Riddled TV Repair Forum

apeyton · Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Asheville, NC

I have a 47 inch Panasonic TV Model number: PT47WX42F. It's widescreen 16:9, rear projection, HD 1080i. I'm having some trouble aligning the projectors. I have a service manual, and I've tried to adjust everything from the standard picture menu, and the service menu, but I really don't know what I'm doing in the service menu. The service manual is just not clear enough for me to follow. The green alignment cross is supposed to match four marks around the screen, but it can't because it seems like it is twisted: the line is to the left on the top, to the right on the bottom. it's too low on the left, and too high on the right. Because the green is out, the red and blue never quite line up. I've tried to adjust the convergence, but no luck. The picture is watchable, but not as good as I'd like it to be. I think I messed something up in the service menu, now the green cross bar doesn't go all the way to the edges, not sure what I did... heh... picture is about the same, though.

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Jesse Mack · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 600 Location: The Last Frontier

This television can produce a very good picture when properly aligned. That being said, I will need more information from you before I can effectively help.

1: Have you replaced any of the CRT's?
2: Have you replaced or repaired any of the convergence circuits.
3: Have you moved any of the centering magnets on any of the CRT's?
4: Have you reset any of the convergence adjustments to the default positions?
5: If you have done any of the above. have you ran the alignment procedure without a template?
6: Originally, was the green alignment straight and after attempting the alignment from within the service menu it became twisted?

This is so I can determine if you will need an alignment template. If it is the green that is misaligned, a template is almost always required.

The prerequisite for good alignment is that the Green Geometry and convergence alignment MUST be good to achieve proper overall alignment. This geometry and semitry is set using a template and the red and blue are adjusted to match the green. A messed up green will prevent proper Red and Blue alignment. The Green is adjustable from within the Service Menu but it is NOT adjustable from the customer menu.

The part number for the Template is TXFQD01ESER1 and the list price is about $140.00

Jesse

apeyton · Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Asheville, NC

1: No
2: No
3: No
4: No - sounds like a good idea, but I don't know how.
5: I do not think so.
6: No, it was not straight before. that's why I tried to use the service menu. Now I think that the green is slightly smaller in size (thus, doesn't reach the edges), so the picture may actually be a little worse. But, the difference in quality is almost negligible.

Do you think this is something I could fix myself?

Jesse Mack · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 600 Location: The Last Frontier

OK, since you state that the green does not reach the edge and the problem existed before you started, it sounds like you have more than likely adjusted the geometry within the service menu and not the convergence. Since this area of alignment requires a knowledge of all of the terms and procedures you have a couple of choices. You can try to correct the problem yourself with a crash study course of the technical service manual BEFORE you start. Actually, the service manual is quite good in explaining procedures and if you are intimidated with all of the unfamiliar terminology it may be best to have a qualified technician from a "Warranty Authorized Service Station" do the alignment for you as the cost in frustration and the need for the template, which you would not be required to buy if it was needed and you have it done for you, may be the best option. What I have put in bold is very important as this should bring you a technician that is a truly knowledgable individual. (That means to call a service company that does service on panasonic under Warranty)
If you want to try it youself, just post any of the terms you are unfamiliar with and I would be happy to explain them. Please be aware that at this point the overall cost for a competent technician to correct your problem should be quite reasonable. (under $200.00) and maybe a lot less depending how bad it is.
Everyone has a different opinion as to the watchability of a tv set and a "COMPETENT" technician is usually far more critical of the picture than the average customer.

I hope this helps.

Jesse

apeyton · Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Asheville, NC

Well, I printed the service manual, I'll study it before I do anything else. If I decide pay someone to align it, do you expect they would warranty the alignment service, or should I expect to have to pay them to realign it again if it were to need it? If I buy the template, and learn to align it, I assume I would be able to align it myself as many times as necessary. Do you think in the long term that I would be better off buying the template and learning how to align it? The TV is about four years old, and I bought it used for $300 last week.

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Jesse Mack · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 600 Location: The Last Frontier

The advantage of having a qualified technician do this would be that he would be able to recognize a problem, if it exists, that would prevent a proper alignment without first correcting the problem. I am having a little trouble advising you on this because I do not have a good idea as to how far out your convergence is. No offence intended, but I say this because I have had customers expecting more than the set is capable of producing and the degree of missalignment is important when trying to give advice.

Once a set is operating correctly and has a good picture, unless there is a malfunction, you would only need the consumer level convergence adjustments to keep the set operating at peak. The service menu is necessary for major alignment procedures only.

If you are able to get a dvd or video tape with a test pattern on it (cross hatch) and then take a picture of the screen with the cross hatch displayed, I would be better equiped to give meaningfull advice.

Hope this helps

Jesse