Monitor emits a fizzing sound but only when moving

[cdlink14]

For the past 2 or so years my monitor (LG W2043S) has been emitting a strange fizz sound but only if you move the monitor in some way. Which happens a lot since my desk is somewhat wobbly and when gaming I often make very sudden mouse movements.

I've tried refitting the cables and they're secure, I've yet to notice any side effects aside from the fizzing which stops the moment the monitor is still.

Any ideas what it may be?

[bohb]

It could be the CCFLs or the wiring to the CCFLs arcing to some nearby metal ground source. The high voltage carried inside the wires to the CCFLs can be eat away the insulation on the wire if poor material is used for the insulator, or some component on the inverter board is failing and causing excessive amounts of voltage to be pulsed through inadequate wiring, resulting in arcing.

You can try nudging the monitor around a bit so it continually makes the sound for about a minute, then smell the vent on the back of the monitor. If you smell ozone, something is arcing in the monitor. Another test would be to disassemble the monitor and power it up with the lights off. If you see a purple glow around the HV wires to the CCFLs (usually pink and white and blue and white) or tiny purple bolts, something on the inverter has failed (usually a capacitor or one of the transformers.)

[cdlink14]

I've tried your first test and there is no smells of ozone or any form of burning smell.

I'm not so sure about the second test, I'm quite the pussy when it comes to messing with anything whilst it's plugged in so I'm quite hesitant to try it.

What is the worst case scenario that might happen? Keep in mind it's been like this for about 2 years now.

[Chryseus]

[QUOTE=cdlink14;39888107]I've tried your first test and there is no smells of ozone or any form of burning smell.

I'm not so sure about the second test, I'm quite the pussy when it comes to messing with anything whilst it's plugged in so I'm quite hesitant to try it.

What is the worst case scenario that might happen? Keep in mind it's been like this for about 2 years now.[/QUOTE]

Don't touch it while plugged in and you'll be fine.
Avoid poking the big capacitor in the power supply as well, even when off just in case it is charged and you get a nasty surprise :v:.

[cdlink14]

I mean the worst thing that might happen if I leave it as is?

[Killervalon]

Worst case scenario is the inside burns out :p had that happen on a screen before.. Apparantly a issue with that model so got a 21.5" instead of a 18.5" (But, no it did not happen like this, I'm just telling you the worst case scenario)

[bohb]

[QUOTE=cdlink14;39889528]I mean the worst thing that might happen if I leave it as is?[/QUOTE]

If the sound really is one of the HV wires arcing on something, it could eventually burn through more insulation so it does it all the time instead of just when shaken. If this happens, the inverter will overload then overheat and eventually either burn out or catch on fire.

The worst case of inverter board failure I've ever seen was that both transformers for the lower and upper CCFLs failed and started arcing from their winding posts. The electrical arc was so intense that both transformers managed to eat holes in the 2mm thick aluminum housing on the interior of the monitor and made holes about 20mm in circumference.

In other instances, the transformers got so hot that they melted the plastic guards and it dripped down the back of the monitor.

[cdlink14]

It seems that the problem must have been the power cable. It started hissing like mad today so I decided I may as well get a better look inside to see if anything looks off.

I turned off the monitor, unplugged it, flipped it upside down, at which point I heard the steam chat ding, so I decided to plug it back in and shut down the system first. Upon plugging the powercable back in I noticed it wasn't making the sound anymore when being moved.

My assumption is that the power cable somehow managed to slip out a bit and the prongs on the monitor where likely arcing, luckily it hasn't happened enough to cause any damage everything is still in one piece and I can't find any burn marks or such.