Repairing computer monitor -- Hazards?

General Questions
#1

I just bought an old Macintosh computer at a yard sale. I haven’t tried it yet, but the seller says the monitor doesn’t work - the report is that it turns on, but won’t display anything. If it indeed is broken, I’m hoping it’s something simple like a loose wire or whatever inside. The thing has, reportedly, not been turned on for a few years.

If I were to open it up, are there any dangers? Like, is there a big capacitor inside full of charges waiting to electrocute me? What should I watch out for?

#2

Yes there is. Someone else will have to come along to tell you where it is and what is is called (Paging MacTech), but there is a whopper of a charge on the CRT. Until this charge is dissipated, you run a very high risk of getting knocked on your ass or worse.

#3

I’m not trying to be mean or anything but if you don’t know what you’re doing you should never poke around inside of a monitor. I know what I’m going and I got bit once, something that I never want to happen again.
There were a few popular models of Apple monitors that had an under-rated fuse in them that would blow at the drop of a hat. Have someone that knows what they’re doing take a look at the fuse.

#4

Monitors are dangerous to mess around in. Most places won’t bother with repairs on them because its cheaper and much safer just to get a new one.
Do not go poking around in there. Its not going to be trial an error. Any error will result in an unwanted defribulation, like Rhubarb said theres a strong residual charge left even after long terms of non use.
So mon ami, either keep it as a paperweight or get a professional to take a look at it. I had a monitor I wanted to fix up to a while back, luckily I was set straight.

#5

Okay, thanks a lot for the tip. I guess I’ll just have to put this computer in storage until I com across an Apple monitor.

  • slumps shoulders *
#6

I believe there are adapters you can use to make an older mac work with standard PC monitors.

#7

If you haven’t opened it, DON’T! If you have, well, see that suction cup like thing on the side of the CRT with the wire going to it? That’s 20,000 volts just waiting to kill you. Seriously. :eek:

#8

A computer monitor is essentially a TV picture tube. Failure is frequently a dead of faulty fly-back transformer.

Best advice: If you don’t know what your are doing…DON’T!

If you insist on taking your life in your hands: SHORT OUT THE CRT FIRST.
If you done understand that…DON’T!

#9

As has been said, CRTs are not user-serviceable devices.

And you can get an adapter to use a standard display. They’re cheap. Old Mac monitors still used a standard 15-pin VGA (or SVGA or whateverVGA) adapter, they just put the pins in the wrong place to be obstinate.

#10

Relevant discussion, written by an electrical engineer:

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_monitors.shtml

Another thread dealing with this subject: