CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

please can you help me narrow down an issue with my vizio vf550m black screen of death, This has happened 2x before, when a unplug reset fixed it for several months. It now refuses to respond. its Details are as follows:

*Remote control sensor ( broke a yr ago)
* Powers on, insignia changes colors
*No menu shadowing or visual
*Black screen on any output

~ Unplugged and held power button, left unplugged for days
~ inspected boards (caps on all boards, cold solder joints, lifting component, burns, smells, all looks fine)
~ tested fuses on main board with continuity and all signaled
~ replaced the master and slave inverter boards, same results*

I am compelled to purchase a main board, but I saw a post about testing voltages to see if it’s a power or main board issue. Could you please share your opinion about this matter?

Thank you

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

macgyver566 wrote:

Unfortunately, testing voltages probably wont yield much info since the power to the inverters is probably being turned off when the dont come on. You could check for basic power from the power supply to the inverters (12 or 24v depending) and bl on and dim. Swapping boards is petty much the easiest way to find the problem board.

Do you have sound?

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

Thank you for the prompt response.
The previous 2x this tv blacked out, the sound was also present until we turned it off. When the video went out it had sound, after reset n new boards there is no sound, no matter what devices we hook up.
I can't see what input, but patience and cycling inputs, says there is no sound.

(edit)- Should i buy the main board,lcd TCON, or maybe its the back lights themselves. Im poking n the dark here. Please share your opinions.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 5:20 pm Post subject:

None of the above. Buy a new set. Intermittents like this can be the power supply or the main board. Without being a tech, you have a 50% chance of buying the right board... but also the wrong one.

It's a sad fact that consumer electronics is designed to last 2-5 years. I had a link to an article in another thread here recently that bitched about Vizio product. Not that LG or Samsung is going to be any better.

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

With a good LCD, I can rebuild the tv for half the cost of it new. Even replacing all boards. So far I am in 2 inverter boards $60. If I had to pay for labor, then yes, it would be more realistic to replace than repair.

I have read symptoms from others who share the black screen, some have replaced the inverter boards and viola, to me the most common symptom of failed inverter boards were accompanied by a visual ( i.e dim screen, half screen, artifacts, ect) however some did have the black screen most w sound. I went that route as it was the cheapest. Now I cant decide if its the TCON or main. What I read on the TCON symptoms from others is a black screen, no sound, this confuses me because each time mine went out, the sound continued until powered off. some specific brands had a large number of faulty boards due to cold solder joints. My Tcon board is $70. Main board is $100. I'm going to test for 5v on the main boards fuse,maybe to eliminate the pwr supply as an issue but as stated to me it may not say much bout the processor on the main. i tested the tcon board fuse with continuity and it was good. I am going towards the TCON replacement next if the fuse on main board voltages test good, and the PS to inverters are 12 0r 24v.

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

I have both 5v sources to the main board from the power supply. I do not have any 12 0r 24v power to the inverter boards, I get 0.31v of power to the TCON board.
Ok, being that I am getting voltage to the main, and no click noise when set is turned on and i have already replaced the inverters, I ordered the TCON. Got it for $43 shipped. I will post the results.

I am alone on this forum thread but I hope this experience will help someone who may stumble across it.

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

Post a nice clear closeup of your power supply.

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

('

') the insignia changes colors from orange to white when powered on.
No 12 or 24v on the into inverter boards, or on the power supply out to inverter boards.

click on photo to enlarge

heres a video of my tvs boards.
http://youtu.be/uUgpej__w8g

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

Have you tried testing any components on that P/S yet. I had a Vizio a while back and it had a leaking diode on the PS similar to the one circled in the photo.

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

I tested this diode and its tests good. Both are testing 515 on the diode setting in one direction. There isn't anything leaking. Was worth a look, thanks for the suggestion. Tcon has been shipped and waiting on its arrival.

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

TCON came in today and the tv has the same result. down to the main or the power. should the heat shields on the power supply have electricity between them. it seems to have electricity because when he laid his pinkies on the heat shield to balance, trying to take a voltage, he was zapped with a jolt of electricity. does this indicate a short? I think im going to order the main board, ive got one more test to signal the ps to turn on the inverters and test the voltage to the inverters, either way i think im ordering a main board.

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

Got the Main board ordered! Have a PS saved in favorites in case this dont fix it.

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

This is usually true, I changed out a power supply in a toshiba 50 in., but it had an indicator light which flashed a sequence and we were able to find an online service manual. This was a result of a power blackout/surge, my neighbor also lost a 60" tv during that storm/power outage. (hmm wonder what he did with it, lol) I figure if nothing else, when the tv starts up I will relist the parts that I do not need. Believe it or not, my main board was terribly difficult to find @ $110 shipped, was new take off. If my board only lasted 2 years, i didnt want to pay $120+ on a lifespan of unknown. Most stores we sold out, and only 2-3 listed on ebay. My main board had a (2A) after the part # and i wanted to be certain it was the same board 100%. others had (R) or (3C) ect. I got em matched up perfect and cross my fingers yet once again. Good news is the PS is around $50.

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

OK, so the main board came in today and viola. Tv started right up. Now to get the 500 screws back in it, Im curious whether the remote will work now. And it does. woot.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:25 pm Post subject:

So I'm curious, how much did you spend on the boards and shipping?

vixencharm · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 12

Total spent $210 including shipping. But i will re-list $100 in unused boards. So happy to have my big screen back!!! Thank you all for your support in narrowing down this problem.

ricky_ricardo · Joined: 15 Nov 2011 Posts: 11 Location: San Diego

Hi there. First of all, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to author this thread - it has helped me in my attempt to get a grip on what's plaguing my Vizio VF550M 55" LCD tv: "The Black Screen of Death."

Had the unit for 14 months. Went to black screen yesterday. No sound. No lights can be seen inside the case, behind the screen. "Vizio" sign in front of tv is illuminated white.

Turned it off for about 2 hours. Turned it back on and it worked okay.

Wife turned it on this morning. Lasted about 4 hours today - 'til noon - and then the same thing happened - Black Screen, no sound, no interior lights, Vizio sign illuminated white.

Wife called Vizio. Had her unplug the unit and hold the power button for 30 seconds. Turned it back on to a black screen....then, approximately 30 to 60 seconds later, blue screen appeared and seemed to work normally....for about 4 more hours - until supper time....then the same thing happened again, Black Screen of Death.

Called Vizio again. TV is out of warranty. Only had the thing 14 months and now it's dead. Unbelievable. $1,200 for a tv that will only last 14 months?!

Did a lot of research and found this thread. Seems to me like the problem could be rectified with a new main board, as per post, given the similar symptoms, yes?

How hard is it to replace the main board? Any soldering required, or is is simply a drop-in, screw-in, plug-in affair, as per a computer motherboard??

Thought I'd ask first before taking the thing down off the stand (it's pretty big) and taking it apart.

Have plenty of experience assembling PCs from scratch, but never did anything to a tv.

If it's analogous to a motherboard swap on a PC, I'll order a new main board ( http://www.vizparts.com/product.php?kw=&kk=&ob=&ob1=&vid=5&tid=1557&PageNum=1# unless you can point me somewhere cheaper) and install it myself.

Any advice would be appreciated. I'd rather try and do this myself than spend the $400-$500 for a repairman to come out and do it....especially since I just spent $1,200 on the damned thing about a year ago - LOL.

Thanks in advance!

ricky_ricardo · Joined: 15 Nov 2011 Posts: 11 Location: San Diego

Tried to PM Vixencharm but got a message saying that I couldn't because I've yet to post 5 times.

Well...this should be post number two, yes?

Forgive me fellas, but I'm going to do a couple of quick follow-ups so see if I can rack-up the requisite 5 so I can send Vixencharm a PM.

Thanks for your understanding....