Great forum, here's my problem and questions – I hope someone can help.
55” Samsung LCD LED TV, Model LE55A956D1M.
Bought December 2008 with 5 year warranty. No problems with it so I didn't renew the 5 years warranty insurance in December 2013. (Groan…).
In its 6th year it has started to exhibit a static grid of dark horizontal lines. The grid covers the full screen (top to bottom, left to right). However the grid is most prominent in the right hand side of the screen, gradually becoming less prominent towards the left hand side of the screen (the lines are still present but just less prominent – not as dark).
These dark horizontal lines are regularly spaced, with a separation between them of what appears to be 5 pixels. (the effect is a little bit like watching parts of the screen through a venetian blind…)
I've read about a Samsung LCD TV class action and recall due to using under rated capacitors in some of their TV's (e.g. 10 volt rated caps instead of 25 volt) – with the problem typically seeming to be that the TVs would go dead after 18 months and wouldn't switch on properly. To be honest it has been quite a shock to recently find out on the internet about the problems that have been caused by bad capacitors.
Anyway, I've opened the TV up and looked at the PSU board – the capacitors seem to be an assortment of 25V, 35V, 50V and 450V – with a temperature rating of 105 degrees C.
I think the label on them says ‘SamYoung' (or similar) – which sounds odd.
All but one of the caps appear to have a flat top and look ok. But one cap (25V, 1000uF) does have some slight doming/swelling on its top.
My questions are:
1. How likely is it that the problem of the horizontal lines might be being caused by that one capacitor in the PSU, with the slightest of doming on its top? Has anyone come across the problem that I have described above, as a result of bad caps in the PSU board? If the suspect cap is thought to be the problem should I replace just that cap or maybe instead also replace the other 4 caps that are close to it and of the same spec (25V, 1000uF)?
2. The capacitors seem to have been daubed/marked on the top with a black felt tip pen – is there any reason for this?
3. I can't seem to remove the ribbon cables that connect to the PSU board and I'm reluctant to try too hard in case I break them. Is it safe at all just to tug on the ribbon cables to wriggle the connectors apart – or is that definitely bad practice and that somehow I need to just grip the connector that is on the ribbon cable (and presumably squeeze in the side of the connector to somehow unlatch it whilst at the same time tugging the connector – for which there isn't much to get hold of and it does seem to be very difficult to do). Is a special tool required for separating the ribbon cable connector from the PCB?
Two pictures, one of the PSU PCB, and one of the TV's faulty screen display, are attached.
The picture of the PSU PCB does show the ribbon cable connectors that I am struggling with and also the suspect capacitor (it is the nearest one of the group of 3 caps in the centre of the photo).
All in (TV, 5 year warranty and wall mount) this 55” Samsung LCD LED TV cost near enough £2,900 in December 2008 and I would kind of like to keep it going without it costing much more than has been spent already…
Anyway, any help/advice gratefully received. Thanks.
Pete
55” Samsung LCD LED TV, Model LE55A956D1M.
Bought December 2008 with 5 year warranty. No problems with it so I didn't renew the 5 years warranty insurance in December 2013. (Groan…).
In its 6th year it has started to exhibit a static grid of dark horizontal lines. The grid covers the full screen (top to bottom, left to right). However the grid is most prominent in the right hand side of the screen, gradually becoming less prominent towards the left hand side of the screen (the lines are still present but just less prominent – not as dark).
These dark horizontal lines are regularly spaced, with a separation between them of what appears to be 5 pixels. (the effect is a little bit like watching parts of the screen through a venetian blind…)
I've read about a Samsung LCD TV class action and recall due to using under rated capacitors in some of their TV's (e.g. 10 volt rated caps instead of 25 volt) – with the problem typically seeming to be that the TVs would go dead after 18 months and wouldn't switch on properly. To be honest it has been quite a shock to recently find out on the internet about the problems that have been caused by bad capacitors.
Anyway, I've opened the TV up and looked at the PSU board – the capacitors seem to be an assortment of 25V, 35V, 50V and 450V – with a temperature rating of 105 degrees C.
I think the label on them says ‘SamYoung' (or similar) – which sounds odd.
All but one of the caps appear to have a flat top and look ok. But one cap (25V, 1000uF) does have some slight doming/swelling on its top.
My questions are:
1. How likely is it that the problem of the horizontal lines might be being caused by that one capacitor in the PSU, with the slightest of doming on its top? Has anyone come across the problem that I have described above, as a result of bad caps in the PSU board? If the suspect cap is thought to be the problem should I replace just that cap or maybe instead also replace the other 4 caps that are close to it and of the same spec (25V, 1000uF)?
2. The capacitors seem to have been daubed/marked on the top with a black felt tip pen – is there any reason for this?
3. I can't seem to remove the ribbon cables that connect to the PSU board and I'm reluctant to try too hard in case I break them. Is it safe at all just to tug on the ribbon cables to wriggle the connectors apart – or is that definitely bad practice and that somehow I need to just grip the connector that is on the ribbon cable (and presumably squeeze in the side of the connector to somehow unlatch it whilst at the same time tugging the connector – for which there isn't much to get hold of and it does seem to be very difficult to do). Is a special tool required for separating the ribbon cable connector from the PCB?
Two pictures, one of the PSU PCB, and one of the TV's faulty screen display, are attached.
The picture of the PSU PCB does show the ribbon cable connectors that I am struggling with and also the suspect capacitor (it is the nearest one of the group of 3 caps in the centre of the photo).
All in (TV, 5 year warranty and wall mount) this 55” Samsung LCD LED TV cost near enough £2,900 in December 2008 and I would kind of like to keep it going without it costing much more than has been spent already…
Anyway, any help/advice gratefully received. Thanks.
Pete
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