Have I broken my monitor? :(

Cleisthenes

Cleisthenes

Cleisthenes

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I have a Dell S2440L iirc. Was just re connecting my pc up to it but I accidentally put my speakers power lead into it instead, which is a 27V cable (which it says on the back of the speakers). I don't know what voltage my monitor noramlly needs but 27 seems quite high to me. The monitor now won't turn on :confused:. Have I broken it? :(
 
Just looked up my monitor and it needs 100-240 VAC so too much voltage can't be the issue. Can not having enough power really break a monitor? When plugged in, the power bricks light isn't on, but when not plugged into the monitor the light is on. So confused right now :(

e: I got that vac info from the dell website, but on the back on the monitor it says 12v with the symbol of the power supply next to it. Sounds like i've blown up my monitor :(
 
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(Note, I've only studied one year in Electronics, and then few years as more of a side study, so I might get few things wrong, but all of the below is how I've understood it)

VAC == Volts of Alternating Current
VDC == Volts of Direct Current

The problem in your case is that the monitor wants 100-240VAC. 100 for US, 240 for EU. The power circuitry will detect which (or anything between), and act accordingly.

But most of the consumer electronics work internally in DC, they are just fed with AC. There's also a difference with regards to where the AC/DC conversion is made.

In the monitor's case, it probably has a power unit with a transformer inside the device itself. In your speakers' case, the transformer is the heavy thingy integrated with the wall plug, meaning the transformer is outside the device (though other circuitry may still be inside the device).

In other words, your speakers' power wire already transforms the 240VAC into 27VDC. On the other hand, the monitor expected 100-240VAC, which it would try to transform into 12VDC. Unfortunately, it was fed with the 27VDC, instead. And quite apparently the monitor's power circuitry wasn't equipped with transforming 27VDC into 12VDC.

As for how far the fault managed to run, can't say. It might be that there's a fuse right in the beginning of the circuitry, and it will be a simple case of exchanging the fuse (will require opening the monitor's back plate, though). But if it managed to do more, then you might indeed have a broken monitor in your hands.

But now that I read it more thoroughly, you stated that the Dell has a power brick, and it has a light on it? If this is the case, then it's probably a two-piece line, where the transformer brick is in the middle (like with laptops)? And it's more probable that the brick transforms the 100-240VAC into the 12VDC. In other words, the monitor wanted 12VDC, but your speakers' power line fed it 27VDC, over twice as much as it wanted (or was willing to tolerate). But the fuse solution applies here, too. You'll just have to check whether there's a fuse you can change.
 
Thanks for you reply. Guess I'll be finding out how to open up the monitor then. The speakers also have a brick FYI. Would appreciate it if you were to subscribe to this thread in case I have any questions once I've opened up the monitor. Thanks :)
 
If you want too, I'd open it up and see if you can find a fuse. You may wish to be careful though monitors can hold a lot of power inside them.
 
I frequent this subforum quite often, so I should notice if you post here.

With regards to getting it open:
It might be fastened with clips, so no visible screws. But if you don't know where (and possibly to which direction) you should try to detach the back and front, you might break things. But you could try asking the manufacturer for assistance. At the same time, you might want to ask whether there's a fuse in there to begin with, and what characteristics it would have (size, amps, maybe even exact model number).

Depending on the popularity of your model, you might even find a youtube tutorial or a thread of some sort that shows how to take apart that specific monitor.

But remember, if you're gonna buy a new monitor in any case, then there's no harm in trying to get the old one open, even if there's a danger of breaking it. You have nothing to lose, at this point. (just be sure to have it disconnected from the mains, before you go tinkering inside)

Actually, now that I thought about it, it might also be that the brick has a fuse, too. But if you can get a light in there, then that fuse is most probably just fine. So better not touch that.
 
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