Neighbour's Sony 34" TV, lightning strike.

[Channel Hopper]

Standby light flashes four times, indicating a 5v rail fault.

Is it more likely to be the RF tuner that has failed (the aerial was connected when the storm came over yesterday afternoon), or the power supply itself ?

PSUs for this model are on eBay at about 20 pounds which is worth a go.

And the shard yesterday

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-27529745

 

[Terryl]

It could be both the tuner and the PSU, but I don't think he took a direct hit or the set would be on the other side of the room, lightning produces a very high EMP pulse if it hits close by, this EMP can wipe out the RF tuner (and other parts attached to the tuner), if it came down the AC line it may have taken out other things plugged into the AC wall outlet, so my best guess would be the RF input got the worst of it.

My 50 year experience with dealing with lightning damaged equipment is to have them toss it out and buy new, as who knows what else got a zap and may fail next, I have repaired stuff and sent it back only to have it go belly up a few days/weeks/months later.

In lightning prone areas we use an in-line gas discharge device on all antennas prior to the coax coming into the house, and if the customer has a lot of expensive audio gear, I use a UPS system from Triplite, they have an attached equipment warranty, (so do some others) if lightning or any other AC power surge gets through their equipment, and you have registered the equipment with them, you get new stuff. (or reimbursed for new stuff)

So in my opinion, buy new stuff.

 

[Vipersan]

Tuners are rarely if ever available as a separate spare in modern flat screen televisions..
occasionally made available if prone to failure or defective design ...as with certain LG models ..
Sony don't generally do this ..making the entire ssb/control board available as a single part only.
Often us poor service engineers who do repair to component level are left quoting customer huge sums to replace an entire board for the sake of one or 2 defective parts ,,,OR hunting spares breakers of TV's ..or Ebay for used but functional boards to complete repairs or rob for those elusive parts ..
Often this causes complications because for example ..it is a later/different revision ..and thus fitted with an alternative tuner say ..
The problem is then that the tuner will not function unless settings are changed in the service menus to accommodate ...or worse the firmware then requires changing.
In the case of Sony this requires specialised equipment rarely made available to engineers unless they are a nominated service agent.
Your best bet to fix a signals board level (assuming this is where the problem lies...and it most likely is in this case) is to hunt ebay for a replacement used board from a set with a damaged screen ..
If you choose this route make sure ALL numbers on the board ident are identical ..
It may look the same but may well be for a 42 inch version and thus may not even drive your screen ..
Psu faults are simpler ..but again ..make sure any replacement board carries the same ident numbers as the original .
Caution a board may have come from a similar model but not not be the same model specifically.
rgds
VS

 

[Channel Hopper]

Thanks. I have taken the back off the TV and there are only two boards (if you disregard the inverter thingy), PSU and tuner/AV/PCMCIA unit.

For 20 pounds the customer is willing to try another board, and if that fails I get first dibs on the TV. Since it has a good screen I'm sure that in the near future a similar model will turn up at the local refuse tip, and I know the staff well.
(mind you, I now remember I have a Panasonic 37 Viera on top of the wardrobe that has been awaiting a new screen for a couple of years)

 

[Captain Jack]

You wouldn't happen to know if the psu in that panny is good and what board it is, would you?

 

[Channel Hopper]

The TV lights up, and did have sound when I last powered it up, but the screen has a dirty big crack across about 30% of the fascia.
Never taken the back off it, but I will get the model number for you when I get home ( but it sounds like you want it for a project rather than offer me an unused screen you just happen to have lying around, with free delivery.....)

 

[Captain Jack]

You've read my mind. Well, my parents had my old Panny which died... Psu apparently. Got some repair kit off eBay but it only lit the power led for a second or so before something went poof followed by smoke. Can't see what actually went poof on the psu (possibly the mosfet)..so could be something inside the bowels of the tv itself.

Annoying as it's a brilliant TV but it would cost me just over £100 to get a 2nd hand working one than keep trying to repair it with no guarantees.

As VS said to me... Don't be foolish.

 

[Channel Hopper]

I should be back in the area Monday afternoon, but if you post a picture of the one you have, I'll tell you straight away if it's the same. The one I have is the Mark 1 Viera, about four inches from front to back.

 

[Captain Jack]

Here are the pictures of the TV and the PSU. TV is TH-37PX8B from 2007-8 ish and the PSU is LSJB-1261-1.

 

[Vipersan]

If it turns out to be the same model Alex ...
My advice to you ...and assuming CH is agreeable is to make an offer on the full board set of internals..
CH has a broken screen thus making it beyond economical repair ..imo..
But a full set of boards makes yours viable as most likely non of the CH boards are suspect.
Stephen makes a sizeable butty and can dump the rest of the set ..and you are then in a good position to keep yours in service.
The only thing that would ruin this plan of attack is if you have blown pixels...
ie your PDP is the root cause..
Close examination of the screen for a small black dot or smudge under the glass would indicate a blown pixel ..
A fault such as this could easily destroy buffer boards ..Ysustain Xsustain and or psu ..
eliminate this first ..
Also check buffer boards (chips) for pin holes in the surface of the chip(s) ..board discolouration ie scorching..
If all looks good then proceed ..
You may just get away with it..and you'll have extra spares to put in storage..
Good luck mate ..

 

[Captain Jack]

I should be back in the area Monday afternoon, but if you post a picture of the one you have, I'll tell you straight away if it's the same. The one I have is the Mark 1 Viera, about four inches from front to back.

Did you manage to take a look to see what you have, CH?

 

[Channel Hopper]

Back home in about an hour.

Edit - and....... it's a 34" Panasonic, not a 37.

 

[Captain Jack]

Ah, probably won't do well for my TV then. Never mind

 

[Terryl]

You've read my mind. Well, my parents had my old Panny which died... Psu apparently. Got some repair kit off eBay but it only lit the power led for a second or so before something went poof followed by smoke. Can't see what actually went poof on the psu (possibly the mosfet)..so could be something inside the bowels of the tv itself.

Annoying as it's a brilliant TV but it would cost me just over £100 to get a 2nd hand working one than keep trying to repair it with no guarantees.

As VS said to me... Don't be foolish.

Sorry but it's done for, you let the smoke out.

Didn't you all know that smoke makes all electrical and electronic equipment work!

Proof of this can be tested by dropping a hand full of change down the back of your TV set or monitor, or by sticking a fork or knife in a toaster.....POOOOF the smoke comes out and it quits working.(You may get the smoke let out of you if you don't wear rubber gloves when testing the toaster)

Once the smoke is let out it's very hard to put it back as the smoke for most electronic devices is special, you can't just light up a cigarette and blow it back in. (trying this may get you sent to the funny farm for a short vacation)

So the old saying "It's smoked" or "it's toasted" is directly related to "Letting the smoke out", so be careful when repairing these smoked items, be sure to get the right boards with the right smoke in them and don't let the smoke out of yourself.

 

[Huevos]

Lost quite a few bits to lightning. At least 5 routers.

Last time was about 3 years ago. Lost TV, satellite receivers, V-box, router... And the electric meter stopped turning. Took a year for the electric company to change the meter.