Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

[Doc38343]

Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Got this beast (literally) in friday evening. Did the routine disco of SC board.
Blinks change to 6. When I disco the SS board Blinks change to 8. when I disco both blinks also go to 6. when all is connected blinks are 7. Just wanted to get this post started so i have not searched for a service manual yet and am just about to check voltages. I see a lot of these panasonic plasmas having these issues. This is a last gen so the screws have washers and lock washers BUT some were as much as a half turn loose. Did not help this case. I will post more info as I test things.
Thanks

[Doc38343]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

OK
When I plug it in. Relays click on then back off. The voltages to SC and SS board connectors go to 180 V (maybe more it spikes the starts drifting back down to eventually 0v) Same with 15.v on the P5 connector to main board. 5v stdby is stable but 4.5v instead of 5v. Also noted there is 15.5V at the P57/P58 jacks (runs from lower PWS to Upper and are marked Relay_main, EV_15v, Relay_Rush (three pin connector)
When SC/SS board power connectors are disconnected no change in voltages.
I really wish I could find the service manual for this one. I have a growing dislike for plasma TV's, they are a pain.
Any help appreciated.



Anybody ever buy a service manual from one of those sites that come up on google?
I am skeptic because the one time I did buy one the bastards sent me a user manual and no service manual.
Haven't bought one since. If you know of a reputable site $10 - $15 bucks seems reasonable.

[tom66]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

I'd check Vscn, -Vad on the SC board; check buffer boards for a short. If you have a scope, then probe the output waveform and see if it looks reasonable.
I had a failed optocoupler on TC-P42ST50B causing a SOS7; the '50 and '60 are similar, so there's a possibility that the same fault is present.

[Doc38343]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Ever had a day where every thing you do is wrong... Started this morning when I couldn't find my favorite pocket knife then there it was right in front of me where i SWEAR I was looking directly at that spot. Then i type in this Model number... bear in mind I took a photo of the model sticker, yet i still managed to turn the Z into a 2. Now i'm reading this very post and see my model number is missing the P before the 65... crimeys!!!!
No wonder the only service manuals i found were "fake sites"....

Thanks Tom66 sounds like the right place to start.
I will do that as soon as i can locate my missing meter... LOL

Tom66 I did notice the SC board side pulled down from the 180v.. way faster than the SS side when the relays tripped off (when they were connected)
I'ma short hunten.....

[tom66]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

I believe these sets use two separate Vsus power supplies, one for the SC / Left and one for the SS / Right.
The SC loads the Vsus slightly more, due to its additional power supplies, so seems unlikely to be a leaky problem.
These sets use high voltage IGBT transistors. When something goes wrong, they go dead short, rarely do they go leaky and drain a supply slowly. It does happen, but very rare.

[Doc38343]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

OK there is NOT a dead short on the SC board. Some of the octo couples read funny though but there are several on here but i (in diode mode - in circuit these are 4 pin smd)
red on pin 1 blk on pin 2 - .9 on some 1.0 on some a couple were like .7 one was .6
blk on 1 red on 2 - some read open (like I'd expect on a normal diode) others and several read almost the same as when reversed 1.0 .9 and such. These are all the smd 4pin 356T.
I think the readings are ok being they are in-circuit and they were from locations all over the board.

OK would it hurt anything to put this SC back in but leave the SU and SD buffers disconnected from it, then fire it up?

Man I would gladly pay for a service manual/schematic if anyone knows of a site that is legit.

UPDATE: Just decided to take a chance on Service-Manual.net and they were legit.
Plus got a couple of additional trouble shooting guides for this one.
I will admit I thought it could be another dupe but it worked out his time.

[Doc38343]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Guys - having a service manual with schematic is a difference of night and day.. just had to state that! (back to testing crap)

[Doc38343]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Out of the rabbit hole and up for air.... I think it is one of the buffer boards. I can't tell which one but the signal to and from the main board are switching and the flow chart has me at SD/SU or Bad Panel. On the jack that connects the ribbon cable to the main
There is a jack marked SC50.
You MUST DISCONNECT SU and SD buffers COMPLETELY from the SC board then jumper that jacks pins together and plug in the machine. The chart says if light still blinks it is "possibly" the SC board. If it turns on and fires the back lights it is SD/SU or Bad Panel. I know I know just enough to be dangerous and am not to proud to ask for "experienced input" at this point. Would really like to make the right call on this diagnosis rather than buying two boards one of which i do not need. (my usual old way)
These boards have that crappy epoxy seal over the chips but if it was a different component fail I could fix it, including the tiny 605 SMDs. While I await some kind assistance I will remove both buffer boards and begin my microscopic search for ???

I attached the Panasonic diagnosis help sheet, it just has some helpful information and would benefit many other models and other guys like me.

[tom66]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Guys - having a service manual with schematic is a difference of night and day.. just had to state that! (back to testing crap)

want to upload it for future users & for our reference in this repair?

[tw2005]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Out of the rabbit hole and up for air.... I think it is one of the buffer boards. I can't tell which one but the signal to and from the main board are switching and the flow chart has me at SD/SU or Bad Panel. On the jack that connects the ribbon cable to the main
There is a jack marked SC50.
You MUST DISCONNECT SU and SD buffers COMPLETELY from the SC board then jumper that jacks pins together and plug in the machine. The chart says if light still blinks it is "possibly" the SC board. If it turns on and fires the back lights it is SD/SU or Bad Panel. I know I know just enough to be dangerous and am not to proud to ask for "experienced input" at this point. Would really like to make the right call on this diagnosis rather than buying two boards one of which i do not need. (my usual old way)
These boards have that crappy epoxy seal over the chips but if it was a different component fail I could fix it, including the tiny 605 SMDs. While I await some kind assistance I will remove both buffer boards and begin my microscopic search for ???

I attached the Panasonic diagnosis help sheet, it just has some helpful information and would benefit many other models and other guys like me.

so follow the instruction s, isolate the buffers and jump sc50. Make sure the Vfg bolts are also removed from the buffers.

Now if it stays on, SC should be ok, then get your meter and set diode, on each buffer board place one lead on the gnd plate and slowly slide the other across the face of each and every pin of the output ribbon connectors watching for a dead short.

See how you go.

[Doc38343]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

want to upload it for future users & for our reference in this repair?

VERY glad to share I did not want to break any rules but I will ALWAYS share resources if it is OK. you guys help me and so many others and all of our time is valuable. I for one appreciate every one of you guys and what you are trying to do.

One wouldn't go and it is the actual service manual.
PANASONIC+TC-P65ZT60+Service+Manual.pdf:
Your file of 21.48 MB bytes exceeds the forum's limit of 19.07 MB for this filetype.

[tom66]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Use a service like dropbox / google drive to upload it.

[Doc38343]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Use a service like dropbox / google drive to upload it.

Did a google drive but how do you get the files?
(I never used Google drive)

I think i figured it out if you want to test it so you can add it to your collection also.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...VE?usp=sharing

[Doc38343]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

so follow the instruction s, isolate the buffers and jump sc50. Make sure the Vfg bolts are also removed from the buffers.

Now if it stays on, SC should be ok, then get your meter and set diode, on each buffer board place one lead on the gnd plate and slowly slide the other across the face of each and every pin of the output ribbon connectors watching for a dead short.

See how you go.

Yes I did the jumper before i posted and yup it turned on and back light was on. One question though. It came on immediately when i flipped on the power strip, is that normal for this model?

Thanks for the tip to rake the pins, all were ok EXCEPT the top one on the SD board. I had already tediously and with the microscope tested every single tiny speck of a cap or other parts and found no short. A lot of times a SMD cap will short when bad. I could not identify PC901, 902 and 903... no datasheets came up on google search so I do not know if their good.
About 5 or 6 pins beeped and read full short on the top plug and under the scope it look like those traces go directly under the black epoxy to the IC Top one. Also bottom half of the pins to the other IC were not shorted.
I am going to order this board with a little more confidence than usual. I'm just sad I couldn't repair the board itself, but not worth the trouble with the epoxy and all.

Thoughts??

[Moreno83]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

I hope the board replacement will fix your tv. Lets hope its not the panel that killed the SD board.

[Moreno83]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Yes I did the jumper before i posted and yup it turned on and back light was on. One question though. It came on immediately when i flipped on the power strip, is that normal for this model?

Thanks for the tip to rake the pins, all were ok EXCEPT the top one on the SD board. I had already tediously and with the microscope tested every single tiny speck of a cap or other parts and found no short. A lot of times a SMD cap will short when bad. I could not identify PC901, 902 and 903... no datasheets came up on google search so I do not know if their good.
About 5 or 6 pins beeped and read full short on the top plug and under the scope it look like those traces go directly under the black epoxy to the IC Top one. Also bottom half of the pins to the other IC were not shorted.
I am going to order this board with a little more confidence than usual. I'm just sad I couldn't repair the board itself, but not worth the trouble with the epoxy and all.

Thoughts??

It's the chip that has failed , not the caps/resistors etc! The chip is relatively cheap , around $20. Its a lot of work to replace it.

[tw2005]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Yes I did the jumper before i posted and yup it turned on and back light was on. One question though. It came on immediately when i flipped on the power strip, is that normal for this model?

Thanks for the tip to rake the pins, all were ok EXCEPT the top one on the SD board. I had already tediously and with the microscope tested every single tiny speck of a cap or other parts and found no short. A lot of times a SMD cap will short when bad. I could not identify PC901, 902 and 903... no datasheets came up on google search so I do not know if their good.
About 5 or 6 pins beeped and read full short on the top plug and under the scope it look like those traces go directly under the black epoxy to the IC Top one. Also bottom half of the pins to the other IC were not shorted.
I am going to order this board with a little more confidence than usual. I'm just sad I couldn't repair the board itself, but not worth the trouble with the epoxy and all.

Thoughts??

As per Moreno, sounds like the top buffer IC failed. Very tricky replacing those and getting all that sealant off keeping the tracks intact. I've done several 2011 boards, couple of disasters destroying the tracks and a near miss

[Doc38343]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

FINAL UPDATE:
The new lower buffer board finally came from SJ so i installed it this evening and am very happy to say we have a beautiful picture, no blemishes and shes' burning in well right now.
A good diagnosis is great and while I may have made more effort to change that IC, after scraping at that epoxy crap for two days I am actually glad I didn't.
It's good feel reasonably sure when you buy a board for these plasmas. I've been burned by more than one.

Thank you folks for all your help as always you ROCK!

Status = Fixed.

"Git-er-Done"

[tw2005]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

FINAL UPDATE:
The new lower buffer board finally came from SJ so i installed it this evening and am very happy to say we have a beautiful picture, no blemishes and shes' burning in well right now.
A good diagnosis is great and while I may have made more effort to change that IC, after scraping at that epoxy crap for two days I am actually glad I didn't.
It's good feel reasonably sure when you buy a board for these plasmas. I've been burned by more than one.

Thank you folks for all your help as always you ROCK!

Status = Fixed.

"Git-er-Done"

Nice, sorry I thought you had bad SU , lets hope she goes for a few years yet.

[Moreno83]

Re: Panasonic TC-65ZT60 - 7 blinks of death

Nice fix , amazing tv! I cant wait to find this model somewhere....