You should never place heavy items of any type on top of the monitor. This can
cause the case to crack or at least flex and perhaps cause something inside the
case to short. In particular, never put tapes, disks, or other magnetic media on
top of a monitor. A very large magnet lives inside the case and another magnet
could easily erase the data on the media.
Kee pthe monitor (and PC) at a distance from heat sources, dam penvironments,
magnets (including those in standard PC or stereo speakers), motors, or areas
in which static electricity is a problem.
Use the power cord supplied with the monitor. Typically, this cord is specially
designed to handle your monitor’s voltage. If it is misplaced, obtain a replacement
from the manufacturer or a dealer for that brand of monitor. Don’t confuse the
PC’s power cord with the monitors when moving the system.
The monitor’s case should only be cleaned with a damp lint-free cloth. Always
unplug the monitor before cleaning it or using any water-based cleaning solution
on it. The monitor’s screen can be cleaned with the same cloth or with a little
glass cleaner. Don’t spray any liquids on the screen. Instead spray it on the
cloth, wipe the screen, and then wipe the screen completely dry. Avoid strong
degreasers or ammonia-based cleaners because they can impact the screen’s
glass and even affect the colors of the display (they leave a residue).
The stand that shipped with the monitor is actually engineered as a part of the
cooling system. If you remove it and sit the monitor on its case bottom, you run
the risk of blocking the air vents on the bottom of the case. The monitor needs
to be sitting up to allow proper airflow for the cooling system.
Avoid touching the screen with your hands. Oil and dirt from your hands are
very hard to remove from the screen.Monitor Safety
Rule number one when working with a CRT monitor is that you never—repeat,
never—open the monitor’s case. Any and all repairs that must be done to the monitor are
invariably inside the case and should be performed at a repair shop that is set up to work
on monitors.Personal Safety
The reason for all of this caution is that inside the monitor is a very large capacitor, which
is an electronic device that holds power and uses it to regulate the power stream it re-
ceives. Remember that the monitor is not powered by the PC’s power supply; it is
plugged directly into an AC outlet. The monitor has a power supply much like that in the
PC, and it holds power to absorb power spikes and fill in under voltage events. Inside theChapter 16: Monitors and Displays^399