Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

[jennkel]

Hey All,

The other night I heard a pop and the screen went off and started giving me the 7 blink codes. Someone on AVSforum referred me to a post with the service manual and I completed the steps up until the "troubleshooting 7 blinks failure (VFO/VF5V Resistance check)" part. I will be borrowing a multi meter from my dad tomorrow to figure out which board is the issue. It sounds like its the SU/SD board/s or the SC board though.

The reason I am posting is not about help with the process (yet) but about whether or not the issue will occur again. I am concerned that if say I have to spend $250 to replace the SC board that the same issue could happen again. I don't know what the cause was. Anyone have any knowledge of others making these repairs and then having the same issue occur again sometime in the near future.

It's not worth the cost to me to repair if I am liable to experience the same failure again in the short term.

[ngth82]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Welcome to Badcaps jennkel!

I live in Washington as well. You'll get more help on this thread if you can post clear pictures of the overall board layout of the TV, as well as clear pictures of each board.

As far as $$$ spent on a TV - you can get a 60" TV for cheap these days. I loved the plasma units, but they get warm.

When possible, I'm all for component level repairs - not just a board replacement. Depending on how much equipment you have access to, component level repairs are substantially cheaper.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Hey All,

The other night I heard a pop and the screen went off and started giving me the 7 blink codes. Someone on AVSforum referred me to a post with the service manual and I completed the steps up until the "troubleshooting 7 blinks failure (VFO/VF5V Resistance check)" part. I will be borrowing a multi meter from my dad tomorrow to figure out which board is the issue. It sounds like its the SU/SD board/s or the SC board though.

The reason I am posting is not about help with the process (yet) but about whether or not the issue will occur again. I am concerned that if say I have to spend $250 to replace the SC board that the same issue could happen again. I don't know what the cause was. Anyone have any knowledge of others making these repairs and then having the same issue occur again sometime in the near future.

It's not worth the cost to me to repair if I am liable to experience the same failure again in the short term.

Be thankful that it's a plasma TV!

If it were an LCD, especially Sharp of 5-7 years ago, it probably would be a bad panel driver. (mainly 2012-2014, possibly 2015) With the mentioned generation of Sharp LCD panels, you would be lucky to get a short-term fix!

[jennkel]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Welcome to Badcaps jennkel!

I live in Washington as well. You'll get more help on this thread if you can post clear pictures of the overall board layout of the TV, as well as clear pictures of each board.

As far as $$$ spent on a TV - you can get a 60" TV for cheap these days. I loved the plasma units, but they get warm.

When possible, I'm all for component level repairs - not just a board replacement. Depending on how much equipment you have access to, component level repairs are substantially cheaper.

Once I have the multi meter tomorrow I will be able to follow the rest of the flow diagram to test for short circuits. Hopefully then I will know which board failed and where the short circuit was.

I doubt I have the tools to do component level repair like soldering or things of that nature. I checked for blow capacitors and didn't see any. Based on the service manual and the steps I have gone through so far it is going to be one of the SU/SD/SC boards.

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=65784 This is the post I got the service manual from.

Do you know if these boards just tend to fail and need replacing or repair or would it be something else like a surge that could cause the failure? Just don't wanna invest the time and money into repairing it if its just going to do the same thing again.

[budwich]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

The BIGGEST problem with the almost all panasonic plasma is grounding on the boards thru the screw mounts especially the SC board. Basically, the build used poor screws which loosen with "cycles" resulting in issues of poor grounds to that board which takes out (shorts) a number of the "FETs" providing powering the SD/SU boards. There are "screw kits" that provide better results that people use. IF you "component fix" the existing card, check the screws and contact points on the card to ensure they are clean. IF you buy a replacement card, ensure that the screw mounts are clean and the screws are good and tight. Will the problem happen again.... could but then again, it depends on the prevent effort and whether other things were weakened by the "first event". The set is likely coming up on 8-10 years of age and maybe near its "plasma half life".
Personally, I fixed a "dumpster plasma" with a replacement sc card for $100 (off shore purchase). I like the plasma picture versus other set types but that's a personal preference. ymmv

PS. it appears that at least your set has an "improved" design with heat sinking of the "power FET" on the sc board. Earlier models have them soldered directly to the boards which makes it bit tougher to desolder ... in your case, the thru board mount should be readily replaceable components for those IF they are the only problem.... if you are lucky... and possibly for a cost of $20-30.

[jennkel]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

The BIGGEST problem with the almost all panasonic plasma is grounding on the boards thru the screw mounts especially the SC board. Basically, the build used poor screws which loosen with "cycles" resulting in issues of poor grounds to that board which takes out (shorts) a number of the "FETs" providing powering the SD/SU boards. There are "screw kits" that provide better results that people use. IF you "component fix" the existing card, check the screws and contact points on the card to ensure they are clean. IF you buy a replacement card, ensure that the screw mounts are clean and the screws are good and tight. Will the problem happen again.... could but then again, it depends on the prevent effort and whether other things were weakened by the "first event". The set is likely coming up on 8-10 years of age and maybe near its "plasma half life".
Personally, I fixed a "dumpster plasma" with a replacement sc card for $100 (off shore purchase). I like the plasma picture versus other set types but that's a personal preference. ymmv

PS. it appears that at least your set has an "improved" design with heat sinking of the "power FET" on the sc board. Earlier models have them soldered directly to the boards which makes it bit tougher to desolder ... in your case, the thru board mount should be readily replaceable components for those IF they are the only problem.... if you are lucky... and possibly for a cost of $20-30.

Thank you for the information. When you say loosen how loose do you mean? I checked all the screws and they seem fine and tight. I also assume you mean the screws connecting the board to the back of the TV? Also what do you mean by clean? I didn't notice any discoloration or anything that looked off.

What is a thru board mount?

Anyways I really appreciate the information. I will update this evening after finishing testing.

My Plasma is actually only 6 years old. Before it died I was pretty happy with the picture quality and hadn't had any thoughts of replacing it hence my desire to try and repair it. I will say though now that I have been turned onto the idea of getting a new TV a new OLED is looking mighty appealing xD

[budwich]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

"thru board" mount is the pins of the component go thru the board as opposed to "surface". I am likely mistaken in that the heat mount components have probably "surface mount legs" as opposed to wires going down thru the board... but at least the large contact (to the heat sink) is not soldered.

Anyway, OLED are nice but the price is significant and they can have their issues to.
Good luck in your investigation, I hope you can breath life back into the set at a reasonable cost.

[tvtimmy]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

To check your buffer boards:
Put your meter in continuity mode (beeps when leads touch together).
Put one lead on the vfg test point, or one of the screw holes that attach the board to the sc board, and then slowly rake the other probe across each ribbon connector. If you get a beep, you got a short.
Su, sd and sc boards are on ebay for under $100 for this model.

[jennkel]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

To check your buffer boards:
Put your meter in continuity mode (beeps when leads touch together).
Put one lead on the vfg test point, or one of the screw holes that attach the board to the sc board, and then slowly rake the other probe across each ribbon connector. If you get a beep, you got a short.
Su, sd and sc boards are on ebay for under $100 for this model.

I have the multi meter and am testing right now. I did what you said and got no beeps. Not 100% sure if I did it correctly but I think I did.

See pictures below. I did step one of the test in the picture below as well and didn't get a short circuit beep. VFO continuity was 1 and F5V was 1381.

The next step I am a bit unsure of. To jump the SC50 jumper I take it I can just use like a screw driver to jump the two pin connector?
^That is what I tried doing and the TV blinks 7 times and keeps repeating. I am unsure what the service manual means by does it shut down with 7 blinks. Does that mean its supposed to stop the blinking cycle?

[tvtimmy]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Unplug this connector and check for a short. Put a probe on each pin circled in red. If you get a beep longer than 4 seconds there is a short on the sc board. Remove the board and check all the transistors that are labeled with a Q(Q421,422....). Remove them from the board until the shorts go away. Replace as necessary.

[jennkel]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Unplug this connector and check for a short. Put a probe on each pin circled in red. If you get a beep longer than 4 seconds there is a short on the sc board. Remove the board and check all the transistors that are labeled with a Q(Q421,422....). Remove them from the board until the shorts go away. Replace as necessary.

So I check the connector pins for a short? What do I ground the multi meter too in this case?

Unfortunately I don't think I have the knowledge or tools to replace transistors.

[jennkel]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Ideally I would like to first determine which board is the problem. I am having trouble doing so even when following the service manual.

Once the proper board is identified then I would probably just send it in somewhere to be fixed or buy a replacement.

Alternatively I could look for a local repair shop and see about getting it fixed. I called one and they quoted $185 to repair one board which seems high. Would rather avoid this if I can actually determine which board is at fault and replace the board or send it out for repair.

[tvtimmy]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Just put one probe on one pin and the other probe on the other pin. Your testing if that line is shorted together. Don't ground to anything.

[jennkel]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Just put one probe on one pin and the other probe on the other pin. Your testing if that line is shorted together. Don't ground to anything.

Using the continuity check setting on my multi-meter and doing this I get a displayed reading of 000 and the thing beeps for longer than 4 seconds.

[tvtimmy]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Your sc board has loose screws. They caused the shorting of a few IGBT'S. You can find the bad ones, or just buy a SC board from ebay for about $50. You should replace the 7 mounting screws with ones with lock washers on them. If you go to the hardware store and get them, make sure they aren't to long, because they will touch, and break the glass screen.( I have done it once myself). Best to buy them from Shopjimmy. Com or ebay. Your tv should be good as new for years to come.

[jennkel]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Your sc board has loose screws. They caused the shorting of a few IGBT'S. You can find the bad ones, or just buy a SC board from ebay for about $50. You should replace the 7 mounting screws with ones with lock washers on them. If you go to the hardware store and get them, make sure they aren't to long, because they will touch, and break the glass screen.( I have done it once myself). Best to buy them from Shopjimmy. Com or ebay. Your tv should be good as new for years to come.

Thank you for the help and advice!

If I were to try the repair myself what would that entail? My friends father is a former electrical/defibrillator engineer and worked for Heartstream, HP, and Phillips so I could probably have him help me and I assume he probably has the tools.

Any chance you can link me to the screws? I can't find them on ebay or shop jimmy. (any chance loctite on the current screws would work?)

I found this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-T...IAAOSw9N1VoAFB

but it is expensive for just screws and I am not sure if those are the right ones.

[tvtimmy]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Remove the sc board and flip it over. Check every component that has 3 legs and is attached to a heatsink with a screw. Test in beep mode, all combinations of the 3 legs on the parts labeled with a Q. Some of the ones labeled with a D may beep, but that is because a "Q" part in its circuit is bad. Remove each "Q" part and check those to pins on the sc until the short goes away.

[jennkel]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

Remove the sc board and flip it over. Check every component that has 3 legs and is attached to a heatsink with a screw. Test in beep mode, all combinations of the 3 legs on the parts labeled with a Q. Some of the ones labeled with a D may beep, but that is because a "Q" part in its circuit is bad. Remove each "Q" part and check those to pins on the sc until the short goes away.

Q421-423, Q402-404 Those were the only ones beeping as far as I could tell. I am not sure how to do the second part you described.

I gotta ask, what do you think the estimated cost will be to repair this board myself? Assuming I can even figure out how to do so. Because ebay has a working board for $45 and if repairing myself is going to cost 20-30 I wouldn't have a problem spending the extra not to have to go through the effort of self repair. Especially if it gets my TV up and running much sooner. At least then I could still self repair the board but have a working TV then have another board in case it died again.

Any thoughts on the screws?

I am also concerned that this will happen again if I do repair the SC board. I made a post on AVSForum before being referred here and one guy there replaced his SC board which worked but then apparently the same thing happened again because there was something wrong with the SU/SD.

[tvtimmy]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

What is stamped on the shorted transistors? Something like DG302?

[budwich]

Re: Panasonic TC-P60ST60 Plasma TV 7 Blink Codes Help

I would go with a replacement IF you can find a "match" and has a "return policy" that is favorable because a lot of "used boards" on the market has "misleading specs" (ie. "good working", "tested / working") where they are just salvaged as is and the seller is just pushing them out.

As you indicate, you may then end up with potentially two boards, working and non-working, which could be useful in the future. Further, if you go with a replacement board, before installing, you can do some "strategic measurements" (ie. resistance checks) and comparing the two to see which components on the "bad" board are maybe in trouble for future "effort" maybe.