[stuart]

I live in Seattle and am considering getting a plasma screen for my living room. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the FAQ. It answered a LOT of my questions, but I have a few left. I did some searching, but had no luck finding information on:


1. What is the affect of air moisture content on a plasma screen? We get a lot of rain here.


2. What is the affect of vibration on a plasma screen? (2 parter)

a) Vibration level of a good sub-woofer.

b) Vibration level of a moderate earthquake. (Short of breaking the glass)


3. What are the hazards of a plasma screen breaking (say, in an earthquake) other than broken glass?


4. Are there any special considerations for disposal if broken or worn out? Can it just be taken to the dump or would I need to make special arrangements / expense?


Thanks!

Stu

 

[djs]

These are good questions.


1. From the Pioneer 433/503 technical reference manual:

Operating Temperature .......... 0 to 40 °C (32 to 104 °F) (NOTE 3)

Operating Humidity .............................................. 20 to 80 %

Operating atmospheric pressure ................. 800 to 1100 hPa

Storage limitations (when installed)

Temperature ............................ –20 to +60 °C (–4 to 140 °F)

Humidity ............................................................ . 20 to 90 %

Atmospheric pressure ................................ 670 to 1500 hPa


Personally, I wouldn't worry about the humidity, assuming you're using it inside! I don't think a plasma is much different from most consumer electronics when it comes to humidity. (Do you have air conditioning?)


2a. I suspect most of us have decent subwoofers (or at least we think we do!) You subwoofer & plasma won't be enclosed in the same cabinet, so I don't see any problem. My sub is in the opposite corner, 10' away from the plasma. Even if it were under it, I don't think I'd worry about it.


2b. I have no idea, but these things are delivered on trucks all the time. The packing material helps with high-frequency vibration & shock, but low frequency stuff (dirt roads) will still shake the plasma. I don't see this as much different than a moderate earthquake, as long as your house doesn't hit resonance. Then the plasma would be the least of your worries.


3. A plasma use phosphorus to produce light, much like a CRT. I don't know the relative quantities, but I doubt it's any worse than a broken CRT or fluorescent light. I can't imagine that there's any hazardous gas in there - 'plasma' implies a low pressure, so there are small quantities of whatever gas is in there.


4. Interesting question. I don't think most of us think about how to dispose of our plasmas! I'm sure the dump wouldn't know either. But most places won't take CRTs anymore, and I would think a plasma would be similar. [At my recycling center you have to buy a permit to leave a CRT or even a PC there.]


There are plenty of folks here with more expertise than I have, so let's see what they say...

 

[dswallow]

I don't think I've ever seen any of those questions asked before!


Humidity levels while operating should be in the manufacturers spec sheets; that's a pretty common item that is covered. However, unless it rains inside your house, you're not going to experience a problem. There are also fancy mounts that fully enclose the panel so it can be used in limited semi-outdoor situations, like on decks, where it would be subject to direct water contact.


My panel is about 4 feet above and 3 feet to the left of a 150 watt subwoofer. It doesn't worry me one bit. If it was one of those old sensurround speakers from back at the time of the original theatrical release of "Earthquake" I might hesitate.


During an earthquake, I'd be more concerned about myself and my family. And afterwards, I'd be extremely pissed at myself if I hadn't been smart enough to ensure in advance that my earthquake insurance covered my plasma screen. You do have earthquake insurance, right?


Around here, if we put out something that looks expensive, broken or not, for trash pickup, it rarely makes it to the garbage truck. It mysteriously disappears before then in the middle of the night.

 

[steuert]

IMO handling a plasma is basically not much different than handling a large tube set, except that they of course have a large, flat glass display which can break if it is roughly handled while laid flat. Plasmas are routinely shipped all over the world in cardboard cartons (albeit sturdy ones) with probably no greater breakage rates than most other kinds of glass. They should be treated with respect, but are not nearly as delicate as your questions imply.


IMHO, absolutely nothing to fear from humidity or sub-woofers, or from any but the most severe earthquakes if the plasma is securely mounted. And in the very unlikely event that you do have to dispose of a broken plasma, they could be probably be treated as you would any other large TV set.

 

[LisaJ]

Quote:

Around here, if we put out something that looks expensive, broken or not, for trash pickup, it rarely makes it to the garbage truck. It mysteriously disappears before then in the middle of the night.

Could you even imagine seeing a plasma in the garbage? All of us would be putting the breaks on to check it out. Thats a pretty funny mental vision.

 

[srgilbert]

Maybe he is one of those Seattle grunge-rock stars and has loud, brawling, hot tub parties in his living room! Guys like that might go through a new TV every week!

 

[ferky1]

For what it's worth, just today I was checking out the website for Chief plasma mounts (getting one myself). I came across this:


*Chief's PSM, PST, PRO and PLP Series wall mounts are rated for all earthquake zones in the United States (Zones 1-4) and comparable zones throughout the world. The mounts were tested by Environ Laboratories and found to securely hold equipment in place through the dynamic simulation of an 8.3 Richter scale earthquake.

http://www.chiefmfg.com/


good luck

 

[LisaJ]

Quote:

Originally posted by srgilbert Maybe he is one of those Seattle grunge-rock stars and has loud, brawling, hot tub parties in his living room! Guys like that might go through a new TV every week!

Yeah ya know how those Seattle guys are!!


But can't ya just see the threads ...


Hi guys...

" I found this Plasma in the garbage" does anyone know what generation it is and a good place to repair the glass"? Any help greatly appreciated..


Rogo reply:" Yes, go to www.plasmasalvageyard.com " Hope it helps!