Sony E400 Monitor failing

J

James Watkins

Guest
Greetings,

I have a Sony E400 19" Trinitron Computer monitor which is just over 3 years
old and gradually failing. For approximately the last year, the black level
has been slowly creeping up to the point where the picture looks washed out.
The problem is now so bad that with a black screen, you can see the scan
retrace lines. This is extremely disappointing because the monitor cost
over $600.00 when I bought it and, I simply can not afford to replace it at
this time. I have seen other posts complaining of this problem so it is not
uncommon, however I have yet to find the fix. I have been told that some
inadequate components in the power supply which change value with time are
the likely problem, but no one seems to be able to say which specific
components are to blame. Surely someone has more information on this. If I
knew which components were the source of the problem, I would simply order
new parts and replace them. I sure would appreciate any help anyone could
offer.

Thank You,

--Jim
 
The reason why there are no specifics, is that there are too many
combinations of component failure to be specific that can cause levels in
the pictures to change.

A common cause of this in many TV sets and monitors are failing electrolytic
caps. Then there are the main components such as resistors, semiconductors,
and whatever. To test the caps an ESR meter is the best tool for this. It is
best to start in a logical area, which would be in the video path that is
common to all 3 colour channels which would most likely be in the CRT bias
supply circuits for the video amp drivers, and CRT electron-gun.

I have seen in many cases, the high voltage multiplier going defective, and
thus allowing the screen voltage to go too high. I have also seen the CRT
itself going defective, and cause levels to change. There are circuits that
generate blanking pulses. These should also be verified.

As a temporary fix, you can open the monitor and see if there is a screen
control on the back of the flyback assy. If so, you can turn it down a crack
and see if this helps. The control should be marked "screen" or "G2". There
is normally also a set of focus controls in most of these models. One of
them is for V and the other for H axis. Don't touch these unless you want to
refocus the beam. When moving the screen adjustment, the colour tracking may
also be effected. Then the tracking set-up may have to be touched up.
Depending on the monitor model, the factory service interface will be
required.

The bottom line, is that the monitor would have to be properly checked. The
service manual, knowledge of the monitor, and the proper test equipment
would be required to service your monitor, if the basic checks do not locate
the fault. If you call Sony, they can recommend the authorized service rep
near to you who can properly do this type of work.

As for a computer monitor, I would not invest too much money in to it. The
prices have dropped dramatically over the last few years. You can get a very
descent 19 inch CRT monitor now for about $250 to $300 US average. If you
look at the LCD types, they have become very good over the last few years,
and the prices have dropped by a lot.

The LCD monitor has many advantages over the CRT type, except for doing
critical photo work, where very precise low grey level resolution is
required, and where a very high contrast ratio is required.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"James Watkins" <vanillagorilla2@excite.com> wrote in message
news:5uhZb.148$Xq5.87@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com...
Greetings,

I have a Sony E400 19" Trinitron Computer monitor which is just over 3 years
old and gradually failing. For approximately the last year, the black level
has been slowly creeping up to the point where the picture looks washed out.
The problem is now so bad that with a black screen, you can see the scan
retrace lines. This is extremely disappointing because the monitor cost
over $600.00 when I bought it and, I simply can not afford to replace it at
this time. I have seen other posts complaining of this problem so it is not
uncommon, however I have yet to find the fix. I have been told that some
inadequate components in the power supply which change value with time are
the likely problem, but no one seems to be able to say which specific
components are to blame. Surely someone has more information on this. If I
knew which components were the source of the problem, I would simply order
new parts and replace them. I sure would appreciate any help anyone could
offer.

Thank You,

--Jim
 
James:
I would start by checking the heater voltage on the CRT pins.
I have seen some Sony monitors where the electrolytic capacitor in
the heater suppy voltage would gradually go bad, reducing the voltage
at the heater pins, and causing the picture to get darker.
Remove the shield over the circuit board and measure the voltage
on the heater pins of the CRT socket. You should get 6.3 volts (DC).
If you measure a lot less, trace the circuit down into the main
board and look for weak capacitors in the circuit. 470 Uf at 16 volts
is a common capacitor vaule found in heater circuits.
Hope this helps....
John
 
Thanks for the info Jerry. Well, this is disappointing. I do have the
service manual for the monitor but there appears to be no adjustment for the
screen. It looks like I spent $620.00 plus 8.25% California sales tax for a
monitor which provided about 2 years of good service. Sony charges a flat
rate of $175 plus 8.25% California sales tax to repair it regardless of what
the problem is. It would make better sense to buy a new monitor. I had
hoped to purchase a LCD monitor whenever I replaced this one, but I
absolutely can't afford to do that at the moment since I am unemployed at
this time. For that matter I really can't afford to replace the monitor
with a CRT even if I could get one for $100.00 bucks. What I could afford
would be $20.00 bucks or less worth of parts. I guess I am stuck watching
this monitor get gradually worse over time. I appreciate your effort to
help. I can tell you that I will never purchase another Sony monitor. To
have such an expensive item go bad in such short time is simply unacceptable
yet apparently common.

Best regards,

--Jim


"Jerry G." <jerryg50@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c14s9f$e6k$1@news.eusc.inter.net...
The reason why there are no specifics, is that there are too many
combinations of component failure to be specific that can cause levels in
the pictures to change.

A common cause of this in many TV sets and monitors are failing
electrolytic
caps. Then there are the main components such as resistors,
semiconductors,
and whatever. To test the caps an ESR meter is the best tool for this. It
is
best to start in a logical area, which would be in the video path that is
common to all 3 colour channels which would most likely be in the CRT bias
supply circuits for the video amp drivers, and CRT electron-gun.

I have seen in many cases, the high voltage multiplier going defective,
and
thus allowing the screen voltage to go too high. I have also seen the CRT
itself going defective, and cause levels to change. There are circuits
that
generate blanking pulses. These should also be verified.

As a temporary fix, you can open the monitor and see if there is a screen
control on the back of the flyback assy. If so, you can turn it down a
crack
and see if this helps. The control should be marked "screen" or "G2".
There
is normally also a set of focus controls in most of these models. One of
them is for V and the other for H axis. Don't touch these unless you want
to
refocus the beam. When moving the screen adjustment, the colour tracking
may
also be effected. Then the tracking set-up may have to be touched up.
Depending on the monitor model, the factory service interface will be
required.

The bottom line, is that the monitor would have to be properly checked.
The
service manual, knowledge of the monitor, and the proper test equipment
would be required to service your monitor, if the basic checks do not
locate
the fault. If you call Sony, they can recommend the authorized service
rep
near to you who can properly do this type of work.

As for a computer monitor, I would not invest too much money in to it. The
prices have dropped dramatically over the last few years. You can get a
very
descent 19 inch CRT monitor now for about $250 to $300 US average. If you
look at the LCD types, they have become very good over the last few years,
and the prices have dropped by a lot.

The LCD monitor has many advantages over the CRT type, except for doing
critical photo work, where very precise low grey level resolution is
required, and where a very high contrast ratio is required.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"James Watkins" <vanillagorilla2@excite.com> wrote in message
news:5uhZb.148$Xq5.87@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com...
Greetings,

I have a Sony E400 19" Trinitron Computer monitor which is just over 3
years
old and gradually failing. For approximately the last year, the black
level
has been slowly creeping up to the point where the picture looks washed
out.
The problem is now so bad that with a black screen, you can see the scan
retrace lines. This is extremely disappointing because the monitor cost
over $600.00 when I bought it and, I simply can not afford to replace it
at
this time. I have seen other posts complaining of this problem so it is
not
uncommon, however I have yet to find the fix. I have been told that some
inadequate components in the power supply which change value with time are
the likely problem, but no one seems to be able to say which specific
components are to blame. Surely someone has more information on this. If
I
knew which components were the source of the problem, I would simply order
new parts and replace them. I sure would appreciate any help anyone could
offer.

Thank You,

--Jim
Click to expand...
 
"James Watkins" <vanillagorilla2@excite.com> wrote in message
news:KJBZb.15562$rd7.902@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com...
Thanks for the info Jerry. Well, this is disappointing. I do have the
service manual for the monitor but there appears to be no adjustment for
the
screen. It looks like I spent $620.00 plus 8.25% California sales tax for
a
monitor which provided about 2 years of good service. Sony charges a flat
rate of $175 plus 8.25% California sales tax to repair it regardless of
what
the problem is.
Click to expand...

Well even if there was an adjustment, adjusting it wouldn't fix the problem
as something has failed. Why not take it to an indepenant shop and have them
take a look at it? Might be a bit cheaper, the E400 is still a nice monitor.
 
"James Watkins" <vanillagorilla2@excite.com> wrote in message
news:KJBZb.15562$rd7.902@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com...
Thanks for the info Jerry. Well, this is disappointing. I do have the
service manual for the monitor but there appears to be no adjustment for
the
screen. It looks like I spent $620.00 plus 8.25% California sales tax for
a
monitor which provided about 2 years of good service. Sony charges a flat
rate of $175 plus 8.25% California sales tax to repair it regardless of
what
the problem is. It would make better sense to buy a new monitor.
Click to expand...
It would???? That's a nice monitor. You're not going to buy anything like
that for $200. I recommend that you set it aside till you have the
resources to have it properly repaired. Don't hack it by going in and
tweaking the adjustments.

Go pick up a used 17" as a stop gap. They're cheap and you don't have money
right now, so it's a good match. Get the Sony fixed when you're in a better
spot. It's worth it.



I had
hoped to purchase a LCD monitor whenever I replaced this one, but I
absolutely can't afford to do that at the moment since I am unemployed at
this time. For that matter I really can't afford to replace the monitor
with a CRT even if I could get one for $100.00 bucks. What I could afford
would be $20.00 bucks or less worth of parts. I guess I am stuck watching
this monitor get gradually worse over time. I appreciate your effort to
help. I can tell you that I will never purchase another Sony monitor. To
have such an expensive item go bad in such short time is simply
unacceptable
yet apparently common.

Best regards,

--Jim


"Jerry G." <jerryg50@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c14s9f$e6k$1@news.eusc.inter.net...
The reason why there are no specifics, is that there are too many
combinations of component failure to be specific that can cause levels
in
the pictures to change.

A common cause of this in many TV sets and monitors are failing
electrolytic
caps. Then there are the main components such as resistors,
semiconductors,
and whatever. To test the caps an ESR meter is the best tool for this.
It
is
best to start in a logical area, which would be in the video path that
is
common to all 3 colour channels which would most likely be in the CRT
bias
supply circuits for the video amp drivers, and CRT electron-gun.

I have seen in many cases, the high voltage multiplier going defective,
and
thus allowing the screen voltage to go too high. I have also seen the
CRT
itself going defective, and cause levels to change. There are circuits
that
generate blanking pulses. These should also be verified.

As a temporary fix, you can open the monitor and see if there is a
screen
control on the back of the flyback assy. If so, you can turn it down a
crack
and see if this helps. The control should be marked "screen" or "G2".
There
is normally also a set of focus controls in most of these models. One of
them is for V and the other for H axis. Don't touch these unless you
want
to
refocus the beam. When moving the screen adjustment, the colour tracking
may
also be effected. Then the tracking set-up may have to be touched up.
Depending on the monitor model, the factory service interface will be
required.

The bottom line, is that the monitor would have to be properly checked.
The
service manual, knowledge of the monitor, and the proper test equipment
would be required to service your monitor, if the basic checks do not
locate
the fault. If you call Sony, they can recommend the authorized service
rep
near to you who can properly do this type of work.

As for a computer monitor, I would not invest too much money in to it.
The
prices have dropped dramatically over the last few years. You can get a
very
descent 19 inch CRT monitor now for about $250 to $300 US average. If
you
look at the LCD types, they have become very good over the last few
years,
and the prices have dropped by a lot.

The LCD monitor has many advantages over the CRT type, except for doing
critical photo work, where very precise low grey level resolution is
required, and where a very high contrast ratio is required.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"James Watkins" <vanillagorilla2@excite.com> wrote in message
news:5uhZb.148$Xq5.87@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com...
Greetings,

I have a Sony E400 19" Trinitron Computer monitor which is just over 3
years
old and gradually failing. For approximately the last year, the black
level
has been slowly creeping up to the point where the picture looks washed
out.
The problem is now so bad that with a black screen, you can see the scan
retrace lines. This is extremely disappointing because the monitor cost
over $600.00 when I bought it and, I simply can not afford to replace it
at
this time. I have seen other posts complaining of this problem so it is
not
uncommon, however I have yet to find the fix. I have been told that
some
inadequate components in the power supply which change value with time
are
the likely problem, but no one seems to be able to say which specific
components are to blame. Surely someone has more information on this.
If
I
knew which components were the source of the problem, I would simply
order
new parts and replace them. I sure would appreciate any help anyone
could
offer.

Thank You,

--Jim
Click to expand...
 
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