Lcd monitor testing

A How-To Note: This page is a work in progress.

1. Pick up a monitor from the floor where Receiving has placed it. The monitor needs to be plugged in by two cords: a VGA (video cord, usually blue, labeled with a diagram) and a power supply.
   1. Some power supplies are PC power cords (labeled with a diagram) and will plug into the monitor with three slots. Others may be more specialized (3-prong & 2-prong, for example, which are labeled with a diagram). Boxes of power supplies are labeled with their volt and amp output. On the monitor there should be a sticker with specifications about what kind of power supply is needed (for example, “12V 3.5A”). Find a cord in the boxes that will fit.
      1. Sometimes there will be no cord that fits the monitor. In this case, determine whether the monitor is fancy, new, in really good condition and worth saving, or not (disambiguation needed). If it is worth saving, especially if it measures 19 inches diagonally, label with the kind of power supply needed (i.e., “12V 3.5A”) on a blank sticker and place neatly with other such monitors.
      2. Sometimes you can find a power cord that fits, but is not an exact match with the output listed on the monitor. So long as the volts (“V”) match up and the amps (“A”) are above the listed requirement (never under!) this is okay.
   2. Sometimes the video cord will be DVI rather than VGA (labeled with a diagram). Find a DVI/VGA adapter (they are in a box on the shelf with the multiplexer in Build) and use it in the multiplexer to plug in the cord.
2. Plug the VGA cord into the multiplexer and the power cord into the vertical strip.
3. Turn on the monitor. Does it turn on? How is the quality of the video?
   1. If the monitor does not turn on, or there are a lot of weird stripes, or it's flickering (or any other number of things that amount to a non-functioning monitor), first determine whether it is “covered” or “uncovered” (it is covered unless there is a sticker telling you otherwise) and mark as such on the hanging clipboard. If it is covered, bring it to the big cardboard box labeled “LCD Monitors” in the warehouse. If it is uncovered, bring it to the appropriate shelf in the warehouse (disambiguation needed?).
   2. If it does work, grab a sticker and label it with the time and date you turned it on.
4. While you wait, please sort through any incoming power supplies. They need to be wrapped neatly, rubber-banded and placed in their appropriate home.
5. Working monitors should be left on for at least 4 hours. Once that time has passed and it seems to be working, unplug them and clean them off with the available cleaning supplies. Label them with your initials on a “Tested by ___” sticker (also usually on the clipboard).
   1. If the monitor doesn't pass but is really, REALLY nice, bring it to Santiago in the Tree House to try to repair. Ask a Reuse Program Coordinator for clarification on this if you're unsure.
6. If the monitor is 15 or 17 inches in diameter, and/or if it is white, beige or otherwise cosmetically subpar, bring it to the Hardware Grants shelf in the warehouse (unless there is no available space there). All other monitors should be brought to the storage area of the store and placed neatly on the floor in the area marked “LCD Monitors.”

Thanks for your help!