CRT Moniitor Fell -- Safe To Use?

[JerP]

I just knocked my CRT monitor off of my computer desk -- a fall of about 2.5 feet -- it put a rather large dent in my floor (appears to have fallen on the top-right corner), and the casing at the top where the front part of my monitor (the casing around the screen) is attached to the rest (the bulk) of the monitor.

It's only undone in one corner, and the plastic tabs that kept it together are bent out of place. I am wondering if I should continue to use this monitor. The screen appears fine, but who knows what really happened on the inside.

[johnny_quest]

There (usually) isn't any electronics on the top of the tubes, they are all below/behind. I'd say you're safe and obvisouly didn't break the seal (you'd know it!) but time will tell. If you don't see any smoke i myself would continue to use it. I've dropped large tvs and monitors and they never stopped working (when i worked at circuit city :))

[bassman]

(when i worked at circuit city )
THAT WAS YOU?! Arrrggg! :mad:
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Jus Kidden :D

[JerP]

Thanks for your help. Everything appears to be fine. There was an odd smell but it seems to have dissapeared (I was actually moving an old'ish rug into the room when I knocked it over, so that might have been it).

I'm not entirely sure how dangerous these things are. It's a relatively new Dell monitor, I just wasn't sure if I should be concerned about possible radiation-leakage with my kids using it or what-have-you. Again, I'm not sure how dangerous the newer models are now a days... but as long as the picture looks okay, then so should everything else??

[azzey]

Oh, no... if you had cracked the CRT, you would be able to tell. Trust me.

If it still works, then it should be fine... you might want to tape up the hole to keep fingers out, though.

[JerP]

Oh, no... if you had cracked the CRT, you would be able to tell. Trust me.

If it still works, then it should be fine... you might want to tape up the hole to keep fingers out, though.

Thanks for that suggestion, it's just seperated a little bit but some electrical tape to cover it up won't harm it. The good news is that the sensor bar for our Nintendo Wii was attached to the top, which of course was the side that received most of the impact. Good news is that the Wii sensor bar is fine.

[zbo2408]

Just curious how would I know if there was a problem. You say trust you. What have you seen happen?

[sburtchin]

I'm not entirely sure how dangerous these things are. It's a relatively new Dell monitor, I just wasn't sure if I should be concerned about possible radiation-leakage with my kids using it or what-have-you. Again, I'm not sure how dangerous the newer models are now a days... but as long as the picture looks okay, then so should everything else??You may only ever know how dangerous these things are if you DO NOT STICK YOUR FINGERS INSIDE THE CASE, as if you do, you may not know anything ever again. It is no more dangerous now (assuming holes are patched) than it was before. Worst case, it may stop working. Specialized training (and technique) is required to break (or or even crack) the picture tube without becomming seriously injured from flying glass. Knocking it onto the floor again is probably what you should fear the most!

FYI: If any extra part of the picture tube is exposed, do not assume that electrical tape will protect you. You need a thickness of insulation comparable to what the case (including inside air space) provides.