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Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance for a TV is pretty simple - just keep the case clean
and free of obstructions. Clean the screen with a soft cloth just dampened
with water and at most, mild detergent. DO NOT use anything so wet that
liquid may seep inside of the set around the edge of the picture tube - you
could end up with a very expensive repair bill when the liquid shorts out
the main circuit board lurking just below.
If the set has a protective flat glass faceplate, there is usually an easy way
(on newer sets with this type of protection) of removing it to get at the inner
face of the CRT. Clean both the CRT and the protective glass with a soft damp
cloth and dry thoroughly. If you have not cleaned the screen for quite a while,
you will be amazed at the amount of black grime that collects due to the static
buildup from the high voltage CRT supply.
In really dusty situations, periodically vacuuming inside the case and the use
of contact cleaner for the controls might be a good idea but realistically,
you will not do this so don't worry about it.
General TV Placement Considerations
Proper care of a TV does not require much. Following the recommendations
below will assure long life and minimize repairs:
Subdued lighting is preferred for best viewing conditions. Locate the TV away
from extremes of hot and cold. Avoid damp or dusty locations if possible.
Allow adequate ventilation - TVs use more power than any of your other
A/V components. Heat buildup takes its toll on electronic components.
Leave at least 3 inches on top and sides for air circulation if the
entertainment center does not have a wide open back panel. Do not
pile other components like VCRs on top of the TV if possible (see below).
Do not put anything on top of the TV that might block the ventilation
grill in the rear or top of the cover. This is the major avenue for
the convection needed to cool internal components.
If possible, locate the VCR away from the TV. Some VCRs are particularly
sensitive to interference from the TV's circuitry and while this won't
usually damage anything, it may make for less than optimal performance
due to RF interference. The reverse is sometimes true as well.
In addition, modern VCRs can't support a lot of weight. The weight of a TV or
stereo components could affect the VCR mechanically, messing up tape
path alignment or worse.
If possible, locate your computer monitor away from the TV. Interaction
of the electromagnetic fields of the deflection systems may result in
one or both displays jiggling, wiggling, or vibrating.
Locate loudspeakers and other sources of magnetic fields at least a couple
of feet from the TV. This will minimize the possibility of color purity
or geometry problems.
Make sure all input-output video and audio connections are tight and
secure to minimize intermittent or noisy pictures and sound. Use proper
high quality cable only long enough to make connections conveniently.
Finally, store video cassettes well away from all electronic equipment
including and especially loudspeakers. Heat and magnetic fields will
rapidly turn your priceless video collection into so much trash. The
operation of the TV depends on magnetic fields for beam deflection.
© 2006 Don's
TV Service
