I've looked all around the forum for some kind of instructions to run-in a plasma screen but I haven't found any specific procedures. I have a pio435.

Can any experts out there help us noobs write out some clear instructions with dos and don'ts with a new plasma?

that would be of great help to prolong all our new toys.

thanx so much

Dude when you forst get your unit turn the contrast and brightness down as thay are all set to high out of the box.

Avoid static images and even more so during the first couple of hundred hours

These things are really what needs to be done straight out of the box and as the unit runs in image retention will subside and static images will still cause a problem but no the extent of the first couple of hundred hours

is that all ?
I always thought there was something else to it.

thanx very much for your help

It would probably be a good idea to run full screen (16:9) as much as possible rather than 2.35:1 or 4:3 material.
This would avoid burnin of sidebars or top and bottom bars.
Dan.

Sorry good point YES run at 16:9 as much as you can

When I got my second Nec plasma I ran it straight for 48hrs and it was done.
With the Nec its easy to tell when its run in.

Angelo

Can watching 16:9 with bars at top and bottom give your burn in?

I hate stretching the image, is that what has be done?

According to the Pioneer installers, the black bars are ok. So I have been watching on whatever the broadcast shows. Am I crazy? Am I ruining my plasma?

When I ran mine for 48hrs I put the STB on 4:3 stretch and forgot about it .

Angelo

Ive seen many people say nothing to worry about .
Ill I can say is with all 3 plasmas Ive owned each and every manufacture has stated in their hand books , do not leave any black bars on the screen as it WILL effect your plasmas burn in effect.

Angelo

yeah the black bars nothing to worry about. with my hitachi you might get a bit of temproray burn in after watching a bit of 4:3 but thats soon (actually very soon)gone after watching a bit of 16:9.

My hitachi plasma has a grey side bars feature that I now turn on if watching any 4:3 at length and this does remove the issue of temproray burn in.

but honestly I have not followed any particular run in-procedure and not found any dramas. Just setup colour balance to suit, sit back and enjoy! the run-in will happen automatically. Check & readjust colour balance & settings once a week if necessary - but really in my experience thats all you need to do.

Why is grey side bars better than black? If it is grey, isn't it like a still image that will burn in even more?

actually no not the case - give it a go if you like. I think your confusing temproray image retention as against permanent burn-in. The grey bars help reduce the effects of temproray image retention.