Why does an old TV spark?

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Blackbird.

Blackbird.

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My parents have an old roughly 25 year old Mitsubishi TV in their room and recently (as in has been happening for about 2 weeks) has been making sparking sounds and sizzling (like electricity not burning sizzling) sounds from the back of the TV. It sizzles for a bit and "pops" occasionally, sometimes so bad it shuts off the TV. I looked at the back and it seems to be a blue spark within the case in the back. What is this if you guys know and how long do you think it will last before it will completely go out?
 
I don't know but you might wanna get rid of it before it causes a fire or something.
 
Blackbird.
I looked at the back and it seems to be a blue spark within the case in the back.
Click to expand...
It's probably time to abandon ship. Twenty-five years is a very long time to have a TV. If it's sparking and sizzling, you're just asking for trouble. A really nice replacement can be had for a few-hundred bucks.
 
I think you have a TV similar to the one we just trashed...

I know the screens have a habit of sparking on all CRT displays when you turn them off. My guess for the back is that the electronics and cables are getting worn.
 
Chuck it, Blackbird.

If you can see it making sparks, then it's got a bad connection (or, more likely several but only one that's bad enough to spark) of some sort, or the sheath on some wiring could have worn through and is shorting on other wires.

Seriously, chuck it. Before it melts on itself and catches something on fire.
 
That's what I said but they insist to keep it untill it craps out. They're looking at a 26" LCD HD Flatscreen.

This is the TV
oldtvyi0.jpg


This is the back
oldtv2ip6.jpg
 
Take the fuse out of the plug or something. Serious, it's not nice to force them to get a new TV but you may be saving their home...

Ev
 
Wow, that thing is ancient, it will definitely be a good idea to get rid of it ASAP. If they continue to use it like that there could be a fire and judging by where it is that room will be up in flames in no time. It's really not worth it.

What would they rather save, a tiny bit of money or their lives?
 
ExigeExcel
Take the fuse out of the plug or something. Serious, it's not nice to force them to get a new TV but you may be saving their home...

Ev
Click to expand...

What he said ^

It's not the most ethical approach, but if they're being ignorant about something like that, you have to do it. That or install a smoke alarm directly above it...

Really, 25 years?! There's not a TV in our house that's lasted more than 7 years.
 
Well, thankfully they like to use the downstairs TV alot. So usually if I watch TV I watch that one but I guess I won't anymore. Only two TVs.

EDIT: Yeah roughly... Well since they don't use it much at all only I have recently it shouldn't be a problem because they are going to get a new one just not at the moment, no money yet. But if they were using it everyday like we use the downstairs one I would consider taking out the fuse.
 
Tell them an electrician said to pick it up and throw it in a dumpster.

Pick it up. Throw it in a dumpster.

I'm an electrician.
 
Dude the TV is older than you, surely that's a wake up call? Seriously, take a sledgehammer to it and then point to the nearest non-humanoid.
 
Blackbird.
That's what I said but they insist to keep it untill it craps out.
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Well... it IS crapping out. Just because it hasn't died yet doesn't mean it's not on it's last legs. Double that up with the fire hazard (that's no joke.. electrical faults are a very common source of house fires), and you've got a lot of ammo for getting rid of the thing sooner rather than later. Even if they aren't ready to buy a new one at the moment, I'd highly recommend getting rid of the one they have and simply doing without until the can buy a new one.
 
The sparking is probably coming from inside the picture tube neck, which would not be dangerous, but an indicator of imminent failure of at least one of the color guns.

A lot of CRTs will arc a bit when new, then settle in. When they're old and arcing starts, it's very close to goodbye.

BTW, they know that newer sets get lots more channels, right? Brighter picture, too. Stereo sound, inputs for DVD, games, etc. Really a lot of nice advancements since 1980.
 
Well my mom attempted to watch House last night and apparently it sparked (and made it shut off) several times in short intervals so they finally realized that it's time to stop using it. :dunce: But yeah they're going to get a Sony between 26-32" LCD.

Bee: Yeah I know it's roughly 9 years older then me.
 

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