iMac G3 Case Mod

mattgaunt · 19 Apr 2010 at 22:40

Heya everyone,

I just got hold of an iMac G3 for £15 on ebay and I bought to have a little go at some modding.

Basically I want to rip out the CRT and components and replace them with standard components and an LCD Screen.

Basically to start everything I need to discharge the screen. I've read a lot of articles saying I should discharge the screen, but none of them actually explain how.

I only read one article saying the screen will discharge after a week or 2 of being unplugged.

So anyone have any knowledge of this sort of thing?

wakayoda · 19 Apr 2010 at 23:01

I would have thought that unplugging it then pressing the power button would help to remove some of the charge

MouthBoy · 19 Apr 2010 at 23:01

Regarding discharging the screen I do not know, but I know that this looks like an brilliant idea and I am really going to enjoy this build!

mattgaunt · 19 Apr 2010 at 23:07

Im really quite excited, but just a heads up, progress will be a bit slow over the next month or 2 while I finish my degree + move, but expect quite a bit of planning before hand

Stupot_ · 19 Apr 2010 at 23:07

Cool

What colour is it?

mattgaunt · 19 Apr 2010 at 23:25

Same colour as the one I posted, it's a blue-y / turquoise-y colour.

I'll put up some photos when I pick it up tomorrow or the day after

paradigm · 20 Apr 2010 at 08:54

I've seen this done before. Did you end up with a blueberry one, or did you manage to get one of the better colours?

MasterPlan1 · 20 Apr 2010 at 11:30

Damn, I totally didn't think of doing this, I had a tangerine g3 imac that was dead which I could've done something like this with.

Sub'd as I'd love to see how this turns out as it'd be cute as hell to have a small server built up in one of these.

R5GTT · 20 Apr 2010 at 15:28

A great idea and should look really nice when done.

Please be very very carefull when discharging the screen. The anode usually lives under a rubber boot (looks like a suction cup) on the back of the screen.

There are multiple articles on the internet but as always take everything with a pinch of salt. It's not always as simple as discharging the anode. There are resistors that discharge the large power caps on the power supply. If the resistors have failed for whatever reason the caps can still hold enough volts to cause serious problems.

If you want an Idea of what is involved have a look at:

http://www.riddledtv.com/repair/journal/DischargeCRT/

If you don't feel confident in anyway doing it, take it to an electrician or tv shop. Better that than risking it.

Other than that good luck with it and will be nice to see the progress.

mattgaunt · 20 Apr 2010 at 17:15

R5GTT You are a life saver, I have been looking all over the internet for that exact sort of description, but no where had it.

I picked it up today, will have a little play and take some photos tonight and stick up.

The only niggle is that it hasnt got the cover of the side which hides the connections (I'll show you in the pictures later tonight)

mattgaunt · 20 Apr 2010 at 23:36

Here are the first set of photo's:

This is the side with the panel missing:

The black covering here is a little bit indented, it just needs popping back out:

Hopefully I'll find a spare side panel from somewhere (ebay or tip) but also start hunting for a cheap 15" monitor to replace the CRT

Couple more photos here, plus higher res: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattgaunt/sets/72157623899154248/

pieplough · 21 Apr 2010 at 00:07

mattgaunt said:
So anyone have any knowledge of this sort of thing?

I have never done this before but google brought up this http://www.wikihow.com/Discharge-a-CRT-Monitor

Look forward to seeing how you get on with this mate

timmymeuk1 · 21 Apr 2010 at 00:39

Is it dangerous not to disharge? i was fine when i did mine lol

Kurisu Makise · 21 Apr 2010 at 03:49

mattgaunt said:

wack a blu ray drive in there

pieplough · 21 Apr 2010 at 07:14

timmymeuk1 said:
Is it dangerous not to disharge? i was fine when i did mine lol

Crt monitors have big capacitors which hold a pretty hefty charge. Can give yourself a good shock if your not carefull.

timmymeuk1 · 21 Apr 2010 at 12:26

Ahh well this was a amstrad that hadnt been on for years, I once stuck a computer in a old amstrad monitor case.

DeadMan · 24 Apr 2010 at 07:44

lol... that is ridiculous!

mattgaunt · 8 Jul 2010 at 13:19

I'm still planning on doing this, hopefully this weekend I can strip everything apart.

The main thing I need to do is discharge the CRT - my main fear is whether there are certain parts I really shouldn't ever touch i.e. when lifting the CRT out of the casing, what can I touch to lift it?

Lots of Googling before I approach anything I think.

Tealc · 8 Jul 2010 at 14:40

A touch in the wrong place there and it could be quite nasty.

Anyway check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDAiLtTDuf4

and this for fun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isNMmENHbgE&feature=fvw

Always wear rubber gloves, don't be wet at the time and take things slow.

I tried adjusting a screw on a monitor once and accidentally hit one of the high voltage contacts, it took half of my screwdriver head away. I was so lucky.

PhilGQ · 11 Jul 2010 at 17:24

Do you know how you are going to conect the screen to the motherboard? I been looking around for info on how this would be done but can't come up with anything.