Do CRTs die a slow death ??

[OldSchool]

Hi all,

I have a CRT that is a few years old, and it has slowely been fading. Right now, I have brightness all the way up -- and, it's still too dark.

Do CRTs typically fade out? Can they be revitalized?

Many thanks in advance for your replies,
Tim

[AC_Photo]

That's one of the ways they die. I'd expect a good monitor to last for more than a few years though. The posphors in the screen are wearing out so to speak. Can't do anything about it if that's the problem. Given it's age, I wonder if the problem is in some other part of the monitor? Even if it is, I'll bet it's cheaper to replace it than to get it repaired.

[OldSchool]

Thanks for the reply AC.
Cheers,
Tim

[drg]

Thanks for the reply AC.
Cheers,
Tim

Yup. They also emit smoke and sometimes flame. Hopefully your monitor will just "fade away".

Should you change to a LCD be prepared for a big difference. Good time to start profiling the monitor if you haven't already.

Happy monitor hunting!

[AC_Photo]

That smoke usually comes with a frying sound. That's your flyback transformer burning up. I worked at a place where we lost so many terminals to this problem that we starting buying the transformers and replacing them ourselves to save money.

[mwfanelli]

Hi all,

I have a CRT that is a few years old, and it has slowely been fading. Right now, I have brightness all the way up -- and, it's still too dark.

Do CRTs typically fade out? Can they be revitalized?

Many thanks in advance for your replies,
Tim

This is certainly one sign of CRT failure. But a few years is very premature. I have had my very old NEC CRT for more than 15 years and it is still fine. I would expect a bare minimum of 10 years for a CRT unless, of course, the quality has gone way down these days.

[Lava Lamp]

Hi all,

I have a CRT that is a few years old, and it has slowely been fading. Right now, I have brightness all the way up -- and, it's still too dark.

Do CRTs typically fade out? Can they be revitalized?

Many thanks in advance for your replies,
Tim

Yes, I've had them slowly fade out. I had one struck by lighting and it stopped working and then worked for about two years, slowly losing colors and resolution. I've been through several CRTs at work and the IT staff always trashed them at the first sign of trouble, saying they couldn't be repaired. We're all LCD flat-screen now and I haven't seen one die (yet.)

[OldSchool]

Thanks all for the replies.

Mine CRT is more than a "few". Actually, it's going on 8 yrs now. I was wondering if there is an internal adjustment to boost, but I guess not.

Personally, I'm going to go with a LCD. I got a Samsung for my work computer. And I like it. I am just plain sick of lugging around CRTs (especially BIG ones). Color value doesn't change too much on this Samsung as I change viewing angle. I've printed out a calibration card (has grey scales as well as pure red, blue, and green) that I use as a quick check.

Best regards,
Tim

[poker]

I'd say yes especially to Sony CRTs.

I have an old Sony 19" 420GS. I have to give it a good smack sometimes. It's already got one pink corner.

[SmartWombat]

Yes, they do die a slow death.
Yes, usually there are internal adjustments.

There are also pretty unpleasant voltages and lethal currents in there.
If you can get a service manual, and follow the safety information in there*, you may be able to tweak it.

But if it's dying on you probably the best thing to do is to replace it.



* I got bitten my a monitor once. Threw me off the lab stool and onto the floor.
They changed the design of the power supply and removed the bleed resistor across the high voltage supply to the tube.
Saved about 50 cents on each monitor, but left several thousand volts charged on the tube's HT feed.
I didn't check the serial number to find which release of monitor I was dealing with and paid the price.

[SpeedingSphere]

hah! and how did your hand feel after that jolt? the worst i've been hit with was 220v from a flash capacitor, and thats not even high amperage.

I build my own computers, because all the manufacturers are so overpriced. I have a monitor from 1992, and its still kickin, really bright and fine, its an odd 18" viewable..