Keeping gadgets in top condition

By Christiani S. Tumelap

JAKARTA (JP): Electronic appliances are part and parcel of our modern lives. Unfortunately, few of us know how to properly store and maintain them.

Poor maintenance will likely cause damage, both to the gadget and to your pocketbook. But armed with the proper knowledge, owners can keep their appliances functioning fine.

Here are suggestions from those in the industry.

Paimin, a technician from the Sony outlet on Jl. Tebah in Mayestik, South Jakarta, said it was vital for each owner to know the basics about their goods through reading the user's manual from the manufacturer.

Electronic appliances are made from fragile parts, including plastic, which should be kept away form heat sources such as sunlight.

Store them in a place with sufficient ventilation to ensure they "breathe" easily and do not overheat when they are in use.

"Allow 20-30 centimeters between the product and the wall above or behind it," Paimin says.

The goods should also be kept away from fluids and dust. They should be cleaned frequently with a dry cloth to minimize dust, which can damage the system if it accumulates in the unit.

Paimin recommended putting a camphor solution near the equipment's storage site to repel rodents that like gnawing on electrical wires.

Usman, a sales executive at the same Sony outlet, said customers need not worry about product quality as long as the item was still under warranty.

"Warranty means that main components in the products are guaranteed to work properly in the specified period," he said.

Hermanto, a technician at an electronic repair center on Jl. Tenggiri, East Jakarta, said the best thing to do to improve durability of electronic goods was to have them professionally cleaned and checked by technicians every six months.

"The service is to give simple cleaning and adjustments to the components," Hermanto says.

This tip is good for all kinds of electronic goods, especially audio-visual systems.

"The service costs you around Rp 15,000 (US$3.75), but will be very helpful to maintain the condition of the components," he said.

Hermanto said another must to ensure the product keeps functioning for the optimum period is to read the owner's manual.

"By reading the book, you'll know the specification and characteristics of the product. Thus, you will be able to maintain it properly for better enjoyment," he said.

He added that most people were too lazy to read the manual.

The three offered these additional tips on keeping specific electronic goods in tip-top condition.

Television. Choose a TV set which produces colors of high resolution. Colors should be close to those of the objects shown. Pictures should appear full-screen.

Put the unit on a flat, dry and stable surface. If you use an external antenna, be sure to ground it against lightning. Never connect the ground wire to a gas pipe.

If the TV is not to be used for an extended period of time, unplug it from the wall socket. Remove batteries from the remote control to avoid possible leakage and corrosion.

In stormy weather, it will be safer for you to sacrifice your viewing hours and unplug the outdoor antenna's cord from the wall socket. In some areas like South Jakarta, which are particularly prone to lightning, the antenna can easily be struck, resulting in damage to the TV and sometimes injuries to bystanders.

Laser, CD or VCD player. Avoid placing the player on surfaces such as shag carpets, beds and sofas which may block ventilation under the player and cause damage. Don't put it under or above the TV.

Keep it away from devices such as cassette decks which are sensitive to magnetic fields. If you install the player with other audio components, put it on top. Since the built-in disc- drive motor continues rotating even when the player is in pause mode, don't leave it in the latter for an extended period of time to prolong the motor's service life. Don't play a cracked, scratched or warped disc. Clean discs with a dry, soft cloth from the inside toward the outer edge.

Radio cassette player. Don't use cassettes longer than 90 minutes, except for long playback. If it has not been used for a long time, run the player for a few minutes before inserting a cassette. This rule applies to all cassette players, from a modest walkman to a sophisticated hi-fi audio system.

Never leave the player in a vehicle parked in the sun, especially not above the dashboard because it is almost certain to melt. For a walkman not in use, don't wind the earphone cord around it to avoid battery usage caused by unintentionally pressed buttons. Replace all used batteries at once, and never mix old and new batteries just to save money.

For optimum record or playback quality, clean the heads, capstans and pinch rollers after every 10 hours of operation and before recording with cotton buds slightly moistened with cleaning fluid or alcohol solution.

After 30 hours of operation, it is necessary to remove residual magnetism built up on the head with any commercially available demagnitizer. Avoid excessive rewinding and fast- forwarding.

Refrigerator. Plug it in a separate socket to avoid a short circuit. Disconnect the cord before cleaning either the inside or the outer body. Use a damp cloth, but never use thinner, kerosene, hot water or detergent.

If your fridge does not have automatic defrost, don't use a knife or other sharp objects to chip away at thick ice. Instead, turn the fridge off and wait until the ice melts before using a clean cloth to mop it up.

To obtain optimum cold temperatures, always keep the door tightly closed and don't store too many items. Never put warm items in the fridge before allowing time for them to cool.