Flat Panel Monitor Virgin

[Bishop]

Hi,
I repaired a 15" Flat Panel monitor that was headed for the trash at work by replacing one bad radial capasitor, and it works great. I found another 17" Flat Panel Monitor before it was trashed at a local pharmacy and opened it up to find 2 bad radial capasitors and replaced them both. The monitor was flashing off and on before I replaced the bad caps, but I could see windows xp during the flashes. I replaced one of the caps with the same UF ID and same voltage, but it was smaller in size than the old bad cap. Now the screen comes on fine, only white, but stays on, but there is no DATA, no windows xp or nothing on the screen.
Could the body size of the radial capasitor, have anything to do with the data loss since I had data before on the screen, or posibility something else?

Thanks

[Bishop]

Re: Flat Panel Monitor Virgin

I said Virgin because This was my second time at opening a flat panel monitor. I was very lucky with the first one bit now I'm stuck on the second monitor.
What I did learn about the monitors and caps I learned here on the forum. I started my first post here by asking how do I get inside it, and with ya'll help I fixed the 15" monitor and it's been working 3 months every day on my wifes PC, 12 hours each day.

Tell me the truth.... What is the expected life span of Falt Panel monitors, I see alot of them replaced and the old one trashed, before I got the nerve to open one up and I enjoyed the work.

[PlainBill]

Re: Flat Panel Monitor Virgin

Sorry, that is against the rules. You can't claim to be a virgin after you've had an intimate relationship with the inside of a monitor.

It is possible the replacement cap did not meet the specs of the original. Did you match capacitance, voltage, temperature rating AND ESR rating? Even so, it is unlikely that is the cause of the white screen. There are three possible causes for the 'white screen' problem.

One is the ribbon cable connecting the logic card to the LCD panel is poorly seated. That seems the most likely cause because it worked initially.

A second cause is a problem with the lcd panel electronics itself. This is the narrow circuit board that is part of the panel; often it is under a shielding metal cover. Sometimes it is a blown fuse on that circuit board. This will be a small surface mount fuse slightly larger than a grain of rice.

A third cause is a problem with the logic board itself. That is more difficult to troubleshoot.

Initially, I would make sure all ribbon cables are properly seated. I would also look over the boards carefully, makeing sure a stray drop of solder, capacitor lead, etc didn't land where in the wrong place.

If nothing is found, attach good quality pictures of the circuit boards, especially the power supply.

PlainBill

[Bishop]

Re: Flat Panel Monitor Virgin

17" working fine now.

I took it apart again and found one of the tiny and extremely short ribbon cables in a very tight space had come lose. the snap cap or lock top had come off, which holds the cable in place. I got the clasp top back in place and the ribbon cable snapped into place and locked, and when I turn on the 17" ViewSonic Flat Panel Monitor that was headed for the dumpster, works great now.

My main question about the replacement capasitor being the same numbers as the original, but smaller in body was not important. The body size of the new Radial Capasitor was not an issue like I thought.

Thanks for your help,

Rod