monitor trouble

[Z80inside]

Hello,
Does anybody in here have any experience with monitor repair, specifically the Phillips CM8833-II?

Last night I was on the Amiga and ever thing was working fine, however when I powered up this afternoon the monitor wasn’t working properly. The green LED on the front lights up but as soon as I remove my finger it switches off. I don’t really want to fork out for a new monitor as the only problem appears to be the switch (If I remove the spring popping the button out the monitor will stay on, but then it can’t be turned off again). This problem may sound slightly trivial but if anyone has experienced anything like this I'd appreciate advice, thanks.

[Brian]

Affirmative... I've too had one of those monitors that the switch refused to stay in to ON position. In my case stuck it in there with a folded paper and then it wasn't that big a deal as I had it connected so it switched ON/OFF together with the computer.

A folded paper can keep it in place and you can jank the paper when you want it turned off. If that's not an option then you could open it and give it another switch (from an old PSU perhaps) or you could simply buy another one or a 1084 second hand... they got for practicly nothing here (5-20$).

[FastRobPlus]

Wacky.  I threw a 1084s (identical to the Philips) away on Monday due to this same problem.

[Z80inside]

Hmm… there be a pattern emerging here me thinks, possibly a conspiracy amongst the computer manufactures of old, stranger things have happened.

For the now I’ll use the card method (cheers Brian) but if I can’t get it fixed properly I’ll have to bite the bullet and buy a new monitor. Maybe I could get a scandoubler and treat my humble amiga to a nice big 17” PC monitor (though I really should be injecting that money into other areas).

[FastRobPlus]

I think a catch of some kind is becoming worn from use.

That's just a guess since I have never opened this monitor up, but I have a 1942 that sometimes does not "catch" when you push the button on the back.  

I have known folks to jam the switch in as described by Brian, then plug the monitor into a surge protector and use the surge protector's switch as the monitor's on/off switch.

[CosmoCarl]

Just change the switch

[Brian]

Yah... changing the switch should be quite easy to do. Just make sure it's a switch that can cope with high voltage (such as found in old AT PSU's).

[Python15]

I'm guessing you've already done this! It's easier said than done as the switch is soldered onto the PCB. How many AT PSU's do you know that are soldered in place?

[bludger]

I just fixed the same problem with my CM8833-I using the switch from an AT PSU.

Only had to re-drill the mounting holes about 1 mm larger to allow for the slight difference between them(the AT screws are just slightly farther apart).

As Python15 wrote -

------------------------------------------------------I'm guessing you've already done this! It's easier said than done as the switch is soldered onto the PCB. How many AT PSU's do you know that are soldered in place? --------------------------

I'm not familiar with the -II model. Is it a different design?

[PaSha]

A different option is to simply bypass the switch (solder it to a permanent 'on' state, and stick some sort of switch on the power cable. Such as the switch on the bottom on this page: http://www.clasohlson.no/?AFP=store/fs_mm.asp&COSID=3DF770AFD6E747B8B9A85FFC011BECC5579876&CatPath=0q112q115q808q553q554&CampPath=&NoCache=4615214&IsCampaign=N

-Paul

[melott]

PaSha wrote:
A different option is to simply bypass the switch (solder it to a permanent 'on' state, and stick some sort of switch on the power cable. Such as the switch on the bottom on this page: http://www.clasohlson.no/?AFP=store/fs_mm.asp&COSID=3DF770AFD6E747B8B9A85FFC011BECC5579876&CatPath=0q112q115q808q553q554&CampPath=&NoCache=4615214&IsCampaign=N

-Paul

The switch on my 1084 died a couple years ago ...
I did as PaSha suggests.. I just took the switch out
and wired the monitor to on all the time.
I have the computer and monitor plugged into a surge
supressor power bar with an On/Off switch and turn
everything on with the power bar switch.
Also its good to have the extra protection of the surge
supressor.