I know this forum is about valve equipment, but we are also interested in repairing our own things rather than adding to landfill.

So, when I retired from work back in 2015, they were in the process of upgrading their computers, so I got to take home a bunch of older stuff, mostly the pcs and monitors that had been on my desk. Among them were two Samsung 226BW monitors. They make a very nice picture, but after about 10 years or so, they become intermittently faulty followed by complete failure.

The first monitor broke about 5 years ago, the picture would flash on and off, settling down after a while. Eventually it wouldn't display anything. A look at Youtube suggested that the electrolytic caps in the power supply (it's inbuilt in the monitor) could be replaced. So I purchased 4 new caps from Jaycar, did the repair - and it worked.

Last week the 2nd monitor stopped working, after a year or so of odd operation of the controls (for example, it couldn't be turned off with the button). So, this time I decided to replaced all 6 electros - and it worked again. The parts cost $7.50, much cheaper than buying a new one. And of course, the satisfaction of resurrecting the dead.

Now, I don't usually repair monitors, but this model has such a good picture, and the repair is relatively simple, so why not?

I've experienced very similar symptoms with Samsung monitors. However, as they are space hoggers compared to today's flat screens, I didn't bother trying to fix them.

My wife keeps telling me we need a new monitor because mine is old fashioned lol. I hate waste and refuse to buy a new one while mine continues to work reliably and yep I would repair mine.

226BW *is* a flat screen. I wouldn't bother fixing a broken CRT monitor - as they break out they go. I still have 5 working ones though.

226BW *is* a flat screen

In that case, it seems that Samsung monitiors develop similar faults regardless of the era of technology.

I still have 5 working ones though.

What era of monitors do you have? early green/amber phosphor sets or early 640*480 vga ones or later super vga style?

I certainly agree with not liking waste, a couple of months ago the local shire dumped a whole load of 2012/13 Dell 9010's off to the recycling section of the tip. mind you the IT guys had already been in there and pulled the hard drives, but instead of selling these machines off they decided to piff them. So after a little persuasion I managed to get the guy at the entrance of the tip to turn a blind eye so I could pull out four better spec machines.
So in the end I used one of them after installing a graphics card and more ram with a SSD as my new apartment computer for me in melbourne as a full size tower would take up too much space. saved me a good deal of money I don't have to put towards a new PC.

What era of monitors do you have?

There's a green-screen Dick Smith monitor, 2 VGA monitors for my '386 computers, a Daiwoo monitor for my long-dead Windows 95 computer, and a giant Compaq 21 inch that I use with my Windows 98SE computer.

I can get the model numbers next week if you want that info.

The Dick Smith monitor is no longer needed, as is one of the VGA monitors, so they are stored away.

Would you consider selling the green screen monitor Robbert?

Yes, you can have it for free, but you'll have to pick it up. I'll need to test it first if you want to proceed. The monitor was used with my ancient Dick Smith Super-80 computer before it got sold a few years back.

Thanks Robert. Can you send me an email please. If you can hang on to it for a while I can get my daughter to pick it up next time she comes home from uni. I'm not too worried about working condition. Ben

Email sent.

I've lost count of how many not so old electronic items I've saved from landfill for the sake of replacing a few electrolytics in the switch mode power supply.
Often the originals are only rated to 85 degrees and are mounted next to wire wound resistors etc so they are doomed to failure.
I only use 105 degree high quality electros and position them away from heat sources as much as possible.
I hate seeing repairable items going to landfill.
Am I old school? Absolutely.

Yep, read you loud and clear Irext.

I am not a fan of 85 degree caps as I often repair computer power packs for neighbours, and the culprits are always 85's. All my cap stock are 105. I have no 85's and never will. Trapped in a black box with no ventilation crammed up sardine can fashion just ain't cool, yet I see them everywhere.

At the moment I have an ACER power pack with two 680 microfarad electros which need replacing. I haven't any small enough to fit in the power pack and wonder if I can get away with 1000's, which come in all sizes and plentiful. What was ACER thinking, and can I expect an out of spec. current surge with the 1000's?

I'm about to find out.

I wouldn't say seeing fixable products going to landfill and hating it is old school.
While our society has decided that's the new social norm it absolutely pains me when I see it happen too.
Last time I went to the tip the local shire dumped about 30 Dell computers in various stated in the recycling bin, now these computers were only about 7 or 8 years old. I did save three of them and low and behold they all work no worries.
All I had to do was install a hard drive/SSD and they were off and running.

Lance

Aside from its hunger for PSU's I have a build 2000 Daitronics computer, which is running the AutoCAD in other words still in service. Its Keyboard is the original.

Modern ones are crap. Toshiba NVIDIA fault is due for a third and this one 2019 Acer has a genuine Acer keyboard the first one failed to make a year before the letters started to disappear and this one is no better and needs chucking out. So much for quality.

Daitronics wins.

Marc