screen on emac goes black - CNET Mac desktops Forums

Answer Best answer as chosen by user emacG4user

Probably

by Jimmy Greystone - 10/15/11 12:12 PM

In Reply to: screen on emac goes black by emacG4user

Probably, but the kicker is that the eMac is a CRT based system, so you REALLY don't want to go messing with the internals unless you know how to properly discharge the thing. It can store LETHAL charges of electricity for days, even weeks, at a time. Even better is it can build up a secondary charge if all you do is leave it unplugged.

So unless you know to properly discharge a CRT display, take it somewhere to be looked at. Or just use it as an excuse to replace that electricity sucking space hog with something new. Apple offers giftcards for old electronics you bring in to be disposed of properly, so win-win.

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probably what?

by emacG4user - 10/15/11 1:00 PM

In Reply to: Probably by Jimmy Greystone

bad connection or about to die? Unfortunitly i have more space than money so i would like to fix it if i can. Where does it have a lethal charge cause if its a loose wire i should be able to fix that.

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Probably a loose wire

by Jimmy Greystone - 10/15/11 5:54 PM

In Reply to: probably what? by emacG4user

Probably a loose wire, but that in and of itself is a bit of a prelude to death in most cases. You may be able to extend the life of this unit a while longer, but that would probably be about it.

And the high voltage stuff is around the back of the display. Primarily the electron guns that actually paint the display on the screen. The CRT iMac/eMacs were just a pain to deal with, and fortunately I got into the repair game as they were largely phased out, but I've been zapped by the exposed PSUs of the newer iMacs enough times to know to be very respectful of electricity. You can be exceedingly careful, but all it takes is one tiny little mistake.

My general philosophy is that no matter how broke you are, it's not worth risking your life to fix something. There's at least a decent chance of that happening here. Maybe not quite 50/50, but it's more than a remote chance. If you're that broke, then just keep hitting it until that stops working, then take it in. Maybe set aside a few bucks a week in the mean time to help cover the repair costs.