Exploding TV, Need help!!!

[chrislukehowell]

Yo, newcomer to this forum and I dont know where else to turn at the moment. I desperately need some advice.
I have, or had I should say, a tv/dvd combo, a quite old crt one called a Maxim 11-36 ft..etc. It was bought around 2003ish, I'l be able to get the correct details when I find the documentation which is buried in my bedroom somewhere. Anyway, to get to the point, the other night I was sitting watching the tv with my girlfriend in my bedroom and after a while the screen started to go a bit funny as in the picture kept moving around the screen wildly. Now this isnt something out of the ordinary because my aerial is terrible but thats when the noise came...
This hissing horrible burning noise that scared the life out of me, so I quickly ripped the plug out of the socket and watched in disbelief as my television began to bellow smoke and slowly the room filled with these toxic chemical smelling fumes. I managed to get the tv outside in enough time to clear the room of fumes but all my girlfriend and I could think was...what if we hadnt have been in the room at the time? I'm scared that some serious damage could have been caused to my house had neither of us been in my bedroom at the time as it is not a large room.
I'm planning on contacting the manufacturers but wanted some opinions before I do. Do you think I would even get a reply? I mean I know it was old but we're talking about potentially thousands of pounds worth of damage had the situation been different.
I'd be grateful for any advice or information anyone could give me.
The company is called Maxim but they are not to be found anywhere on the internet suprisingly..

[the mechanic]

I would think that the Maxim brand would be a "supermarket special" budget brand. These brands are inherently difficult to track down the actual manufacturer, who typically tends to be far eastern in origin.
I would suggest you contact the shop who you bought it off (if bought new by yourself) in the first instance. If it was a gift, or bought second hand the course of action I would suggest you take is contact your home insurance company (I do hope you have contents cover), and ask them if the TV combo is covered for this kind of incident.
If you are covered (like my insurance) by a new for old policy, the insurers should supply you a new combo set.
Chances are though there will be no comparable alternative CRT unit available so I would ask if there is a chance for you to have an LCD TV and seperate DVD player. You may have to pay an extra fee over the cost of your excess, but would be a good excuse to get an "upgrade" at minimal cost to yourself.
Hope this helps,

Graham.

[wiz]

Cut your losses and buy a LCD

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by the mechanic

I would suggest you contact the shop who you bought it off (if bought new by yourself) in the first instance. If it was a gift, or bought second hand the course of action I would suggest you take is contact your home insurance company

Why?
His 6 yr old TV has had a breakdown...normal wear and tear...this isn't covered unless the owner has taken out a policy which specifically covers breakdown.
As a "mechanic" you'll be aware a lot of smoke can be given off by a tiny short-circuit capacitor, burning resistor or short-circuit line output transformer...even an arcing dry joint can give off a pungent smell which can linger for hours...but like burnt toast will soon disappear...no toxic fumes will be produced...TV repair technicians come across this every working day...it's no big deal...sure a smell of burning can be frightening but in all likelihood it'll burn itself out in a few mins.
I think you've went a wee bit over the top with your advice.

[the mechanic]

Originally Posted by JayCee

Why?
His 6 yr old TV has had a breakdown...normal wear and tear...this isn't covered unless the owner has taken out a policy which specifically covers breakdown.

I think you've went a wee bit over the top with your advice.

Well my insurance does cover for accidental AND breakdown thats why I suggested contacting the insurers. As for being over the top with my advice, I cant see where you are coming from. The OP asked for advice on what to do next as the TV combo is now in a possibly un-safe to use condition and I was only giving the best I could think of, at minimal cost to himself. Its called being helpful, you should try it sometime....

Graham.

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by the mechanic

Well my insurance does cover for accidental AND breakdown thats why I suggested contacting the insurers. As for being over the top with my advice, I cant see where you are coming from. The OP asked for advice on what to do next as the TV combo is now in a possibly un-safe to use condition and I was only giving the best I could think of, at minimal cost to himself. Its called being helpful, you should try it sometime....
Graham.

Sorry if I offended you Graham didn't mean to
My overriding impression of the OPs post is that he is thinking of contacting the manufacturer with a view to making a claim against them for his TV developing a fault, possibly going on fire and potentially burning his house down...neither of which happened...you can't claim for hurt feelings.
If he has an extended warranty on the set or his home contents insurance policy covers breakdown...fine...he'll get it repaired or replaced.