Customer handed me a 2005 Sony Trinitron and said "fix the vertical lines, it's just a capacitor" but I had to explain it's the panel failing after testing the vertical deflection circuit for an hour.

Couldn't tell if they were being hopeful or just cheap, but do you guys take the time to explain bad panels to people or just hand it back and move on?

2 comments

2 Comments

reed.ray1mo ago

Man oh man, that's a rough spot to be in. I really feel for you, spending a whole hour tracing vertical deflection only to realize it's a panel problem is the worst kind of letdown. People just don't get how those old Trinitrons can have the tube itself go bad in ways that look like simple circuit issues. I always try to explain it once in plain language, like "the picture tube is dying, not a cheap part," and if they still argue I just hand it back with a shrug. Saves everyone time and headache.

lily891mo ago

Yeah I read somewhere those Trinitrons have a specific kinda failure.