DIY TV repairs, save yourself a fortune

[buksida]

This is quite a common problem with LG and Samsung LCD TVs so I though I'd post it incase anyone else comes across it. The 32" set is a few years old but still has a good picture, the problem was the power switch - it wouldn't turn on with either the button on the side or the remote, just a flashing red light.

The shiny electronics stores want between 4 and 6k for a repair, or they'll try and sell you a new TV. More often than not though you just get a "mai dai" or "mai mee" before you've even finished the sentence.

Here's the prob, wont power on, light just flickers:

poweroff.jpg (45.55 KiB) Viewed 1858 times

A little research indicated the power board and capacitors were the culprit so I took to it with a screwdriver, this is the power supply panel:

panel.jpg (73.04 KiB) Viewed 1858 times

And there you go, 4 bulging capacitors:

caps1.jpg (54.91 KiB) Viewed 1858 times

A quick trip to mr fix it with the removed board, 15 minutes with a solder gun, and four new 2200µF caps on:

caps2.jpg (58 KiB) Viewed 1858 times

Re-attached the cables, screwed the box back together and voila:

tvworks.jpg (45.34 KiB) Viewed 1858 times

A perfectly good LCD TV again.

Cost of a new set: 15-20k
Cost of repairing this one in a shop: 4-6k
Cost of doing it yourself: 200 baht
Moral of this story: don't take the bullshit!

[STEVE G]

Well done Bucksi, I see that this must be a common problem as they even sell repair kits on Amazon, but for more than 200 bt!
http://www.amazon.com/Repair-Kit-37LC7D ... B0050K0T88

[PeteC]

These things (Samsung at least) have a power saver setting and when that is off is the only time I've seen the light flash before the set comes on, along with a bleep, bleep bleep. With the instant on, on, I don't think I get any flashing. I wonder if you can save your capacitors by not using the power saver? No idea how much you save in power/electric bill on or off? Pete

[chopsticks]

Capacitors failing on power supply boards is a common problem in many electronic appliances and there are many examples to be found on the various internet forums etc.
After a few years use these sub-standard components tend to leak, sometimes shown by the top bulging slightly or the electrolyte leaking at the base.
Others show no visible signs, so some technicians routinely replace all the electrolytics to prevent it recurring.

[Khundon1975]

Well done buksida

Now, do you have a fix for a new, battery driven guitar, that our son decided to fill with the contents of his water bottle?

Sorry, spanking is not PC and therefore cannot be considered.

[buksida]

Water damage is a different animal!

Seriously though anything with capacitors in it can be fixed as above, most electrical appliances are designed not to last that long so that the manufacturers can keep selling new models, more often than not it is the power supply board that goes first.

[Ken57]

A Very Interesting post, made easier to understand through the photos, I wonder

1. if you know is it possible to test one of these capacitor in postition on the board ?

2. did you need any special shaped tools to access dismantle the TV cabinet ?

[buksida]

1. Not that I know of but it is easy to tell if they are blown, they'll be a little bulged out at the top or showing black where it has leaked.
2. One Phillips screwdriver.

[chopsticks]

You can test them using an ESR meter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESR_meter

[sargeant]

Exactely the same prob with my set

Moral of this story get the Repairman to come to the house and show him buksis photos and tell him how much

i did it worked fine

[Pagey]

Buksi : Where is Mr Fixit ? I need an electrical connecter and have it soldered. Thanks.

[buksida]

This wasn't in Hua Hin but I'm sure there is someone proficient with a soldering iron in town.