TV Fried?

[LadyFish]

Last night I heard a sharp buzzing in the middle of the night. Then I smelled what I thought was a plastic spoon on the heating element of the dishwasher. Wrong. It was something electrical and it was the beloved TV. The TV is a 36" Zenith and only a couple year's old. Is it worth having repaired? How serious is this buzz and smell?<br /><br />Super Bowl Weekend is here. Didn't really want to buy a new one since Mr. LF is looking at HiDef ones and the pocket book wasn't quite ready to spend that kind of money just yet.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: TV Fried?

No problem really, it's just the Football GODS telling you , you need a new set......FASSSST!!

 

[Link]

Re: TV Fried?

But LadyFish, 48-54 inch flat screen hanging on the wall frees up floor space! Plus MrLF would be getting it for you for your promotion to Admiral<br /> <br /><br />Congrats BTW<br /><br />On the repair in our area it costs $60.00 just for a estimate. But is deducted from the repair if you have it done.<br /><br />Link

 

[eurolarva]

Re: TV Fried?

Probably the high voltage supply and or the picture tube. TVs are not worth repairing these days and are pretty much throw away items. New TVs are cheap but should be HDTV compatable because by 2007 it is going to be the only thing out there and regular tvs wont pick it up too good. <br /><br />Seems strange that it would have gone out in the middle of the night. You are not missing a cat are you? I think the tubes stay energized even when not in use so that the picture comes on right away.<br />Are you getting any picture out of it at all? Do you get sound out of it? If no to both of these quetions there may be a fuse inside near where the cord goes into the TV. Good luck

 

[Ross J]

Re: TV Fried?

The buzz suggests something electrical and the smell suggests something cooking. Put togeather and I reckon it's either a capaciter or a heat sink transistor. It's worth fixing if that is the cause. Have an expert give a quote for the diagnosis, it can be cheaper then you think.<br />I tinker with TV's and vidoes and repair 90% of them at almost no cost!<br />Ross

 

[JasonJ]

Re: TV Fried?

Replace it. Yeah, it could probably be repaired, but once you have one thing repaired, it is never long before something else fries. Yup, 50 inch plasma high-def sounds good to me, even though crt still gives the best picture. I am hoping my 36 incher lasts long enough for me to get a high-def before the deadline (its only three years old)...

 

[Mr.Ladyfish]

Re: TV Fried?

I talked with a reputable TV guy this morning. He told me that Zenith had gone bankrupt in 1995 and that a Korean company had bought them. Said their products have been crap since. Said he could probably repair it but that it would be tough to get parts and wouldn't really be worth fixing (he does not sell TVs). He recommended GE or RCA because of availability of parts. Told me most TV companies assemble them in Mexico (thanks NAFTA).<br />Guess I'm going TV shopping while LF is out of town.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: TV Fried?

I'd take it to someone who would actually take the back off before giving you such a grim diagnosis. If the unit was off, you must have been hearing something in the SMPS (power supply). Power supply parts are generally common and cheap.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[ChrisMcLaughlin]

Re: TV Fried?

IMO I would not buy an American TV. I am very patriotic but we cannot seem to make a good TV set.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: TV Fried?

RCA makes a good inexpensive t.v.<br />Everything is made to be disposable today.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: TV Fried?

what's curious is the fact it sizzled while off.<br />suspect a rodent... or real big roach

 

[LubeDude]

Re: TV Fried?

TVs are on all the time any more, thats why they come right on when you turn them on! Its a good idea to unplug them when you are going to be gone for a few days! Many House fires have started due to TVs frying!<br /><br />Might I suggest Mitsubishi, They make a great TV! A little on the spendy side! I spent $500.00 10 years ago, 27" (a lot back then) and it is still great!

 

[TPD211]

Re: TV Fried?

How about lightning strike and claim it on homeowners insurance? <br /><br />And this from a guy who investgiates fraud....

 

[bluewater19]

Re: TV Fried?

I have very limited repair time in on tv's and computer monitors, but I have done a few. It sounds like your flyback transformer cooked Off. Very pricey to fix. This is basicly the power supply that steps up your 110volts to 20k-30kv for the picture tube. I own a sony and love it. My parents swear by mitsu they have 3 and the oldest was bought in 1985. Still has a great picture.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: TV Fried?

lubedude- not to put you on the spot, but i have to ask you to prove that many house fires are caused by fried tv's. never heard of that, ever...<br /><br />throw the tv away. tv's don't just blow up, we just get tired of them and throw them away.<br /><br />if you want to go with a small tube, they're all cheap. but i suggest hdtv. not because they will only send that signal in 2007 (no way, it will be extended), but because it looks so **** good. as for the tv itself, watch out and do your research. the technology is changing fast and new products are coming out every day. i like the new lcd projection tv's. much cheaper than plasma, awesome picture, and thin. they do present a slight blur with fast moving objects, but you have to see it yourself to understand and decide if it matters.<br /><br />if your room setup allows it, you could go with a large hdtv projection tv. but be careful of the angles, any viewing from more than 30 degress off center will look like crap.<br /><br />good luck-

 

[tylerin]

Re: TV Fried?

It sounds like your flyback transformer cooked Off

Holy Crap! Mr. and Mrs. Ladyfish Y'all lucky to be alive

 

[Mr.Ladyfish]

Re: TV Fried?

Thanks for all the help everyone. LF left today for a little business trip and left me with a broken TV, my least favorite sis-in-law and my ahole brother-in-law. I was not about to try and entertain those two. With a TV i could turn the remote over to them then retreat to the computer room or bedroom. Without it I would be stuck spending time with them. I know I sound like a dipsh*t but you have no idea what I'm dealing with here. Long story short, I went and bought a 32" Sony flat screen tonight. Bro-in-law knew I was going so he conviniently disappeared for 4 hours until he was sure I had called a buddy to help me lug the thing upstairs and the old one down. They got to watch a little TV and I got to go downstairs to the garage & drink a couple of brewskies with my buddy.<br /><br />P.S. I talked with LF a little while ago and she sends her love to y'all.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: TV Fried?

bluewater19 - if the set wasn't on, the flyback wasn't getting any juice. The uC switches it off when it powers down - you know the HV died cause you can hear the static. It just leaves itself and the heaters on for a quick restart.<br />My bet is something done in on the line side of the SMPS (probably killed by power line 'dip'), or the mouse. You'd be surprised how often it's the mouse.<br />I wish your old TV was sitting here. I could use a new one.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: TV Fried?

I fixed my early 90s Zenith 6 months ago with help from the web. Some guys on a repair message board pointed out exactly which resistor to check and what chip to replace. It had "convergence" which is the technical term for one little white line going across the screen.<br /><br />Bought the chip on the net for 5 bucks and the resistor was about 25 cents.<br /><br />Been working great ever since.<br /><br />Ken

 

[aspeck]

Re: TV Fried?

Mr LF, only a 32 incher? With the misses gone, you really should have gone bigger! Enjoy the Superbowl on the new TV. I will not have access to watching it this year, so let me know if there are any great new commercials, er, I mean, who the game goes.