My computer just exploded!! (1 Viewer)

[Mark Shannon]

Well, not really. I was more just my monitor. Well, it didn't explode, but it sure as hell fried.

It's a 17" CRT. I was just using it, and all of the sudden it starts making a weird buzzing noise, the screen starts to get all distorted (as if it were being degaussed), and the next thing I know, smoke starts pouring out of the vents. So I turned it off, unplugged it , and right now it's sitting on it's own away from the computer.

Any idea what might have happened?

 

[brentl]

HHmmm looking at xxx porno eh!!

 

[Glenn Overholt]

Ah, it got old and died?

Ok, I think the buzzing is from the Horizontal flyback transformer(?). Not sure about the name. It covers the high voltage that you don't want to touch. I think that makes a 'soft' sounding buzz.

See if you can find a recycling center for it.

Glenn

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Just look at this as an opportunity to upgrade to a space-saving LCD monitor.

 

[DaveF]

You let out the magic smoke. :frowning: (magic smoke is what makes electronics work. ask any undergrad EE major.) You may have to by a new display with fresh magic smoke.

 

[Mark Shannon]

Damn, and I heard that replacement magic smoke can be expensive!!

Yeah, looks like I'll have to upgrade now.

 

[Keith Paynter]

It's not that magic smoke is expensive, it's just very hard to coax back into the monitor. The magic piper at the factories does that...

 

[Glenn Overholt]

You guys actually take your monitors out of the cartons? No wonder the magic smoke is escaping! That's why you get all of that styrofoam - to keep the magic smoke in.

Glenn

 

[Mark Shannon]

So how does the magic smoke situation work with LCD displays? Is it magic liquid?

 

[Glenn Overholt]

No, with LCD's it is much easier. The smoke is mostly steam, so all you have to do is to refill it with water. Heavy water works best!

Glenn

 

[DaveF]

Magic smoke is still used for LCDs. Magic smoke is most ommonly found in diodes and transistors, and there are loads of those making the LCD work. Apply a reverse voltage or too high of a voltage to a diode or transistor and the smoke escapes.

While some believe there's magic liquid involved in LCDs, it's not true. It's actually a problem of too much dark getting in. You see, all lights are actually dark suckers. (you can search Google for this.) Break the LCDs and they quickly suck up too much dark (notice they're all black) and can't suck any more, so won't work.

But the evidence of the problem was smoke, so it's a magic smoke problem, not a dark problem.

Really, it's basic science

 

[Mark Shannon]

No offence Dave, but you have waaaayyyy too much time on your hands. Keep it up.