My Tee Vee is starting to smell bad - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

elchivito · #1 08-01-2011, 01:41 AM

So the other day the Directv box took a permanent dump. Called CS and it's all good, they're sending another box free. I didn't disconnect it. Today I noticed a burnt wire smell, you know, electrical, heat, melting plastic, something about ready to burst into flame, like you're downwind from somebody who's welding smell. It seemed to be coming from the satellite box, so I unhooked it and took it out. It sat on top of the television. Tonight watching something off the Roku I started to smell it again. I'm nearly certain it's coming from the TV, but can't find any obvious hot spots and the picture is as good as ever. The set is a 10 or so year old 32 inch Sony Wega CRT. We only have one television. I don't allow sets in bedrooms, the kitchen or anywhere else. One Tee Vee is all anyone needs. A small family that can't adjust itself to one set given all the other ways there are to amuse oneself is a dysfunctional family in my opinion. But I digress. Has anyone known of a television catching fire? I don't like the way this thing smells. I know, time for a new HD flat panel anyhow, but I hate it when things you're happy with fail.

mgburg · #2 08-01-2011, 02:20 AM

If you've moved the set recently, sometimes dust/dirt that's accumulated inside the set will be dislodged and will settle onto the power supply, where there are exposed regulator chips (run very hot) and current-limiting resistors residing therein. Those items will "toast" the dust/dirt and give off an odor.

And after 10 years, I'm sure there's a little dust/dirt in there to toast and roast.

If you're brave enough and have an idea of what you're doing, you can remove the back to get at the circuit board(s)...then, using a clean/new 1" paint brush and a ShopVac, you can "clean" the inside of the set by using the brush to "dislodge" the dust/dirt while blowing the crud out of there.

But remember...the unit MUST BE UNPLUGGED from any source of electricity and be aware...there is a "fly-back" transformer in there THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO "FLY BACK" (onto your @55!) IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL. REMEMBER...THESE TVs WILL BITE HARD. IF YOU DON'T FEEL RIGHT ABOUT DOING THIS, DON'T DO IT! LET SOMEONE THAT KNOWS TVs HANDLE THE CLEANING. ONE MISTAKE AND YOU'LL HAVE FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE FACT THAT KARMA DOES COME IN "A55-KICKING" FLAVORS FOR THE FOOLISH.

BTW: Do this out in the garage or outside...the wife will eat you alive if you start blowing this stuff around the house.

Dee8go · #3 08-01-2011, 06:31 AM

My TV smells okay, but the programs available on it stink . . . .

compu_85 · #4 08-01-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgburg

there is a "fly-back" transformer in there THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO "FLY BACK" (onto your @55!) IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL. REMEMBER...THESE TVs WILL BITE HARD.

Also remember that CRTs can "re charge" themselves after being off for a while... after use a charge can build up inside the glass, which then leaks back out. So if you discharge the CRT, remove the anode cap, then come back some time later the CRT might be "hot" again!

It's not super hard to work around the inside of a TV, you just need to be mindful of what is going on. Though I'll easily admit I'm not as brave as this guy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb6vMgurAH0

-J

elchivito · #5 08-01-2011, 09:55 AM

No way I'm messing with it. Electricity is magic, and I don't understand it. The wife insists that the smell is residual and came from the now disconnected and defunct satellite box. I have the set turned on now and will let it get good and warm and see. It hasn't been moved. It weighs like a million pounds and is in a cabinet. Considering it's age, I'm sure it's pretty dusty back there. I wish it would just fry itself so I could replace it but so far operation is normal and the picture is as good as ever. Darned old Sony crts are pretty bombproof.