Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

[lucidbarrier]

Westinghouse LTV-32W3 HD television

I bought a TV off craigslist, dude said it wouldn't turn on. Opened it, pulled the power board, looked it over and put it back in. Turned on and worked perfectly straight every day for a month. Gave it to a family member.

TV was given back with same problem. This time, when I plugged it in and turned it on: the backlights would come on and stay on, but no picture on the screen or menu. Could not turn tv off without unplugging it. Plugging it back in, the backlights would come on immediately like you pressed the power button. No response to remote or buttons.

I started to check voltages and look for cold solder joints, etc. All of a sudden, I decided to look at the power cable and it was missing the grounding lug on it. I grabbed a spare computer PSU cable and used that. The symptom changed. Now, pressing the power button would turn the backlights on for a couple seconds, and then it would turn to black. I pulled the back case to check for voltages and decided to use a flash light to see if there was something on the screen, I hit the lights and plugged it in and the power supply catastrophically failed.

Is it worth pursuing a repair on this unit? It seems I have two problems now. A shorted out PSU and then the original problem. Also, I am not exactly sure how safe of a TV it would be if I did repair it. It's a shame that they made these tv's with the cheapest parts possible. The screen was actually really nice for playing old school games on while I had it, and the sound was decent for what it was.

[Rudy.ALvarez91586]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

could I have the picture of the other side to see the components on the other side

[Rudy.ALvarez91586]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

how much money did you get the tv for

[lucidbarrier]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

It's foggy today, and overcast so this is the best lighting I could get. I think I paid $40 for the TV.

[goontron]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

i would replace. the PMW controller is shot (SMD IC), the switcher is probably shorted, it probably went into an overvoltage state doing so and that would kill my things to top it off.

[lucidbarrier]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

Oh sorry, I didn't make that clear. I would not try to resurrect the Power Supply Board. I am asking if it would be safe to install a new power supply and go from there. I think maybe when I had the board connected, I think it shorted out/arced on the standoff on the chassis.

[Alastair E]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

Hmm--I'm wondering What Caused That....?

In your fault-finding--when it went bang, Did you have the set propped up against something--or even worse resting on the PSU when you applied power...?

Looks to me like that board was shoved up against the steel chassis--and shorted....

Had that fault where a set owner had mounted set on the wall. Someone nudged it--whilst falling over pissed, shorted the PSU to chassis--Bang, A new PSU restored full operation....

[lucidbarrier]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

I think it did short out and I think it was my fault. I was turning it to shine a flashlight on the screen and the PSU wasn't secured. I didn't see it touching anything but it's possible that it still arced on a standoff.

I think I am going to get a replacement DPS-210EP-2 on Ebay. I know there is the original problem to deal with. I cleaned off the chassis and it looks a lot better now, it doesn't look as scary.

Do you all happen to know how to remove the plastic cover on the inverter board? I want to look over the board.

[Alastair E]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

One thing that 30 odd years of doing this stuff has taught me---

Look for the CAUSE of the problem--as well as how to cure it.....

ALWAYS make SURE that whatever you remove is fixed Correctly--pref with all the screws before powering up.
In the case where you HAVE to have a board loose for checking voltages, I rest it on some thick non-flammable plastic or cotton/towels--and NEVER EVER leave it while powered up....

IF you Ever do a Plasma set--ALL THE SCREWS in ALL THE BOARDS MUST be present, (exceptions would be the buffer-boards, mainboard)--or often the set will self-destruct!!

[Shinju]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

^ Even mainboards, I know with Panasonics its a must to have all the screws in on every board or they arc and short. Learned that the hard way

[lucidbarrier]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

I will always insulate a board that is non-secured from now on. I do it with motherboards already, but this was more interesting. It was dark, and it popped mere inches from my face. I don't want to ever see the 4th of July that close again.

[goontron]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

Oh sorry, I didn't make that clear. I would not try to resurrect the Power Supply Board. I am asking if it would be safe to install a new power supply and go from there. I think maybe when I had the board connected, I think it shorted out/arced on the standoff on the chassis.

install a new PB and it will probably work. there might be other faults with the TV, but in my (limited to computer screens) experience it was probably the PSU causing your issues.

[budm]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

"This time, when I plugged it in and turned it on: the backlights would come on and stay on, but no picture on the screen or menu. Could not turn tv off without unplugging it. Plugging it back in, the backlights would come on immediately like you pressed the power button. No response to remote or buttons."
That sounds like the main board problem.

[lucidbarrier]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

"This time, when I plugged it in and turned it on: the backlights would come on and stay on, but no picture on the screen or menu. Could not turn tv off without unplugging it. Plugging it back in, the backlights would come on immediately like you pressed the power button. No response to remote or buttons."
That sounds like the main board problem.

I think you are right. Can those SMD caps on the main board be tested with an ESR meter? They have a K vent on them, so I am assuming they are electrolytics. I see the power cable going into the main board but I don't see where the fuse is, what should I look for?

[lucidbarrier]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32W3 worth fixing? (power supply shorted)

Here are some pics of the main board. Most of those larger SMD capacitors tested around .07-.08 ESR in circuit, using the ESR-micro v4.0s but two of them showed around .33 ESR. They are both marked B4P 220 25V.

I really don't see a fuse anywhere.