the biggest and heaviest part of the TV. Try lifting a tv on the back end only, see how quickly it will top over. This may not be the case with TV's from the stone-age that had massive metal chassis with heaps of PCB's and maybe even tube's inside. But have you opened a bit modern TV recently. It's just a large CRT with one tiny, light weight PCB somewhere on the bottom.

[Zebidee]

... But have you opened a bit modern TV recently. ...

Mate, I just filled up a 3 cubic metre rubbish-skip with mostly TV carcasses.  And I've been moving large numbers of CRT monitors around since the '80s for LAN tournaments, with other IT professionals, back before internet was big.

I'm not trying to have an argument, but I do know what I'm talking about.  You do what you want with your TVs, just leave mine alone.

[Spyridon]

what's the safe way to transport unboxed tv's?

If travelling on a Saturday or Sunday, I'd recommend sitting the TV on the dash slightly angled toward the driver with the channel tuned to football.   

[xar256]

When I have a choice, I travel with the tv/monitor face down on a soft moving blanket. (The blanket to protect against scratches on the glass).  You can also sit facing a seat and belt them in, but I prefer Level42's way...It's a little more idiot proof, plus it takes extra stress away from the weakes point of the entire set...The neck.

IF the tv was rattling around enough, I guess I could see the little circuit board attached to the neck vibrating enough that it MIGHT break the end off the tube...But I've transported literally hunderes to tv's and monitors unboxed, and have never seen it. 

And frankly, to actually feel a draft from a broken tube, it must've snapped clean off, a small crack wouldn't move enough air from a 14" tube for you to feel anything, especially from the back of the car.

i didn't know it was damaged until the owner told me about it. it was fixed locally but a slight discoloration remained on the screen.

This just stikes me as odd.  Whenever I've broken the vacuum on a tube, I can usually see some indication on the fron to of the tube...But I guess anything is possible.  However, fixing it requires an entirely new picture tube...If there is discoloration, and the tube has been replaced, I'd go back to that repair shop and find out what's up...Cause it's certainly not fixed right.

Frankly, I'd say if you did manage to break the tube, it was probably just a stroke of bad luck.

[weasel-like_animal]

I've always transported them with screen facing rear of seat, right side up, seatbelted in, with soft padding all around. No problems yet! (this includes computer monitors) I think keeping the mass toward the rear/bottom is your best bet. Keep the screen side low and rear. Might also help to have the seat bottom on an incline if it adjusts that way so the set is in more of a "V".

[tikbalang]

the tv was not rattling around in the car, i put rolled up magazines around the base. besides, i was creeping very slowly on the bad parts of the road. there was no rattling inside the tv when i lifted it out, like breakage or something coming loose. i'm sure there was no major part replaced, it was cheaply fixed, otherwise the owner would have charged me for it.

i was puzzled by all this, too. that's why i posted this. i was waiting for someone to confirm it was a freak static discharge, and have a way prevent it.

thanks for all your comments.

[heffe2001]

I vote for monitor face down on the seat, usually with the bottom, or foot if it's a monitor towards the front of the seat (so the seat belt has something to hold on to ).

I"ve hauled hundreds of CRT monitors in the past, and if they are ones with a swivel stand, you do NOT want to haul them on the foot, take a turn too fast, it'll go over, almost guaranteed (and I've had several larger ones do that, scratches on a 21" tube suck).