LG 50PA5500 in need of buffer board

[RonS]

Greetings,
My LG 50PA5500 plasma has the lower half of the screen working and everything works as well. This was accomplished by up plugging the UPPER buffer from then control board (S-suss??). Any way I have read that replacing just that buffer will cause damage and you need to replace the upper, lower, and control board, is this correct? What if I replace the IC that is causing the problem? I diagnosed that bad one by doing a continuity check between the ribbon connectors and the board interface. Only one showed a short. I work on an SMT and surface mount system so the tools are handy to do the job. Your thought are appreciated.

Thanks

[dick_barton]

Re: LG 50PA5500 in need of buffer board

Which IC showed a short. Was it one of the UpperY buffer IC's?

[tom66]

Re: LG 50PA5500 in need of buffer board

If a 50PA5500 or PA6500 blows the upper buffer, the panel is very suspect, due to a design flaw. A piece of plastic rubs against the ribbons damaging them, which eventually causes buffer IC failure.
Worth checking for this first, if you look carefully at all the ribbon cables, you might see the crack/bulge in one of them.

[diif]

Re: LG 50PA5500 in need of buffer board

It is possible to repair the cracked flexible ribbon cable but you will need a microscope, some 0.15mm wire and some patience. It's the very top one IIRC.

[maleksa]

Re: LG 50PA5500 in need of buffer board

Is it possible to use a main board from a 50PA5500 in a 60PA6500?

[tom66]

Re: LG 50PA5500 in need of buffer board

Is it possible to use a main board from a 50PA5500 in a 60PA6500?

Yes, but some features may be missing. 50" and 60" have same 1080p resolution panel.

[RonS]

Re: LG 50PA5500 in need of buffer board

It is the second one from the top on the upper buffer board.

[dick_barton]

Re: LG 50PA5500 in need of buffer board

I don't know if this is advisable but when I found a buffer chip shorted I removed it and ran up the set with it missing. The set worked but obviously had a gap in the picture. Ordered a replacement Ybuffer board, plugged it in and it ran OK.