Panasonic plasma TH-50PZ800U left half of screen black

[Devo234]

My 50PZ800U suddenly went black on the left side and distorted on the right last night. The image on the right slowly scrolled down (you can see the horizontal black bar that is slowly moving down the screen in the image below). Same issue across multiple inputs. Went away for maybe 2-3 minutes when I turned the set off and back on but now it seems to be stuck this way. I left it unplugged for today and will check it when I get home from work.

I attempted to access the service menu via vol down, 3x info, and the screen flashed black momentarily but since the left side of the screen is out I am unable to see if it actually popped up.

I've seen a few posts for panasonic plasmas noting loose connectors or possibly bad boards, but none with the left side of the screen being the issue. Anyone have any insights? Thanks.

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Panasonic plasma TH-50PZ800U left half of screen black

Either lose Lvds cable or bad Bga solder. Check the lvds first.

[Devo234]

Re: Panasonic plasma TH-50PZ800U left half of screen black

Reecey, thanks for your quick response!

Partial success, the left half of the screen is now functioning but I'm getting a few vertical bars of discoloration (blue and yellow).


I am assuming my next step should be to reseat the line of connections along the bottom of the panel (outer ones circled in red below) as it seems logical that they would contribute to vertical banding. Is this correct? And is it safe to unscrew the heatsink/bracket that is covering them? The connector clamp only unhinges about 45 degrees with the bracket in the way otherwise.

[dick_barton]

Re: Panasonic plasma TH-50PZ800U left half of screen black

I'm not 100% sure but if the bar is used as a heatsink then do not run the set until its back in place.

[Devo234]

Re: Panasonic plasma TH-50PZ800U left half of screen black

A final update in case anyone digs this up through search - it was not the connectors running along the bottom of the screen.

There are three wide LVDS cables hidden behind the input board in the center of the panel. If you loosen the screws holding the input panel bracket in place, you can just slip your hand behind it to reseat these three cables. Be careful not to strain all the cables coming off the input board. I did a ~2 hour test run last night and everything is back to normal.

[dick_barton]

Re: Panasonic plasma TH-50PZ800U left half of screen black

So it was that one of the Logic Board connection cables needing reseating as stated by ReeceyBurger123

[Devo234]

Re: Panasonic plasma TH-50PZ800U left half of screen black

It appears so. I had opened and closed the connector clamps on those cables the first time around, but I went back and tried to lightly shift them about before clamping them back down.