Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

[badsamsunginatlanta]

My Samsung ln32a550 worked fine until recently. We were watching a program and the screen suddenly went to a cryptic varying shades of greens in a grid with a bit of a squelching sound. After a few seconds, the unit powered off. Since this happened, we have been unable to get the unit to power back on. Upon plugging the unit in, the blue light on the front of the unit at the base comes on and the small red LED starts slowly blinking. No start up tune. Pressing any button on the remote causes the red LED to remain constant while the button is pushed, but returns to blinking immediately after.

Based on the many discussions of bad capacitors, I took a look at the power board. None of the capacitors appeared bulged, but I planned to replace them anyway. As I was searching for the correct parts online, I noticed that Samsung has a class action lawsuit settlement that provides for a free in-home service call for a technician to replace the capacitors and/or the entire power board if the capacitors alone don't fix the problem. The repair tech came out and didn't even bother with the capacitors, but instead just replaced the entire power board. Unfortunately, the problem continues and I'm still unable to use the TV.

The technician said he was 95% confident that the problem is with the main board, but I hate to drop $100+ on a replacement board without knowing that it is the problem. The same tech was initially 95% certain the problem was with the power board.

Any advise? I'm far from an electronics guru, but do my own auto repairs, appliance repairs, scuba gear servicing, etc., so I'm not afraid to dig in in order to learn how something works.

Many thanks in advance for any assistance you guys can provide.

[tom66]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

The tech is a robot, he works off a chart:
No power: Replace power board, replace main board, replace T-con board.

I would agree that it is likely to be a main board fault by your symptoms.

[badsamsunginatlanta]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

Thanks for the advise, Tom.

Is it possible to repair the main board (similar to replacing caps on power board), or should I simply start looking for a replacement board?

[tom66]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

The fault you described sounds like a failure of the main processor; repair would be very difficult.

[johnboy1313]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

A few good pictures of the power supply should enable one of the many talented members here to walk you through the process of forcing your power supply and backlight inverter(s) on. This will at least confirm that the new power supply and the inverter(s) are not the problem.

[badsamsunginatlanta]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

Johnboy,

That would be great. I've attached photos of the entire exposed unit and each of the individual components/boards.

Also, an update... After being unplugged for several days, I plugged it in after reassembling it following the photo session and the unit powered on! Samsung chime played and I even got a picture on the screen (no sources were hooked up, so it was just 'static' from tuner). Alas, it was short lived as after about 5-10 seconds, the screen went to the grid-like green screen and then the unit shut down and went back to the blinking red LED.

Does this still sound like the main processor?

Thanks again for all that have offered assistance!

[johnboy1313]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

We're going to need good clear pictures of the three connectors on the opposite end of the power board from the AC in. It looks like there's two on one corner and one on the other. There is printing at those connectors. That printing will tell which pins need to be connected through a resistor to get the PSU to power up.

[budm]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

What is the P/N on the power supply board? BNXX-XXXXX

[badsamsunginatlanta]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

I read elsewhere about disconnecting the cables between the power board and the main board and experimented with that a bit over the weekend. Would you believe that after taking it apart and reassembling it again, it's working like new. I'm not getting my hopes up too far, as it has consistently started failing again after brief periods of working, but it managed to last through the rest of the weekend with moderate use.

At this stage, I'm afraid to even touch it (or perhaps even look at it) for fear that it breaks again. If I run into problems again, I'll update the thread and include the additional information you guys requested.

Thanks again for all assistance. I've learned a great deal by reading through all the threads on the board and I'm starting to feel pretty comfortable tearing into this thing.

[ivtec]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

I read elsewhere about disconnecting the cables between the power board and the main board and experimented with that a bit over the weekend. Would you believe that after taking it apart and reassembling it again, it's working like new. I'm not getting my hopes up too far, as it has consistently started failing again after brief periods of working, but it managed to last through the rest of the weekend with moderate use.

At this stage, I'm afraid to even touch it (or perhaps even look at it) for fear that it breaks again. If I run into problems again, I'll update the thread and include the additional information you guys requested.

Thanks again for all assistance. I've learned a great deal by reading through all the threads on the board and I'm starting to feel pretty comfortable tearing into this thing.

I think you your main board is about to go bad

Here a cheap board you can send them your board and theywill cut the price in half,


http://www.moduslinkptstvboards.com/...8B-P25873.aspx

[ivtec]

Re: Samsung ln32a550 - Won't Power On - Red LED Blinking - Power board just replaced

I think you your main board is about to go bad

Here a cheap board you can send them your board and they will cut the price in half,


http://www.moduslinkptstvboards.com/...8B-P25873.aspx

Forgot to say that they are reliable cause i ordered from there this same board.