Avoiding plasma television burn-in
Date: August 5, 2004
Plasma television burn-in is easily avoided. If you watched television in the 1980’s, you’ll know what burn-in is. Early television models used to display images on the screen after the picture had already changed or even when the tv was turned off. This was known as “burn-in” and has largely been eliminated with modern-day CRT televisions. However, plasma televisions can be prone to burn-in if ordinary caution is not exercised.
If not careful, plasma television burn-in can be a major problem. Once burn-in happens, you will always see a ghostly outline of the burned-in image no matter what you may be watching. This is caused by an image remaining static on a particular part of the screen for too long so that the plasma cells in that particular area are being worked more than the other areas. Permanent damage occurs because the plasma cells in that particular area cannot emit as much light as the other plasma cells. For example, burn-in may occur if you play a dvd on your plasma tv and pause the image for a prolonged period of time. Another way burn-in can occur is with television station logos that appear at the bottom of the screen being too bright relative to the rest of the broadcast. Video game playing for prolonged periods and watching letterboxed material too often also can contribute to burn-in.
Therefore, the easiest way to avoid burn-in is to limit videogame time on your plasma television and to watch movies in full screen format as much as possible. Also avoid pausing dvd movies for prolonged periods of time and be aware of excessively bright television station logos.
One type of flat panel television is completely immune to burn-in and that is lcd televisions. Unlike plasma televisions, lcd tv’s work by blocking light from a high intensity bulb—the liquid crystal display doesn’t actually emit light itself (the cause of burn-in).
So, if your flat panel tv is a plasma television, just keep in mind what you are watching and for how long, just like you would on a traditional television.
More articles at our Flat Screen TV Articles page.
