Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

[dsatya]

Hi all

I had this TV since 2009 and about 3 weeks ago started seeing this brightness issue. Initially I thought it was skin tones only. But it seems to be more than that. I do not have any issues with power cycling or red tinting,etc. I will figure out a way to add pictures here.

The mfg date is Jan 2009

I read about the capacitor issues and opened up the back and took pictures. The capacitors seem to be fine.

Any help is appreciated...

Sat

PS: sorry for the upside down photos .. some reason picasa is showing them correctly but the images are upside down. will try and figure this out.

[dsatya]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

Forgot to mention..
I called Samsung tech support and all they could do was to setup a repair call. They did not provide a cost estimate. I did try the factory reset once.

[Shinju]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

I am going to go out on a limb here and say the AS15 gamma chip on your T-con board is going bad.

There has been well over a dozen of these popping up over the last few weeks.

Take a photo of the t-con board it's behind a metal shield.

[budm]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

Take the DC voltage reading on those test points VGMA1~18.
You have one of these two T-CON board.
http://www.shopjimmy.com/media/catal...16584b-top.jpg

http://www.shopjimmy.com/media/catal...03334j-top.jpg

[dsatya]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

I had to open up the tv again!!!

The tcon bord I assume is the one in the picture I am attaching. This was behind the metal plate at the top center of the tv.

Bud, which points should I take a reading on. I am not sure about the VGMA1~18. Any guide I need to refer.. Thanks!!

[Alastair E]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

Third pic does illustrate a gamma type problem pretty well....

Under one of the smaller heat-pads, one of the chips will probably be an AS15 chip--which is the suspect....

[budm]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

http://www.shopjimmy.com/auo-55-46t0...-con-board.htm
Picture provided by SJ.

[dsatya]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

Bud,

I will get to test them tonight. Also will check on the gamma chip version.

Assuming the gamma chip is bad, are there other probable issues with these boards ?

Wondering if I am better off getting a "New" from china or used/pull from ebay or getting mine repaired.

I do not have the tools for replacing the chip myself.

Ebay Pull: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sceptre-X460...item1c3543c116

thx

[Alastair E]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

These gamma chips--Appear to have a finite lifespan, Some say 10-15K hours, dont know if this is the case, but we see loads of 'em faulty on this forum--and in real life!

Trouble with any used board--you just don't know how many hours on it....

Electronics--these days literally wear out, they are made to--Unlike some years ago.....
--Its a combination of things that causes this issue, lead-free/Rhos directive, smaller manufacturing techniques for chip components etc, all adds up to a finite life-span.

[anotherdude]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

These gamma chips--Appear to have a finite lifespan, Some say 10-15K hours, dont know if this is the case, but we see loads of 'em faulty on this forum--and in real life!

Trouble with any used board--you just don't know how many hours on it....

Electronics--these days, literally wear out--Unlike some years ago.....

easy money for the companies, TV breaks most people scrap them and buy another

same as anything really everything is built to break

[Alastair E]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

Planned Obsolescence its called--Driven by stupid brainwashed 'Consumers' and daft Govt 'growth' incentives--That Cannot Continue Indefinitely....

[dsatya]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

I wanted to close the loop on this one. I got the board repaired by ShopJimmy. They were excellent. Fast turnaround after they received it (4 days from receiving to delivery).

The TV is back to normal!!!! Thank you all for your diagnosis and advice....

Third pic does illustrate a gamma type problem pretty well....

Under one of the smaller heat-pads, one of the chips will probably be an AS15 chip--which is the suspect....

[tibimakai]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

How much it was the repair?

[budm]

Re: Samsung LN46A630 - too bright picture

Thanks for the follow-up, SJ charges around $67 for repair.