Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!lethe!yunexus!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!manuel!ccadfa!prolix!dac From: dac@prolix.ccadfa.oz.au (Andrew Clayton) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: My Monitor Keeps Falling Asleep! Message-ID: <18a589ca.ARN29b6@prolix.ccadfa.oz.au> Date: 7 Feb 91 11:38:18 GMT References: <20912@know.pws.bull.com> <8973@star.cs.vu.nl> Reply-To: ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au!prolix!dac@munnari.OZ.AU Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Organization: More like Mis~, really. Lines: 113 In article <8973@star.cs.vu.nl>, Martin Gemmel writes: > In article <20912@know.pws.bull.com> ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) writes: > > Over the past three weeks my monitor has developed a habit of falling > >asleep on me (screen goes pure black), and has to be hit sharply on the left > >side to wake it up. > > > > Tom > > > >-- > > ............................... > >Why purchase a MAC when | Amiga...The computer for _ | IBM's greatest sales > >the Amiga will run MAC | the creative mind! _ // | tool is ignorance on > >software faster? |.......................\\//..| the consumer's part. > > Yes! Yes! That's exactly what's been happening the last few weeks to my > monitor, too! When I turn it on, it remains on for about 5 minutes and > then goes black. Then I hit it and it turns on again, for about 2 minutes, > and so on. > I would REALLY like some help on this (maybe more people have experienced > this problem) before I hit my monitor too hard some day :). > Maybe it's just a matter of fastening a screw or moving a wire away from the > heat? Lots and lots and LOTS of people have had this problem. Even me. It's been documented on the net a whole skew of times, along with the fix. Here's my attempt at describing the fix. Problem: ~~~~~~~~ The 1081/1084 series of monitors decides to go out for lunch. At first, it merely displays a blank screen, accompanied with a small 'zzt' noise. A light tap on the side of the monitor will bring it back to life. The next day, the same thing happens. Twice. The day after, you start getting it happen in quarter hour intervals, and might have to start thumping the case a little harder. Eventually the monitor doesn't work at all. The cause of the problem: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One or more of the solder joints around the large transformer on the circuit board has become cracked. As the unit heats up, the tolerance become too fine, and not enough 'oomph' gets through the wires to drive the screen, and the monitor 'shuts down'. The fix: ~~~~~~~~ You have to take your monitor apart, and apply a soldering iron to the affected joint. Finding WHERE is a problem. Here's a (crude) diagram. _______________________ / \ | _____________________ | <--- 1081/1084 as seen from above |[ *** || ] | Transformer---->*** || ] | with lead |[ *** || <------------ Printed Circuit board under going to (X) |[ _/ \_ ] | the cathode ray tube. on the tube. |[ _/ \_ ] | |[ _/ \_ ] | |[_/ (X) <---------------- Cathode ray tube |/__________________\ ] | \ ____________________ _/ Screen Face Alright. Now, remember this is looking at the monitor FROM ABOVE. The all of the solder connections are UNDERNEATH the circuit board. In my case, it was one of the wires had come very loose. Others have complained that a few wires were loose. Warning: Don't try this without unplugging the monitor from the power supply. Be careful, because the tube can hold a HUGE electric charge for many hours or even days. When opening the case, you must be careful not to rip the Speaker Wire off. You need to remove the little white plastic clip from the circuit board before you can remove the cover completely. You have to slide the circuit board out (about half way) in order to get access to the underneath. This involved removing some of the white plastic connected wires from the circuit board. Remember which way around the plugs are oriented! How I solved the problem was reheating all of the larger solder spots to make the solder flow, and reseal any 'cracks' or bad joints. I poked at the solder around one particular wire, and the wire MOVED, when I soldered this, I figured it must have been the problem. I put it all back together again, and never again had the problem. In the same week that I had it, some six other people around Australia reported experiencing the same problem, at the same time. :-/ If any of this sounds flakey, get your monitor to a Mr Fixit. This description may help him find the problem. Then again, he might think that you're a complete loony for even reading it. Disclaimer: This operation will void your warranty. I did it myself, instrad of taking it to a qualifed person, because I'm a cheapskate. I take no responsibility for any actions you make in regard to pulling your monitor apart, and sticking your tongue on various electronic components 'just to see what happens'. :-) Dac -- _l _ _ // Andrew Clayton. Canberra, Australia. I Post . (_](_l(_ \X/ ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au!prolix!dac@munnari.OZ.AU . . I am. --------------Phone +61 6 285 2537 (+10GMT) // I cannot currently send email.