Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

I have the opportunity to pick up a Philips 32FD9954 plasma TV for $50 described as no power. This is an older plasma, it's just 1080i (1024*856). A little googling around reveals it has a design flaw in the PSU, bad caps and PWM controller failure being common. Looks like a cheap fix.

What do you say? This will be my first plasma repair btw.

[ben7]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

I have the opportunity to pick up a Philips 32FD9954 plasma TV for $50 described as no power. This is an older plasma, it's just 1080i (1024*856). A little googling around reveals it has a design flaw in the PSU, bad caps and PWM controller failure being common. Looks like a cheap fix.

What do you say? This will be my first plasma repair btw.

Go for it!

If you cant fix it, then you can always sell the working parts

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

Not a large market for plasma parts here i'm afraid. I'm waiting for tom66 to chime in.

I wouldn't really like to have to swallow the cost, and i have another set for the same money, it's a Samsung SlimFit 32" 100Hz widescreen CRT. That's 100% a cheap fix and there's still a market for them (could sell it for $130 easily), but i would prefer the plasma though, because the tube would be an absolute b*tch to move at that size.

[tom66]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

When plugged in - does it emit a loud buzzing? (Like a shorted iron-core transformer) IF SO RUN AWAY QUICKLY! Panel is cracked. Quiet buzzing is okay.

Also, try and see if you get any flickering from the panel when plugged in. If so panel is okay.

You will need a scope to debug a plasma beyond replacing random parts.

Plasma panels use voltages of around 200V DC but that's not alien to you is it .

You're dealing with an earlier generation of plasma panels. Before crappy LG and Samsung ones flooded the market. It looks like a NEC or Fujitsu panel. It also looks like it has an IPM (big power module, lots of semiconductors on one chip); if that's dead, it could be tricky...

http://www.interliquidparts.com/wp-c...18107-5017.JPG

I would say, go for it.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

When plugged in - does it emit a loud buzzing? (Like a shorted iron-core transformer) IF SO RUN AWAY QUICKLY! Panel is cracked. Quiet buzzing is okay.

It does not buzz at all, it simply doesn't start. No standby LED, nothing. Seller told me there was a repair attempted on the PSU with no success, but other than that the TV is in one piece and no boards are missing.

You will need a scope to debug a plasma beyond replacing random parts.

Hopefully the 2x 10MHz one i currently have will do.

I would say, go for it.

Mkay... Will make a decision tonight.

[ben7]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

It does not buzz at all, it simply doesn't start. No standby LED, nothing. Seller told me there was a repair attempted on the PSU with no success, but other than that the TV is in one piece and no boards are missing.



Hopefully the 2x 10MHz one i currently have will do.



Mkay... Will make a decision tonight.

Well, it seems the PSU is at fault in this, and ofc, I know how much you love PSUs

[tom66]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

It does not buzz at all, it simply doesn't start. No standby LED, nothing. Seller told me there was a repair attempted on the PSU with no success, but other than that the TV is in one piece and no boards are missing.

I generally stay away from TVs which have had work done on them before because you can't be certain what has been fiddled with.

Hopefully the 2x 10MHz one i currently have will do.

On an SD/part HD panel, sure. No problem. I used a 20 MHz dual channel one on a 1080p set. It was a challenge, but it just about worked enough for me to see the sustain board was okay.

[ben7]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

I generally stay away from TVs which have had work done on them before because you can't be certain what has been fiddled with.



On an SD/part HD panel, sure. No problem. I used a 20 MHz dual channel one on a 1080p set. It was a challenge, but it just about worked enough for me to see the sustain board was okay.

Why run if it makes a loud buzzing sound? Does it mean the panel might shatter?

[tom66]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

Why run if it makes a loud buzzing sound? Does it mean the panel might shatter?

When the screen cracks, you get shorted electrodes. The buzzing is the sound from the PSU and sustain boards being shorted out. No, there is no safety hazard - I was referring to the fact that you shouldn't buy it .

[ben7]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

When the screen cracks, you get shorted electrodes. The buzzing is the sound from the PSU and sustain boards being shorted out. No, there is no safety hazard - I was referring to the fact that you shouldn't buy it .

Ah, lol!

Our 42" sammy makes buzzing noises from the sustain boards, the TV has been working fine, so I just think its normal. You especially can hear it if you go from a black screen to a light color screen.

[tom66]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

Ah, lol!

Our 42" sammy makes buzzing noises from the sustain boards, the TV has been working fine, so I just think its normal. You especially can hear it if you go from a black screen to a light color screen.

It's loud buzzing. Quiet buzzing is okay. Loud buzzing like a big iron transformer in distress.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

I generally stay away from TVs which have had work done on them before because you can't be certain what has been fiddled with.

Me too... On the other hand, that Sammy CRT has never been messed with, but again, it would be a complete hog to move around.

[tom66]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

How certain are you the Samsung CRT hasn't been fiddled with?

I'm surprised that CRTs are still popular in Romania - I suppose they are older models? - LCDs are now cheaper than CRTs were a few years back. Case in point my dad got a 28" JVC CRT (made in UK - suspect it is a Toshiba chassis) for £300 about 6 years ago (still going well) but you can now buy 32" LCDs for £250 (good Panasonic Viera LCD 32".)

[indel]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

Th3 uN1Qu3,
You are my best bet in helping me with an IT question. I am visiting my friends in Bucharest, in September, and I intend to bring, to each of them, a mini-tablet Nexus 7. Can you tell what kind of router should I bring, too, to be sure that they can use the tablet? Here, in Houston, I am using a cable modem and a Linksys wrt54gs. I assume that they have either DSL or cable.
Thanks in advance,
Indel

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

How certain are you the Samsung CRT hasn't been fiddled with?

100%. The ad has been up for a while (i think i first saw it 2 months ago), and it's simply described as "no longer turns on, did not attempt to repair it". The seller appears to have no electronics experience.

I'm surprised that CRTs are still popular in Romania - I suppose they are older models? - LCDs are now cheaper than CRTs were a few years back.

They still dirt cheap CRTs in supermarkets for one, and secondly, the SlimFit type tubes are still sought after - people's biggest gripe with CRTs is their size, slim ones are okay.

Th3 uN1Qu3,
You are my best bet in helping me with an IT question. I am visiting my friends in Bucharest, in September, and I intend to bring, to each of them, a mini-tablet Nexus 7. Can you tell what kind of router should I bring, too, to be sure that they can use the tablet? Here, in Houston, I am using a cable modem and a Linksys wrt54gs. I assume that they have either DSL or cable.
Thanks in advance,
Indel

Cable modems are almost extinct here. You can still find DSL here and there, but it's not common. Only with Romtelecom ISP, which sucks, so a lot of people have moved to better alternatives.

Anything with an ethernet port on it will work. Even if they got DSL you would simply plug the ethernet cable that comes from the DSL modem into the router instead of the PC.

[tom66]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

In the UK, 1024x824 pixels is considered HD Ready. 720p plasmas are 1024x768 (42" and below - 50" models are 1366x768.) Only thing is, I doubt it will have HDMI... does it have DVI though?

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

No HDMI indeed, just component. It has 2x VGA and one DVI-D.

[tom66]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

No HDMI indeed, just component. It has 2x VGA and one DVI-D.

Sounds nice, would you keep it or sell it?

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Philips 32FD9954 plasma - worth $50?

I have nowhere to put it... i'll likely sell it. Thing is, i'll be leaving for my grandparents' place at the seaside shortly, and there i have room, and i'm sure grandpa would enjoy football and boxing on a big screen, so if i get it there i may keep it.

The TV isn't in my city, so i'll have to pay shipping anyway, i get to choose where i have it delivered. The Samsung CRT on the other hand, i can get to see locally, so i still don't know which one to pick.