   Damaged monitor, safety hazard?
  I had to ship a 50 pound CRT monitor across the US, and despite being wrapped in multiple layers of thick bubble wrap and several pillows, UPS managed to hit the package so hard that it left long cracks running through the monitor's thick plastic housing.It still works, but I'm worried about whether or not it's safe to use at this point. I see two possible problems: either a fire or radiation hazard. Fire, if something broke loose and causes some kind of short circuit, or radiation, if the damage somehow screwed up the CRT's radiation shielding.How realistic do you guys think either of these concerns are? Should I go ahead and use the damaged monitor, or am I better off just writing this off as an unlucky loss?   
  I'd go for the unlucky loss. I'm not sure on how bad the damage actually is, but I wouldn't want to take the chance. If it explodes say, you will lots of ouies by the screen coming in your direction. I watched the Fantastic Four yesterday, and I can't help but imagine the radiation from the monitor turning you into 'The Thing' *shudders*[disturbed]   ;  The plastic casing would not stop the elctromagnetic radiation from the monitor anyway.  Thats what the lead in the glass is for, and any metal shielding inside.  The plastic is mostly for cosmetics and to stop people putting their fingers inside!  Get a tech to take the cover of and check for internal damage.  Although if you are worried about radiation its time to go LCD.   ;  What stops the radiation is the lead coting over the tube. It's only hazardous if it's been scratched. So you could take the cover off and look. On the other hand, if this thing is insured, you should try to get your money, although it could take a while, if the USPS is anything like the Canadian postal service (it took me 2 months to get the insurance money for an UPS that got broken).   ;  CRT monitors: Tens of thousands of volts of baby-killing electricity.You: CheapThis is not a good combination. What little "radiation" there is (not nuclear or microwave radiation, so don't worry... it's no worse than standing near a big electromagnet effectively) is unlikely to hurt you -- the metal shielding will block anything potentially harmful coming out of the electron gun. What will hurt you is if you manage to break the housing and touch the flyback transformer.Fire is a bigger concern; I'd get the monitor inspected by someone competent (some fire departments will inspect it for you) and then use the shipping insurance money for it (they try to make the claims process difficult, but it really isn't) and buy a TFT.Oh, and don't ship UPS. Those idiots have broken cables in packing peanuts before.   ;Quote:Original post by RavuyaCRT monitors: Tens of thousands of volts of baby-killing electricity.You: CheapThis is not a good combination. What little "radiation" there is (not nuclear or microwave radiation, so don't worry... it's no worse than standing near a big electromagnet effectively) is unlikely to hurt you -- the metal shielding will block anything potentially harmful coming out of the electron gun. What will hurt you is if you manage to break the housing and touch the flyback transformer.Fire is a bigger concern; I'd get the monitor inspected by someone competent (some fire departments will inspect it for you) and then use the shipping insurance money for it (they try to make the claims process difficult, but it really isn't) and buy a TFT.Oh, and don't ship UPS. Those idiots have broken cables in packing peanuts before.actually, crt's produce x-ray radiation... but there is a very large amount of effective shielding from it, plus there is very little radiation anyways if you are exposed to it. i expose myself to some when working on some tv's and crt monitors, but only for a short amount fo tiem. as for the fire hazard, it is probably fine, if a shortcircuit of some kind did happen it is very likely the main fuss would blow, some of the other components would die, or your breakers would be flipped...either way eliminating the chance of fire.;  my old monitor was broken too and i used it for 5 years of my childhood without any problems. I won't comment on your case as i don't kno whow much it's broken..   ;Quote:Original post by JSoftwaremy old monitor was broken too and i used it for 5 years of my childhood without any problems. I won't comment on your case as i don't kno whow much it's broken..You know people aren't supposed to have tentacles growing out of their foreheads, right?   ;Quote:Original post by RaQuote:Original post by JSoftwaremy old monitor was broken too and i used it for 5 years of my childhood without any problems. I won't comment on your case as i don't kno whow much it's broken..You know people aren't supposed to have tentacles growing out of their foreheads, right?What?!? How come nobody tells me things like that?!?   ;  if the glass isnt broken just put some ducttape on the crack so nobody stickes there finger in it   