Smelly CRTs

[ryu]

I have a couple of NEC multisyncs that produce a distinct smell when they run. In more optimistic days I used to think the source had to be dirt or dust inside of the monitors, but I have opened up both of them since then only to find out that they are actually pretty clean.

So the only resource I have on the topic is this one here

http://www.repairfaq.org/samnew/tvfaq/tvozone.htm

Therefore I'm trying to determine the likelyhood of aged or broken capacitors as the cause. Especially since I've noticed that the XM29 I'm currently using produces the smell, which I can't even describe, even when it's running in standby (apparently a requirement unless I want the brightness to flash up and down during a long warm up period).

Are there any other possible causes? Anyone else has experienced CRTs or other electronics producing some kind of smell?

I've been through a few CRTs in the last years, and coincidentally it's only the NECs (GBM-70 and XM2950) that have had this issue. Also used to think it may be related to the vents, but that doesn't seem to likely anymore given how the smell appears persist in standby mode with the vents not running.

Am I the only one who's got this problem? Never seen anyone talk about smelly CRTs before here.

[Monstermug]

I had a smelly NEC XM29. It smelt like someone's else's home. I always had a hunch it was just dirt on the neck tube... Never really bothered to clean it with iso though. Worth a try?

[RocketKnight]

About ten years ago I bought a Philips 32" HD CRT TV which produced an unpleasant smell when it ran. Several months later I gave it back because the smell didn't decrease. Shortly after I talked to a colleague's husband who was working at Philips and he told me that it was a well-known issue. The engineers had covered the electron gun in some material that should deaden its annoyingly loud buzz. When the gun heated the surrounding cover, the smell occured.

[accaris]

There's some kind of plastic in the chassis that's degrading over time, made worse by the set warming up. Would you describe the smell as kind of a finger-paint smell, or a paint drying smell? An acrid but not completely unpleasant car wax type smell? It's almost certainly the plastic. More specifically, probably the fire retardant chemicals in the plastic, like the kind that cause Super Nintendos to turn yellow over time. I made a Magnavox TV worse once by rubbing it down with Armor-All Protectant wipes... it smelled really strongly after that.

[kamiboy]

I love the smell of CRT in the morning, smells like retro.

But in all seriousness failing capacitors eminate a very distinct smell, a somewhat lewd one if you catch my drift, you will recognize it if you've ever smelled it before.

But if things have gotten so bad that you can smell it at such a distance you should be seeing visual evidence of leaking at a glance, if not visual artefacts in the image quality of the tube.

[Crafty+Mech]

I love the smell of CRT in the morning, smells like retro.

CRTs don't surf.

[ryu]

Thanks for the insights. Guess it could really be anything.

Unfortunately I can neither describe the smell nor compare it another kind of smell.

I'll make sure to check the electron gun next time I open one of the sets, but that will be a while.