P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

[MikeLoveVa]

Hello everyone I am hoping someone can help me.

I have a Vizio P50HDTV10A it's a few years old. The other day I went to the store (so I wasn't around to hear it do the pop of death if it did) and when I got back it was doing sparkles, ribbons, and stripes exactly like this guys tv on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmNAu6e02c0

It has sound. You can't pull up the tv menu and it does it on all sources.

Now it's doing the screen blinky blink with sound.

Can someone tell me which board(s) to replace. I can do component level repairs but would rather just replace the board(s) and be done with it. BTW I had to replace the power fuse about a year ago.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank You!!

Mike

[drpj23]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

First and foremost, verify voltages.

But, it looks like a controller board issue....the fact that no menu comes up would make one weary of the main but my theory is the distortion of the controller board does not allow you to actually see the menu. The fact you have control to change channels/inputs is a good sign for the main.

The SM off elektrotanya has waveforms that may be helpful to use if you have a scope.

[tom66]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

I'll bet the lines correspond to moving parts of the image. So if you paused a DVD or PVR, you'd get an almost stationary image. I think the Y buffer has failed, which should be a relatively easy fix if you can get the part. Common on Samsung based plasmas, and can happen with older Panasonic plasma TVs too.

[MikeLoveVa]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

You could tell the menu was coming up but so distorted you can't "see" them.

I guess I left it on too long trying to figure it out (tapping on the sides to see if it might be a loose connection) because it is now blinking.

This is the actual video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIrP1FCfOvo

is that any more help?

Thanks again

[tom66]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

I still think it's a Y-buffer problem, it looks very similar to previous Y-buffer problems. The flickering could be indicative of the Y-buffer overloading the power supply due to short circuits on some lines.

[MikeLoveVa]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

Ok great! Thank you guys for ALL of your help!

In the manual it has a part number for the Main Board is 385000120150 (sometimes listed online with dashes). But no number for the Y Board (I assume Y-buffer). Can I trust this number or are there a bunch of different ones based on year manufactured? I would like to get my ducks in a row before I hire a crane to get this beast off the wall and take all 6k screws out and have it laying face down on the futon/couch for a week or two while board(s) are on order. LOL

Manual
http://www.scribd.com/doc/36893692/V...Manual-061107t
page #21

OMG I love this board!! It's the first board I have ever been on with no trolls or idiots asking me if it's plugged in! Thank you!!!

[drpj23]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

The Y buffers are skinny boards on the left of the tv (facing back). They connect the sustain to the panel. They have about 5-6 ICs on them. Boards, in a general sense, can always be different in the same model TV so best choice of action is just looking at the original part and matching part numbers (not board numbers). The manual doesn't show them probably since they are manufactured by LG. You can go to shopjimmy.com and type your model TV in and see how (or where) they obtain the numbers if you are having trouble.

But I do believe this is an older model plasma, so be weary on buying 'used' buffers for you may risk having them fail (and taking out the Y sustain) in a week after you put the beast back up. They may now have re-manufactured parts but not sure.

Oh by the way, when you remove the buffers, you will have to disconnect ribbon cables from the panel. Just be careful when handling, if you rip it, you'll have to buy another TV.

[MikeLoveVa]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

That's again for the advice. I used to repair pagers, two-way radios, and computer. I hate ribbon cables for that very reason. BTW I list a bunch of radio junk on ebay.

I'm going to replace both y-buffers and the y-sus and maybe the main board just to be sure.

Thanks everyone for the help. I will let you know what happens.

Mike L

[tom66]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

I doubt you need to replace the Y-sus as the failure almost always causes no picture or a visible picture but entirely with sparklies etc (not what you are seeing as you can see no image at all.)

[tw2005]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

I had a look at that manual and it's LG gear. The ones pictured in the manual are the same as the 50PX5D which commonly blow the IPMs on both x & y and generally expensive. Looking at shopjimmy also looks like there are other ysus and xsus models used as well for same model number.

I'm thinking along the same lines as Tom and maybe start with the buffers. I have worked on one earlier LG 42" plasma which had the lower buffers shorted which produced the sort of garbage your seeing. I confirmed it by completely isolating each buffer borad one at a time. I believe the interconnection between upper and lower needs to be disconnected as well. I forgot and the board smoked but it was the bad one so i was lucky.

The good buffer gave me half a good picture but the fault one must have dragged the voltages down and made the whole picture bad.

It's a pretty old panel now. i think this was mentioned earlier but don't be surprised if the x or y fail in the near future.

[MikeLoveVa]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

So are you saying that while I have the case open to get all of the part numbers off the board, that I can disconnect upper or lower y buffer boards (from each other also) and see if I get at least half a picture?

And then get both y buff boards because they will eventually blow anyway. And be prepared for the x buffers to eventually burn up also.

I have a crane ( extra person) scheduled to help me get it off the wall tomorrow so I can open it and get the numbers (and pictures) tomorrow.

Than you guys!

[drpj23]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

I would try that. And I would replace both buffers since they would have a similar length of life (and I have no clue how to discern which one would be bad if they both produce a pic.)

[MikeLoveVa]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

Ok I finally got help to get BEAST off the wall. I will have the case off and pictures of the boards shortly.

Thank you again for your help.

Mike

[MikeLoveVa]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

BTW back label says manufactured November 2006

MLVa

[MikeLoveVa]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

So I disconnected the bottom ybuffer board (they say ydriver on them) and powered it up. Still flashes just the top half. So I guess that means they are both toast then.

I looked and looked but didn't see any obviously bad caps.

So I guess I'll be ordering upper and lower boards. Should I get a ysus as well?

Pictures attached of all boards.

[MikeLoveVa]

Re: P50HDTV10A Sparkle then blinky blink

And the power supply fuses checked good as well as the two I could find on the ysus board.