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FIXING MY CRT by Fussbett 12/11/2008, 10:48am PST
This thread will detail trying my effort to fix my 21" Viewsonic G225f CRT. In a recent move, it has become jostled and it's now out of focus. Apparently there is a focus trim pot inside somewhere that I must turn. Turn while the monitor is on! This is scary, but as I mention in the AIM log below, a 21" is heavy, cumbersome, and sitting here on the second floor where it does not want to move, so I'm going to attempt this fix which will hopefully prove easier than lugging it around. In the case of the repair killing me, the authorities will maybe find this thread and piece together what went wrong and sue the applicable parties (Quarter to Three and Penny Arcade).

I have a dual 21" CRT and 21" LCD setup, so I don't want to hear any of you homos say that I should just ditch the CRT and get an LCD. The CRT is still an important part of PC gaming and color checking (not that I do that anymore). Let's not get embroiled in that old debate.

Sanitario666: Have you seen the fixes for CRT focus problems? It involves taking apart your monitor and using an unmagnetized screwdriver to DON'T TOUCH THAT PART THAT WILL KILL YOU turn some screws deep inside.
Ray of Light: I have never messed with the inside of a CRT and probably never will!
Ray of Light: there are about a million of them on the used market, why not throw it away and buy one of those?
Ray of Light: then post on Caltrops that someone from Caltrops sent you a replacement CRT, so as to make fabio lose his shit
Sanitario666: Because it's a $600 awesome CRT! (when working)
Sanitario666: We're not talking about a 19" Dell here
Ray of Light: I did take a crt to a monitor repair place one time; they were surprisingly cheap
Ray of Light: a gift to worm would be a nice play at this point -- making worm angry (as everything does) for getting something, and fabio angry for not
Sanitario666: haha

...

http://www.kellerstudio.de/repairfaq/sam/monfaq.htm

Sanitario666: "Don't attempt repair work when you are tired. Not only will you be more careless, but your primary diagnostic tool - deductive reasoning - will not be operating at full capacity."
Sanitario666: (Monitor repair FAQ)
Sanitario666: nerdy to the core
Ray of Light: "you must hone your mind to the keenest of edges, then slice through the problem in a single, decisive stroke. Watch it bleed out on the ground before you."
Sanitario666: my deductive reasoning isn't getting enough voltage :(
Sanitario666: "Always keep one hand in your pocket when anywhere around a powered line-connected or high voltage system. "
Sanitario666: This step apparently saves your life.
Ray of Light: preferably, two hands
Sanitario666: It was the single greatest piece of info I learned. McMoo told me about it separately in e-mail. It's insider info.
Ray of Light: yeah, it's the info given out after "don't work on energized lines at all" fails
Ray of Light: however it doesn't protect you from forming a path to ground through your feet or (in tight quarters) hair
Ray of Light: and large capacitors like those in a monitor present an extra danger: you could short them with a tool and make them explode, injuring yourself that way
Sanitario666: plastic blade screwdrivers was the other tip I'm pursuing
Ray of Light: have you considered a monitor repair shop?
Sanitario666: I have!
Sanitario666: Supposedly my fix is very easy, once you crack the case and get over your fear of death.
Ray of Light: I've replaced switchboxes and lighting receptacles with the power on, for example, but I wouldn't open the back of a CRT
Sanitario666: The second consideration is that a 21" CRT weighs a fucking tonne and it's up two flights of stairs.
Sanitario666: I've just gotta turn one "focus" trim pot
Ray of Light: well that doesn't sound so bad
Sanitario666: Yeah! Maybe put those trim pots on the outside of the case next time, monitor makers!
Sanitario666: (apparently some do give access to these pots from a hole in the case that you stick the screwdriver through)
Ray of Light: while other monitors provide access to leads of GIANT CAP OF DEATH through similar holes
Sanitario666: similar unidentified holes
Ray of Light: "We call it a Quest for Glory Hole"

...

Sanitario666: I went to Home Depot to get an "insulated screwdriver" -- guy in the electrical aisle looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears
NEXT REPLY QUOTE
 
FIXING MY CRT by Fussbett 12/11/2008, 10:48am PST NEW
    How heavy can it be? 40 pounds? by Last 12/11/2008, 11:53am PST NEW
        According to the specs, my 21" Nokia weighs 26kg by Jerry Whorebach 12/11/2008, 1:16pm PST NEW
        60 lbs. But yes, there is a large amount of laziness involved in this plan. NT by Fussbett 12/11/2008, 3:20pm PST NEW
    Re: FIXING MY CRT by Ice Cream Jonsey 12/11/2008, 11:57am PST NEW
        No, the monitor has to be ON to fix the focus. ON!!! NT by Fussbett 12/11/2008, 4:15pm PST NEW
            Insulated screwdrivers by Entropy Stew 12/12/2008, 5:14am PST NEW
    Progress! by Fussbett 12/14/2008, 2:43pm PST NEW
        I SHOULDN'T HAVE TOUCHED THOSE by Fussbett 12/14/2008, 4:49pm PST NEW
        I saved your life! by Entropy Stew 12/14/2008, 6:59pm PST NEW
    hey guys my floppy drive stopped working help plz NT by Weyoun Voidbringer 12/14/2008, 3:07pm PST NEW
        Ha ha good one broseph. *respec knuckles* NT by Creexuls, a monster >:3 12/14/2008, 3:09pm PST NEW
            If you guys are going to jizz on each other's dicks please use Knuckle Shuffle. NT by Worm 12/14/2008, 3:12pm PST NEW
                No. ^_^ NT by Creexuls, a monster >:3 12/14/2008, 3:16pm PST NEW
                no woman, no WROMcry NT by Weyoun Voidbringer 12/14/2008, 3:36pm PST NEW
        What's it like to have just one monitor? Does it make you anxious? NT by Fussbett 12/14/2008, 4:49pm PST NEW
            No it is pretty reliable and worry free. NT by Creexuls, a monster >:3 12/14/2008, 4:50pm PST NEW
                Enjoy one native resolution and refresh rate (more like refrePSH rate) NT by Fussbett 12/14/2008, 4:56pm PST NEW
                    LCDs don't have a refresh rate I think. NT by Creexuls, a monster >:3 12/14/2008, 5:37pm PST NEW
                        60Hz by Entropy Stew 12/14/2008, 7:01pm PST NEW
                        ZERO refresh rates?! Well that's even worse! by Fussbett 12/14/2008, 11:25pm PST NEW
 
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