Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 333

How dead is my tv?

My hope is only somewhat dead. I have a 35 in Proscan (its about 6 years old) that recently quit working. It was a slow death that took almost 2 weeks to happen. It started with the getting a grey screen after the tv had been turned off for a while. If I unplugged then replugged the set the picture would return. During this phase the picture quality remained excellent. This would happen every two days. What was interesting is that my stereo tuner that used to turn on whenever the set turned on (I think it sensed the video signal) failed to turn on whenever the greyout occured. Over the next several weeks this happened more and more. Each time I turned off the set the picture wouldn't return until I unplugged/plugged the set. Just before it died the picture would flicker sporatically and the picture shifted to the right and was oversized. I have tried hooking the set up to different video sources, but the problem remains. Does anybody have an idea what could be wrong with the set, and if it is worth taking in to get repaired. I was hoping to get a couple more years of use out of it before I upgraded. Thanks for any advice you can offer.

POST #1 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 191

The most common failure in any electronic device that is about 6 years old is the power supply. Not the actual line cord, but the internal power supply that converts AC to the many DC voltages that are required for a set to operate. The parts that often fail in the power supply are the filter capacitors. Capacitors used for removing AC ripple (noise) from a DC voltage are usually electrolytic capacitors, which have a liquid or gel solution between the plates of the capacitor. As the capacitor ages the liquid or gel drys out and the capacitor starts to change value. Eventually the value can become far enough out of tolerance to cause DC power supplies to drift or even fail.

Now, in your case the solution might be as simple as having your local service shop replace the capacitors in the power supply. However, since the symptoms changed when it finally failed, there is the possibility that the electronics of the set were affected when a power supply voltage went out of tolerance. This may have damaged the 'brains' of your set, and as such a repair might be very expensive.

Your best bet is going to hinge on the possibility of a local service shop that will give you an onsite estimate, as moving a 32" or larger set (36" in your case) is very troublesome. A good service shop will give an estimate for between $25 to $45, and if you proceed with the repair, that is usually applied to the total bill.

What I would do is call up the various reputable service shops in your area and see if any of them have a power supply for your model TV. If they do, and they make house calls, it would be easy for them to substitute the power supply and then see if the brains of the set are damaged. If things work with a new power supply you could either pay for it or ask how much they would charge to repair yours. Personally, I'ld take the new power supply if it's less than $150. Repairing an old power supply that has dried out caps can lead to future problems if any of the electronics in the power supply were affected.

Of course there's also the possibility that it's not your power supply and that something else in the set has failed. This is when it gets tricky. Not knowing how Proscan builds their sets, I can't really say how costly their parts are. Get that estimate and take it from there. My general rule of thumb for any electronic device is repairs should not exceed 1/4 of the original cost of the device if it's less than 10 years old. After 10 years, I go for replacement rather than repair unless the repair is very inexpensive.

On your set, you might just look at this as a reason to upgrade. Good luck on whatever route you take...

Dale S. aka Frustrated in Calgary

POST #2 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 333

I was really excited that the set died (its the only way my wife would let me get a new one) until I realized how broke I am (she just quit her job). Unfortuately, if the set is unrepairable for under $300-400 I am going to be stuck with a 20" set for about a year. I can't believe how unsatisfying it is to watch a small tv. As far as the power supple goes, the set was still powered on enough to see a grey screen. It just seemed like the set wasn't getting, or processing, the signal.

POST #3 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 191

Clark:

It still might be the power supply... even though the set showed a grey screen, there are MULTIPLE DC voltages in a typical TV power supply. It's entirely possible that only 1 or 2 of them failed, causing your problem. Don't rule it out. Get that estimate and take it from there. Good luck...

Dale S. aka Frustrated in Calgary

POST #4 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Bay Ridge, N.Y.
Posts: 1344

Clark,

Check out the Superbowl sales today...retailers want units to move so you may be able to negotiate a good price...especially close to end of business today.

Here is an example of an online retailer price ( http://www.consumer-direct.com/deta...partno=AV32D201 ) on a JVC 32 inch that you may even be able to negotiate lower at your local Circuit City, Best Buy, Good Guys, or whatever is near you. Doesn't cost anything to give it a shot!

Michael

POST #5 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged