CompuServe Thread

#1084 monitor flickr-HELP

13 messages in this thread
#181082From: Zeddock MillerJan 7, 1995 5:03 PM
Can anyone help me find info on a Flashing/Flickering, sometimes not-working monitor fix?? I have seen it posted (how to fix) before but cannot find it now, even with amigaFF. Please help Thanx in advance Zeddock
#181092From: Jim SteeleJan 7, 1995 7:38 PM
Zeddock, The first thing I'd look at would be the flyback transformer's solder joints. They tend to break. I suppose the high frequency vibrations in the transformer put a large amount of mechanical stress on the solder joints. Once they break, they get intermittant. The resulting arcing makes things worse by burning the connection. It's fairly simple to resolder the connections, the biggest hassle is unsoldering a metal shield over the bottom of the circuit board. BTW, there are some capacitors in that area too. I've seen them break their joints as well. And of course the obligatory warning: There's dangerous voltage inside monitors. CRTs can hold charges for some time. Proceed ar your own risk. -Jim MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
#181138From: Dan HaysJan 8, 1995 7:32 AM
I have a similar problem I guess. I was trying to solve one at a time (my 1000) but what the hell… My 1084S-D1 monitor starts up with no blue color. After a period of time (afways different but usually less than 10 minutes) the blue comes on like normal. Am I losing the blue gun or could I have a bad connection somewhere? Thanks! -Dan
#181202From: Jim SteeleJan 8, 1995 4:24 PM
It's possible the gun is going out, but probably not. They all share a common filament. More likely a problem in the blue output path. The drivers for the 3 guns are all on the neck board that plugs onto the CRT. Since they're all the same, it's fairly easy to scope backwards and compare. Finding the parts is more difficult. 🙁 If you use a greybar program like VTOT or even just draw some bars in DPAINT you'll have a good signal on all 3 colors. But since you have to do this with power on the monitor, it's not for the faint of heart… -Jim MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
#181269From: Dan HaysJan 9, 1995 6:02 AM
i might let the professionals handle that one. i'm really hoping it's juse the cable… [D [D
#181395From: Jim SteeleJan 10, 1995 6:00 AM
A bad cable is possibility, but from your description it didn't sound like it. Try using the composite output of the computer when the thing acts up…. or swap the cable if you have a spare. MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
#181530From: Dan HaysJan 11, 1995 6:41 AM
Funny thing… today for the first time in two weeks it booted up with blue!! I'm so happy!! I hope it lasts! If it doesn't I'll mess with it.
#181573From: Jim SteeleJan 11, 1995 4:44 PM
I have seen the drivers fail, but if it fails again, wiggle the cable, sepecially at the ends. It's worth a shot before going into it. BTW, have you tried this monitor on another computer… it could be the computer losing a color too… -Jim MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
#181880From: Dan HaysJan 14, 1995 6:31 AM
well Jim Its been behaving itself for three days now. I'm not gonna disturb it unless I have to. (Which I will when I have to test that 1000). BTW I tried to test the chip as you suggested but I really dont know how to use the scope. At the settings you suggested I got total kaos no matter what I touched with the probe. (anything conductive). I guess I'll need to get a scope tutor before I go any further with the 1000. Thanks! -Dan
#181901From: Jim SteeleJan 14, 1995 3:13 PM
It's a fundamental rule of electronics that "If it's working, don't mess with it." On the scope, try looking at the clock line on that '157 (pin 1). Then adjust the hoizontal sweep rate to something where you see square pulses. You might cut the vertical down to 2v/div. You are grounding the scope probe to the computer? -Jim MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
#181985From: Dan HaysJan 15, 1995 6:12 AM
Ok jim, I'll try that today and get back to you. 🙂 -Dan
#181912From: Brian BartlettJan 14, 1995 3:40 PM
Dan: When dealing with signals such as with video or logic, you need to synch the scope to something. In the case of logic, it is best to connect a probe between the external synch connector and the system clock. For video, try to find the horizontal synch or vertical synch, depending on what signals you are looking at, to the external synch. The reason for this is that although almost all signals are _supposed_ to be some particular frequency, all electronics drift off after a while. I've yet to see any electronic device exactly on frequency, even after I've tuned it! By locking the scope to some original source in the device, you are seeing the signals in relation to how the whole device is timing itself. BTW: In case you aren't aware of it, there is a position on the horizontal display width usually marked EXT. That is the position to use when synching to an external source. I hope this helps. "The first lesson of economics is scarcity…. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics." (T. Sowell)
#181986From: Dan HaysJan 15, 1995 6:28 AM
thanks brian. I'll try to digest that. My electronics doesn't go very far into vacuum tubes let alone computer circuts but I'm not one to spend $200 to get a $50 machine fixed so… I'm having at it. Its beem a learning experience so far. -Dan