Is there a 'quick fix' for my faulty Trinitron CRT?

marlinman

Member
Dec 10, 2006
160
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My IBM P202 21" has just developed its first fault: left and right edges are no longer 'justified' (i.e. straight) but resemble a paragraph of text that's been 'centered', so that left and right edges are 'raggy'. I'm guessing it's time to put the thing out to pasture, but before doing so want to make sure that there's no quick fix out there that's worth trying.

I'll be sad to let go of it - worked perfectly despite being transported by a moving company cross country twice with only a piece of card taped over the glass, AND despite falling off a desk during an earthquake (the gouge in the floor is still visible). It's certainly earned retirement!
 

paul878

Senior member
Jul 31, 2010
874
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You can try degauss see if it help, on some high end monitors there are adjustment within setup for that. Since you moved cross country the magnetic filed have changed, try moving the monitor in around and see.

JUST get an LCD!!!
 

jaqie

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2008
2,471
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if you mean the edges of the screen are like ) ( or ( ) then yes, there is a pincushion and parallelogram adjustment for that, but if you mean something else, prolly not...
 

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
2,670
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all the easy methods are on the controls for the monitor.

Futz with those, then decide if you want to pay a diagnostic fee to find out it'll cost more to fix than buy a 20 - 23" 1080p LCD.
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
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I hate to say it, being someone who had their 20" CRT up till August of last year, it's time.
 

bryanl

Golden Member
Oct 15, 2006
1,157
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"Raggy" means wavy sides.

There are user pincushion adjustments, but when CRT monitors age excessively the adjustments can't compensate enough for worn out electrolytic capacitors. This is not a difficult or expensive repair for someone who knows how to solder.
 

C1

Platinum Member
Feb 21, 2008
2,387
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Yup, sounds like a defective capacitor somewhere in the horizontal sweep section (ie, insufficient sweep voltage and distorted sweep wave form). There are still shops around which specialize in CRT device repairs.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,088
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I finally retired my Sony Trinitron 19" last fall. It was long overdue.
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
3
0
Yup, sounds like a defective capacitor somewhere in the horizontal sweep section (ie, insufficient sweep voltage and distorted sweep wave form). There are still shops around which specialize in CRT device repairs.

We were the go to CRT monitor place in Syracuse but the last CRT to come in the door for repair was probably 2002. Problem is I have 19" LCD's for less that I will charge for the CRT repair. I also still have some 19" CRTs I can't give away. It took me 3 months to sell my old 20" for $10
 

marlinman

Member
Dec 10, 2006
160
1
81
Thanks for the thoughts folks. I paid ~USD40 for the monitor (2nd hand) quite a few years back and doubt I'm capable of identifying the offending component(s), so looks like it's the knackers yard for the black beauty after all :( . The significant other has been using it and is now shopping for a 27" LCD.
 

bigboxes

Lifer
Apr 6, 2002
41,992
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I'd try another vga cable. Outside of that I'd say it is time to move on. I thought I was the last to go LCD and that was in 2006!
 

Zorander

Golden Member
Nov 3, 2010
1,143
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I'd try another vga cable. Outside of that I'd say it is time to move on. I thought I was the last to go LCD and that was in 2006!
Well, I got my first LCD in 2009. :p And my G420 is still sitting on a table in a room, just not being used.