Flatscreen Techie Help

[Guest jackdm3]

My grandmother's Magnavox 32" $750 flatscreen died 4 months out of warrantee. I tinkered and fixed a few of the old style (CRT) units before, but when I crack this one open, I'll check for a blown fuse first and then whatever discolored components I see. I'm not expecting to get far on this one. Any ideas from ya'll?

[Guest mikedwood]

Of the 2 I tried I fixed one and couldn't fix the other.

The one I fixed was a 42" Polaroid. It had 2 blown capacitors on the power supply. Changed them out and 6 months later it's still going.

I'd take the model number and google it.

I tried my luck on a 42" sanyo and nothing stood out and I googled it. 100 different problems with that model. It's in pieces now.

[Tobashadow]

After 20 years fixing electronics my main advice to people is check and recheck capacitors on the tops and bottom for swelling and leakage.

For the last 10 years that has been the source of 90% of the problems since china started making most of them and manufacture using the lowest voltage rating they can get by with to save cost.

[mikegideon]

I agree with all of the above. If it is something more than a visible problem with electrolytic capacitors, it will challenge your electonics skills. Keep in mind that all electrolytics are not created equal. There's more to it than matching value, working voltage, and physical size. For example, some capacitors will overheat in switching supply circuits.

I've never had any luck finding a decent parts supplier in Mempho. May need to go to a real parts house, like DigiKey Corp. | Electronic Components Distributor | United States Home Page. Digikey is like Midway. Same day shipping, and should make it to Memphis in a couple of days with UPS ground.