Help! NEC XM-37 monitor is dying out on me?

[mrkotfw]

Hello everyone.


I have a NEC XM-37 and I'm noticing that it's just starting to die out.


In short, when I turn it on, the image is very dark and extremely blurry. In order to get half of the crisp and colorful image that it once had, I have to wait nearly 30 minutes. From that point on, it tends go blurry for a few seconds and then focuses back.

Where/who can I take it to that will fix my monitor without charging me out the wazoo?

What is even going on? Are the capacitors inside just dying out (no longer holding charge)?

[mrkotfw]

Bump...

[brokenhalo]

Sounds like it's time for a cap kit. You'll need to take an inventory of each capacitor in your monitor and order replacement caps. If you know anyone who is handy with a soldering iron they should be able to help you do the job.

[mrkotfw]

Sounds like it's time for a cap kit. You'll need to take an inventory of each capacitor in your monitor and order replacement caps. If you know anyone who is handy with a soldering iron they should be able to help you do the job.

Thanks for the reply.

That's what I thought I'd have to do. Though, knowing which capacitors are faulty is going to be problematic. Is there just a large list somewhere? How/where can I obtain the list of capacitors (really, their capacitance) needed?


I know how to solder, and quite frankly I'm more than capable of doing it myself. The only problem is that it's extremely dangerous to do so. At least this is from what I've read with arcade monitors. All that buildup of charge...

[brokenhalo]

For some of the more common monitors you can find pre made cap kits, otherwise you just have to manually do an inventory of all the caps values. You'll be replacing all of them; some will have more obvious wear, but they are all the same age so it makes sense to just redo them all.

Working on a monitor isn't really that dangerous. There is a video on youtube that shows you how to discharge the anode the anode cap. You'll need a flathead screwdriver, about 3 ft of 14awg stranded thhn wire and two alligator clips to make the tool you'll need to discharge it. Once that's done you have nothing to worry about.

[mrkotfw]

For some of the more common monitors you can find pre made cap kits, otherwise you just have to manually do an inventory of all the caps values. You'll be replacing all of them; some will have more obvious wear, but they are all the same age so it makes sense to just redo them all.

Working on a monitor isn't really that dangerous. There is a video on youtube that shows you how to discharge the anode the anode cap. You'll need a flathead screwdriver, about 3 ft of 14awg stranded thhn wire and two alligator clips to make the tool you'll need to discharge it. Once that's done you have nothing to worry about.

OK, I think a service manual will be good. Though, I'm surprised as my XM-37 doesn't seem to be very common (the XM-29 on the other hand...)


I will do just that. Would it be too extreme if I go ahead with some thick gloves?

I read somewhere that I have to make sure I don't discharge the anode cap by directly facing it?

Thank you.

[brokenhalo]

Wearing rubber gloves cant hurt, but is hardly necessary. Keep one hand behind your back when you are discharging and you'll be fine. And they recommend looking away when you are actually discharging because there could possibly be a small flash from the discharge. This never actually happens, at worst you might get a small spark, sometimes you'll get an audible pop, usually there isnt enough of a charge for anything fun to happen. It's really no big deal and after you do it youll laugh at all the idiots yelling "it's dangerous!" on the internet.

[mrkotfw]

Wearing rubber gloves cant hurt, but is hardly necessary. Keep one hand behind your back when you are discharging and you'll be fine. And they recommend looking away when you are actually discharging because there could possibly be a small flash from the discharge. This never actually happens, at worst you might get a small spark, sometimes you'll get an audible pop, usually there isnt enough of a charge for anything fun to happen. It's really no big deal and after you do it youll laugh at all the idiots yelling "it's dangerous!" on the internet.

Thank you. I will try this sometime in the next few weeks.

I can't seem to find any list of parts for the NEC XM-37... I really really don't want to have to take the PCB and have to write it down manually!