Vizio e601i-A3 - Has Sound and Display, But No Backlight - Bad Power Supply Board or Bad LED Bulbs ?

[Tynan Dill]

I'm going to call it bad LED strips from here. I ordered the eBay LED strips and two double suction cups from Amazon that'll be delivered today. I guess I can begin teardown later on this evening.

[EazyBone]

You flip the connector over put a piece of tape on it so it doesn't move and probr the small connection. It's not about the PSU plugged in, it's about you supplying power to the PSU when you shouldn't through the tester itself. Anyway, glad you got a breakdown video for this

[Tynan Dill]

You flip the connector over put a piece of tape on it so it doesn't move and probr the small connection. It's not about the PSU plugged in, it's about you supplying power to the PSU when you shouldn't through the tester itself. Anyway, glad you got a breakdown video for this

Understood. I'm learning here, I didn't want to lean on the TV to get to the LED connector.

The TV is propped up on my office couch, making it hard to get to the connectors without having to lean on the TV.

[EazyBone]

It would be better if the screen was laying flat on the couch and not leaning factually. Make sure you don't put the screen down on something dirty. If you do it'll pickup hair and dust and when you put it back on all that will be seen behind the screen. Lay and equivalent clean size of cardboard to lay the screen down on right when you are about change it out.

[Tynan Dill]

It would be better if the screen was laying flat on the couch and not leaning factually. Make sure you don't put the screen down on something dirty. If you do it'll pickup hair and dust and when you put it back on all that will be seen behind the screen. Lay and equivalent clean size of cardboard to lay the screen down on right when you are about change it out.

Understood. I'll start tearing things down when the LEDs come close to getting here, which will probably be next week or so.

[x_orange90_x]

Understood. I'll start tearing things down when the LEDs come close to getting here, which will probably be next week or so.

Depending on your model you may need double sided tape. eBay sellers sometimes advertise them as coming with tape already applied but I've received them before without it and needed it. I recommend you stop at Meijer, Home Depot, etc and pick up Frost King double sided tape. It's used for applying those shrink wrap windows insulation kits. You can get a big roll by itself for around $5 and it works perfect every time.

Also I suggest you place a small square of electrical tape under each electrical connection where the L and R strips connect to each other. I've had arcing against the metal panel in one instance and that was kinda scary. I've done this since then and never had another issue.

[Tynan Dill]

New LED strips scheduled for delivery tomorrow. I managed to tear down the TV and test and remove the two LED strips in it. Some work, some are dim and some don't work at all...


The problem I'm having is definitely being caused by the bad LED strips.

[x_orange90_x]

I didn't realize this was an edge lit tv. Because of this you're going to need to be extra diligent when putting the thick plastic diffuser back in place. It has to sit PERFECTLY in order to evenly distribute the light, otherwise you'll have very bright areas and dark areas. Make sure light is spread evenly before placing the panel back in, and also after. You don't need the panel connected, just in place. Plug the main board into the power supply and plug the power cord in. If it doesn't turn on by itself, press the power button and it should turn on even with the panel disconnected.

I just replaced edge lights on an LG a month ago and found that every tiny LED has its own little soft light diffuser gently placed over it. I actually knocked several of them off while trying to get the plastic sheet back in place. Needless to say those tiny things are necessary and change the color of the light from blue to white. It was very challenging getting them back on the LEDs but I did manage and the end result was satisfying. My recommendation, if yours has them too (they look like tiny rubber rectangles), DON'T knock them off.

[Tynan Dill]

The new LED strips came in today.

Here's what the bulb looks like and they seem to have tape or adhesive on them as well.

[Tynan Dill]

Rebuild begins.

[Tynan Dill]

OK I have everything put back together.

Before putting the back cover on, I wanted to plug it up and turn it on to see the new LED strips light up with them connected to the power board.

At first I forgot to reconnect the ribbon cables at the t-con board that connect to the main board, but the lights powered on when I powered on the TV and stayed on for about 5-10 seconds then shut off.

I reconnected the ribbon cables to the t-con board thinking that was the problem, but that wasn't it either.

I haven't been able to get the LEDs to power on again after that.


I still put everything back together, then flipped the TV other and used a flashlight on the panel and could see the display. Seen it well enough to navigate the settings menu, factory reset it, and set it back up for home use. But no power from the LEDs...



Back to the troubleshooting board...what should I be testing from here and how do I go about doing it ?

[EazyBone]

Start from the beginning. Use led testers on the disconnected clip again and measure all the voltages

[x_orange90_x]

OK I have everything put back together.

Before putting the back cover on, I wanted to plug it up and turn it on to see the new LED strips light up with them connected to the power board.

At first I forgot to reconnect the ribbon cables at the t-con board that connect to the main board, but the lights powered on when I powered on the TV and stayed on for about 5-10 seconds then shut off.

I reconnected the ribbon cables to the t-con board thinking that was the problem, but that wasn't it either.

I haven't been able to get the LEDs to power on again after that.


I still put everything back together, then flipped the TV other and used a flashlight on the panel and could see the display. Seen it well enough to navigate the settings menu, factory reset it, and set it back up for home use. But no power from the LEDs...



Back to the troubleshooting board...what should I be testing from here and how do I go about doing it ?

This is normal and expected behavior when the panel or tcon is not connected. Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes the lights will stay on, sometimes they flash. Are you positive that you plugged the LEDs back into the power supply before reassembly?

If you disconnect the wire from main board to power supply does it still not light up?

[Tynan Dill]

Start from the beginning. Use led testers on the disconnected clip again and measure all the voltages

Doing so, the lights do not power on and voltage stays at 300 on the tester.

[Tynan Dill]

This is normal and expected behavior when the panel or tcon is not connected. Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes the lights will stay on, sometimes they flash. Are you positive that you plugged the LEDs back into the power supply before reassembly?

If you disconnect the wire from main board to power supply does it still not light up?

I'm positive I connected the LED strips to the LED connector behind the panel. But the wires were tighter than when I initially unplugged them from the original LED strips. Seeing how I can't get the LEDs on with the tester from those wires disconnected from the power board and power board unplugged from a power outlet, I assume they came unplugged at the LED strips behind the panel somehow flipping and rearranging the TV..

[Tynan Dill]

Should I run anymore tests before tearing the TV down again to see if the LEDs are unplugged behind the panel ?

[EazyBone]

Just retest again in case of a mistake in using the tester. Try flipping the leads of the tester just in case.. it happens that we put them on backwards. But yes if you can't get them to turn on from the clip then likely they came undone.

If you have to take it apart again, it may be frustrating but don't go super faster because your familiar with it, continue to take your time as frustration and speed breaks tvs.

Also if they clips to the LEDs are tight, just pull up any tape that might be there to loosen them clips so you have more access to the wires then plug them in again and retape it down.

And try not to plug it in until everything is inspected! If you plug it in and those ribbons are not connected you can short many things if you don't know what your doing! Good luck.

I've done like 100 backlights now, and literally yesterday I put the TV back together and plug in and no picture... I forgot to plug in the LEDs! Had to take apart whole TV again just to clip them in. At least it works lol. I still make mistakes sometimes ..

[Tynan Dill]

Just retest again in case of a mistake in using the tester. Try flipping the leads of the tester just in case.. it happens that we put them on backwards. But yes if you can't get them to turn on from the clip then likely they came undone.

If you have to take it apart again, it may be frustrating but don't go super faster because your familiar with it, continue to take your time as frustration and speed breaks tvs.

Also if they clips to the LEDs are tight, just pull up any tape that might be there to loosen them clips so you have more access to the wires then plug them in again and retape it down.

And try not to plug it in until everything is inspected! If you plug it in and those ribbons are not connected you can short many things if you don't know what your doing! Good luck.

I've done like 100 backlights now, and literally yesterday I put the TV back together and plug in and no picture... I forgot to plug in the LEDs! Had to take apart whole TV again just to clip them in. At least it works lol. I still make mistakes sometimes ..

I have traffic court until around noon today, I'll start tearing it back down when I get back home today.

[Tynan Dill]

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS !!

[x_orange90_x]

I've done like 100 backlights now, and literally yesterday I put the TV back together and plug in and no picture... I forgot to plug in the LEDs! Had to take apart whole TV again just to clip them in. At least it works lol. I still make mistakes sometimes ..

😆 Just last week I replaced them in a Samsung, put it all back together, wondered why there was no sound... Forgot to plug the speakers in! Another time I completely forgot to put the actual speakers BACK IN the tv 😂

It happens. We don't learn tho 🤷🏼