RPTV CRT problem - will this cause radiation?

Posted by Jeff T. on September 25, 1998 at 23:20:10:

In Reply to: RPTV CRT problem - will this cause radiation? posted by Andy on September 24, 1998 at 09:01:56:

: A mishap happened with my RPTV that caused a power surge to the CRTs and left two of them with one small hole in the middle of each. The picture is viewable, although it will always look like a bug is on the screen. My concern is if I should worry about any radiation threat with a pinhole size hole in the middle of the red and green CRTs? I am not too knowledgeable about this.

: I know fixing the problem would mean replacing both CRTs so I will probably get rid of the set, but I would rather not put my family at risk.

I suspect that you burned the phosphorus on the CRTs. If they really had a hole, (even a small one), they almost certainly would have imploded, as they are under a very high vacuum. If by some miracle the tubes did hold up physically, the filaments used in the tubes would have burned up in the oxygen that would now be present in the CRT. You wouldn't have a picture (at least not red or green).

As for your question, I am not an expert, but I doubt it. The National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) did studies in the late fifties and early sixties to understand the risks associated with BW televisions, and later, color televisons.

Originally, the radiation concern was due to the electron beam which strikes the phosporus. It was determined that the thick glass plate that is the front surface of the tube absorbed the radiation.

Later it was discovered that radiation was more prevalent as a source from the high-voltage supplies that drive the CRT. These are only accessible by service technicians. Viewers are not exposed.

In summary, your tubes are still intact, the electron beam radiation is being absorbed by the glass, the same as it has been since you first got the set. The only difference is that there just isn't any phosporus there to glow.

If you're still not comfortable, call the RPTV manufacturer and ask them. They probably have to certify each design and can give you more specific information.

Jeff

Follow Ups:

Return to the new SMR Forums Menu

Design & HTML © SMR Home Theatre, Images © SMR Home Theatre cannot be reproduced without permission.  The images on this page are digitally watermarked.  New forum messages should be posted into SMR Forums v2 - http://www.smr-forums.com/

	The Web   SMR Archive