Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

[tonyklem]

Any guesses on what's wrong with this Vizio VP42? The image is there, but it is just washed out.

[Quasar]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

Bad CCFL's? Looks like a pinkish tint to screen too. How old is unit?

[tonyklem]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

Bad CCFL's? Looks like a pinkish tint to screen too. How old is unit?

I thinks the manufacturers date is 07

[Quasar]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

A lot of use? Has this been slowly getting worse or suddenly - one day to next?

[tonyklem]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

Sorry I couldn't say for sure. I Just got it off someone like this.

[Quasar]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

If that is indeed a pinkish tint, and not the camera angle, then I'd say it's time to open it up and see what's what.

Does changing brightness or contrast make any difference? Is there a menu "reset" option to return to factory settings?

[tonyklem]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

If that is indeed a pinkish tint, and not the camera angle, then I'd say it's time to open it up and see what's what.

Does changing brightness or contrast make any difference? Is there a menu "reset" option to return to factory settings?

Brightness/contrast didn't make a difference. Reset didn't help either. I am fully expecting to open this up, I was mainly inquiring to see if someone could help me pinpoint which board could be causing these issues. Thanks for your help so far.

[Quasar]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

You're welcome. I don't immediately suspect a board with this as I do bad tubes. It could very easily be a combination of the two. Please post back with pictures of the boards when you do get it opened.

[kc8adu]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

no ccfl in a plasma ;-)
just had an lg with a blown stk on zsus causing a dim distorted image.

[Quasar]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

[PlainBill]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

The drill is to open the set up and take a picture or two.. I prefer a single picture covering all of the back of the TV. This shows the relationship between the various boards.

There should be several stickers on the back of the panel. One of these should be the model number of the panel. Another will be the voltages required by the panel. From those you should be able to identify the manufacturer of the panel. Otherwise, check the part number on the white labels on the Sustain cards (cards with big heat sinks on each side of the TV.

Wizard's wisdom says that a pink tint is a plasma panel nearing end of life, although I would pull up the service menu to verify the hours on the panel before writing it off.

Interesting item for sale on eBay Looks familiar.

PlainBill

[Quasar]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

Wizard's wisdom says that a pink tint is a plasma panel nearing end of life, although I would pull up the service menu to verify the hours on the panel before writing it off.

So these show the same symptoms (pink tint) as a CCFL when dying? Three years is lousy life.

Note to self- do not buy plasma set.

[PlainBill]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

So these show the same symptoms (pink tint) as a CCFL when dying? Three years is lousy life.

Note to self- do not buy plasma set.

The RATED life of current plasma panels is 60,000 hours. Per Wizard, the practical life of panels manufactured 4 years ago is about 10,000 hours, particularly if run at high brightness. How long that is in years depends on how much TV you watch.

If you turn it on in the morning when you get up, and it stays on until you go to bed, 10,000 hours is about 1 1/2 years. If you watch TV for an average of 5 hours a day (I'm retired and can't imagine watching TV that much), that works out to over 5 years. About a year ago I fixed a 4 year old plasma TV which my wife 'confiscated'. She has it on for background noise while grading homework, etc. It currently has more than 20,000 hours on it, noticeable 'pillars' from watching SD shows, and still has very good color.

Don't forget, in addition to the user brightness, contrast, and tint controls there are service adjustments that allow adjusting out any panel-wide color changes.

PlainBill

[Quasar]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

But once they fail, the only option is to replace the entire panel - at what cost? Are they even available after 3 years? Using this 42" one.

How much would that be if it were the same size LCD for the CCFLs?

[PlainBill]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

But once they fail, the only option is to replace the entire panel - at what cost? Are they even available after 3 years? Using this 42" one.

How much would that be if it were the same size LCD for the CCFLs?

Well, I have seen plasma panels listed. The going rate seems to be about $150 - $200.

All of the current HDTV technologies have problems.

DLP TVs use a high intensity lamp that is rated to last 4000 hours, and has a list price ranging from $375 to over $600. Third party bulbs are available for about $100 but may or may not match the ballast. Per Wizard, the ballast is tuned to the characteristics of a particular brand of lamp.

LCD TVs use CCFLs which have a limited life; the inverter is also prone to failure. I've got a 37" Sharp on the bench that has 18 CCFLs. Fortunately the CCFLS aren't the problem, but how would you like to replace all 18 of them? Or replace only one and have a stripe across the screen?

Now LCDs are going to LEDs for backlights (at a considerable premium in price). That takes care of the problems with inverters, but how many hours are you going to get out of them before the LEDs start failing? Matching intensity and color on those are going to be fun.

Plasma displays show signs of aging. Earlier this year I repaired two plasma TVs that used the same panel as the Vizio VP42. One had 10,000 hours, and had color variations that were noticeable on a pure white screen. The other had under 700 hours and was noticeably more vivid.

As I indicated earlier, I have a plasma with 20,000 hours that has noticeable pillars from extensive viewing of SD broadcasts. My wife swears the display beats any LCD TV she has ever seen. I don't care, I see a happy wife.

PlainBill

[Quasar]

Re: Vizio VP42 Plasma - Washed out Image

Well, I have seen plasma panels listed. The going rate seems to be about $150 - $200.

I saw CCFLs for the 37" and they were $20 each. That makes it $360 for just the tubes, never mind the labor.

At those kind of costs, after 3 years, it really is better to buy the new set.

All of the current HDTV technologies have problems.

DLP TVs use a high intensity lamp that is rated to last 4000 hours, and has a list price ranging from $375 to over $600. Third party bulbs are available for about $100 but may or may not match the ballast. Per Wizard, the ballast is tuned to the characteristics of a particular brand of lamp.

They have that color wheel too, which makes no sense to put something mechanical into a TV these days. Like a hard drive, it's not _if_ it's going to fail, but _when_.

Now LCDs are going to LEDs for backlights (at a considerable premium in price). That takes care of the problems with inverters, but how many hours are you going to get out of them before the LEDs start failing? Matching intensity and color on those are going to be fun.

But the price premium will only be for a short time as the industry turns to this method. Just like anything else, volume up, price down. I've no need for bleeding edge. I'd much rather sit back and wait for the kinks to be worked out.

My wife swears the display beats any LCD TV she has ever seen. I don't care, I see a happy wife.

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