Re: Seeing red

[icssofty@aol.com (ICS Softy)]

>
>I think my RGB monitor is shot. Wilst taking a long phone call I turned off
>my
>monitor to save wear and tear and when I turn it back on the screen glows
>brightly red. Even when there's no signal. Of course I've been playing Dragon
>Wars GS for about 3 days straight on it.
>
>Anyways, does anyone know what causes it or if it's an easy fix? Currently
>there is no image. Just bright red as if the brightness and contrast controls
>were boosted 150% beyond maximum adjustments. Even dialing the brightness
>and contrast controls down all the way has no effect.
>

The small video controller board attached to the back of the tube has probably
blown the peaking coil on the circuit that controls the red gun.  The result is
the red gun goes wide open (which is why it's a bright red).

There used to be a text file somewhere in the AOL Apple II libraries that
described how to fix it but I can't locate it right now.  But in a nutshell,
you replace the 22 microhenry peaking coil in each circuit (there's only one
for each gun on the board and they aren't hard to find.).  The person who wrote
the file recommends replacing all three coils, even though only one failed. 
Because chances are the other two are getting weak as well and could go at any
time.  A good monitor repair technician should be able to do the fix as long as
they know what to look for.

My IIgs monitor did this three times.  Twice with the blue circuit and once on
the red.  I had a dealer fix the first two times ($200 to exchange the board). 
The last time I went and got the parts myself ($8).  That was five years ago
and I've yet to fix the thing (moved, got married.... etc.).

Larry :)