Re: TI-99/4a Monitor power cord
On 11/6/2021 4:14 PM, James B DiGriz wrote: Never had one of these to take apart and don't see a service manual right off, but I'm assuming you have the 10" PHA4100 model, so the connection will likely be whatever Matsushita/Panasonic used in TV's that era. There was a 13" model PHA4000 that is a modified Zenith TV, but those were pretty uncommon, only sold with the /4 (not 4A) until TI got FCC approval for their RF modulator, which allowed most of us to use a standard TV. The 4100 has a cleaner picture, though. I have both a TI one and a Panasonic one, both identical short of the badge and case color and both have the gummy/sticky power cord. The TI one isn't here with me at the moment but the Panasonic one is marked model CT-160. Find them for sale online but not the manual yet. Starting to lean towards just using the mesh cable wrap I have on it. David Williams www.trailingedge.com
Re: TI-99/4a Monitor power cord
On Sat, 6 Nov 2021 13:54:57 -0500 David Williams via cctalk wrote: > > Yeah I figured cleaning of one sort or another would only delay the > inevitable. I can open it up and look at the cord attachment but > thought I'd see if anyone knew or had anything showing it before I > went to that trouble. My other thought was I have various cable wrap > that I could encase it in as a quick easy way to deal with it. Never had one of these to take apart and don't see a service manual right off, but I'm assuming you have the 10" PHA4100 model, so the connection will likely be whatever Matsushita/Panasonic used in TV's that era. There was a 13" model PHA4000 that is a modified Zenith TV, but those were pretty uncommon, only sold with the /4 (not 4A) until TI got FCC approval for their RF modulator, which allowed most of us to use a standard TV. The 4100 has a cleaner picture, though. jbdigriz
Re: TI-99/4a Monitor power cord
On 11/6/2021 1:10 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote: Heptane (sold under the name "Bestine") works wel and won't affect plastics. Bestine is mostly known to stamp collector s who use it to remove adhesive from stamps without damaging them. Bestine is also useful for removing really stubborn deposits from tape and disk heads. You can expect that eventually, the jacket on the cord will begin cracking as the loss of plasticizer progresses. A somewhat more pragmatic approach, short of replacement, is to encase the the cord in split wire loom. Looks a little clumsy, but will keep the sticky stuff from fouling anything else. Yeah I figured cleaning of one sort or another would only delay the inevitable. I can open it up and look at the cord attachment but thought I'd see if anyone knew or had anything showing it before I went to that trouble. My other thought was I have various cable wrap that I could encase it in as a quick easy way to deal with it. Thanks. David Williams www.trailingedge.com
Re: TI-99/4a Monitor power cord
On 11/6/21 10:24 AM, David Gesswein via cctech wrote: > On Fri, Nov 05, 2021 at 10:13:48PM -0500, David Williams wrote: >> I have a TI monitor that has a power cord that is becoming sticky and gummy >> and I'm looking at what to do with it. >> Any other suggestions on dealing with the cord besides replacing it? >> > Once the plastic starts breaking down I haven't found anything permanent. > Some are breaking down slow enough that cleaning lasts for a couple years. > I go though my various cleaners/solvents until I get to one strong enough to > clean it up without too much damage. The ones for removing gummy adhesive > remover seem to work OK. A mild abrasive cleaning pad or cleaner can also help > since sometimes you need to remove the surface plastic layer to get to more > stable plastic. Aggressive solvents will also do that but I have trouble > controlling them. Heptane (sold under the name "Bestine") works wel and won't affect plastics. Bestine is mostly known to stamp collector s who use it to remove adhesive from stamps without damaging them. Bestine is also useful for removing really stubborn deposits from tape and disk heads. You can expect that eventually, the jacket on the cord will begin cracking as the loss of plasticizer progresses. A somewhat more pragmatic approach, short of replacement, is to encase the the cord in split wire loom. Looks a little clumsy, but will keep the sticky stuff from fouling anything else. FWIW Chuck
Re: TI-99/4a Monitor power cord
On Fri, Nov 05, 2021 at 10:13:48PM -0500, David Williams wrote: > I have a TI monitor that has a power cord that is becoming sticky and gummy > and I'm looking at what to do with it. > Any other suggestions on dealing with the cord besides replacing it? > Once the plastic starts breaking down I haven't found anything permanent. Some are breaking down slow enough that cleaning lasts for a couple years. I go though my various cleaners/solvents until I get to one strong enough to clean it up without too much damage. The ones for removing gummy adhesive remover seem to work OK. A mild abrasive cleaning pad or cleaner can also help since sometimes you need to remove the surface plastic layer to get to more stable plastic. Aggressive solvents will also do that but I have trouble controlling them. Not familiar with 99/4a monitors to comment on replacing cord.
