CTM644 gone bad - free to a good home that can fix it!

[Devlin]

My CTM644 is dying!



There was a burning smell just before this happened, so I'm under the impression a capacitor has failed in the monitor somewhere.


I posted a photo on Twitter about it. http://twitter.com/magic_bane/status/449300245969911808/photo/1


I understand I have two options: Get a separate power supply and SCART/Composite(and ultimately discard the monitor), or diagnose/replace the duff caps in my CTM644.

[steve]

I think wherever possible CPC Monitors should be repaired and preserved and since many people are throwing them out, they will become increasingly rare perhaps even mythological.

[pelrun]

If you can manage a capacitor replacement, then that's definitely recommended - you'll want to replace every electrolytic capacitor, since if one has gone, the rest are also likely on their way out (replace with identical F value and equal or higher voltage rating). On the upside, you won't need to figure out exactly where the faulty cap is, and it's easier to do it all at once.


Or you can sell the monitor to someone else who can do the repair - which is far superior to throwing it out.

[Devlin]

I'd love to do all these repairs but I'm really broke so my option is to sell to someone who can get it working.


I'll trade it for a compatible power supply and CPC SCART cable though.

[CanonMan]

Looking at the photo, I'd say the deflection coils on the CRT have gone faulty. if so, it's scrap, I'm afraid

[Bryce]

If the coils had failed the picture would have collapsed completely, that's just one of the horizontal deflection capacitors that's failed. An easy fix and the capacitor probably has physical damage that's easy to spot.

Bryce.

[Devlin]

Looking at the photo, I'd say the deflection coils on the CRT have gone faulty. if so, it's scrap, I'm afraid

Thanks for grabbing the pic out of the tweet!


If it's an easy fix I'll have a look and I might take another trip into town and pick up what I need and get it fixed

[chinnyhill10]

While I applaud people trying to keep CTM's alive I personally have no interest in having one.


It's a 30 year old CRT and you certainly wouldn't catch me messing around inside one. There's voltages in there that can kill even when it has been off for a long period If you aren't a trained CRT technician with the correct tools you should not open the case.


CRT's were nasty things even when new. High voltages and technologies that date back to the 1930's. Keep out unless you really know what you are doing.

[CanonMan]

Thanks for grabbing the pic out of the tweet!


If it's an easy fix I'll have a look and I might take another trip into town and pick up what I need and get it fixed

If it's the deflection coils then it definitely isn't an easy fix, they are attached to the CRT and would be a right royal pain to replace and set up, even if you could get a replacement!


I can't think of anything that would screw up the picture width and convergence better than faulty deflection coils. Are there any TV engineers out there who could back up my theory?

[CanonMan]

If the coils had failed the picture would have collapsed completely, that's just one of the horizontal deflection capacitors that's failed. An easy fix and the capacitor probably has physical damage that's easy to spot.

Bryce.

The picture would collapse if a coil had failed open circuit, I agree with that. Coils can develop shorts though, and that's what I think has happened here. The lack of convergence makes me say that.

[Devlin]

The picture would collapse if a coil had failed open circuit, I agree with that. Coils can develop shorts though, and that's what I think has happened here. The lack of convergence makes me say that.

Going by the fact that I can't see any burned or melted caps anywhere I guess one of the coils has gone and it's destined for the tip


The monitor has been in the family for almost as long as the CPC has been out - my uncle bought it with the colour monitor soon after launch, a year later my dad bought it from my uncle and years of service to both a CPC, and several models of Amiga before getting into my hands where it went back into use with a CPC up till last night :/


Looks like i'm buying a SCART/PSU kit for my amstrad.

[pelrun]

Electrolytic caps have pressure release vents on the top. Manufacturing tolerances mean some vents take less pressure to open than others, so it may not be obvious that a cap is dead just by physical inspection.

[Devlin]

Well that complicates things a fair bit then!
I *really* don't have the resources to replace all the capacitors in it, and I don't have the tools to safely work on it.


I think I'll keep hold of it for a while - If someone wants to collect it for fixing it they can have it for free. (A gift of a SCART cable for my CPC in exchange would be appreciated but not necessary!)
If no-one's bothered after a few weeks, it'll go to the tip.

[CanonMan]

Where are you located?


If the case is in good condition and you're close enough then I may be interested. I might even have a spare SCART lead to swap it for!

[Devlin]

Where are you located?


If the case is in good condition and you're close enough then I may be interested. I might even have a spare SCART lead to swap it for!

I live in Bradford, W Yorkshire (UK).

[Munchausen]

Devlin, if you don't mind paying courier or making a long distance pick up (I'm in Kent), I've got two CTM644s going spare that I'm trying to find a home for at the moment. I still haven't gotten around to testing them due to a house move, but I'm 99% sure one is working, and the fallout from the move should be done this weekend so I will fire them up soon.


Note to others who already declared interest in these - I'll still prioritise someone who can pick up, but otherwise I'll go in order once I've tested them and worked out postage costs.

[Devlin]

I'm really in no financial situation to be doing anything courier related OR long-range pickup currently, otherwise I'd have had them!


Thanks for the offer though, I appreciate it!

[beaker]

If you could get the approximate weight and dimensions that would be great to work out the courier costs. When you have time

[steve]

Try Shipley, list your delivery/pick up and wait for carriers to undercut each other until you get a price that is acceptable to you.Courier Services | UK Delivery Service Companies - Shiply

[Devlin]

Try Shipley, list your delivery/pick up and wait for carriers to undercut each other until you get a price that is acceptable to you.Courier Services | UK Delivery Service Companies - Shiply

That's all good and well but I am barely affording to pay the bills, I have a £0 budget so as much as I want one, I gotta pass.

[Devlin]

One last punt:

Does anyone want to come and collect this monitor to try and fix it? It's going to the tip this following Monday (9th April) if no-one does so let me know now by pm if you want to come and collect it.

[Gryzor]

A pity...