Riddled TV Repair Forum

mdemco · Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Posts: 4 Location: Utah

I have read most of the threads on here on Samsung televisions for the past day and am at the point where i'm stuck, this board has been very helpful getting me here!!

Samsung 61" hlt6176sx
Purchased 4-5 years ago
9599 hours (original bulb)
Only repair has been a new control/power board once when under warranty

Was watching it and it suddenly shut off, it automatically tried to restart, could hear ballast firing but no picture. Remote would not control, have to unplug and plug back in. Also, when it dies, red light flashes, when it restarts green light flashes.

At first the bulb was lighting up, I got picture for 20-40 seconds, then tv turned off automatically, then tried to restart automatically, bulb appeared to stay lit the entire time.

Noticed the fans were not running, pulled the back off the tv, very dusty so cleaned everything.

At this point, the fans run, color wheel spins, ballast buzzes and little part of the ballast lights up, every time the ballast lights up the main bulb flickers, dimly, but does not stay lit. As soon as the buzzing stops from the ballast, bulb turns off.

Have thoroughly cleaned unit
Have bypassed the safety switch on the bulb access door
Have bypassed the thermo switch on the bulb housing
Have measured 322 volts on the leads to the ballast

Questions:
Cant determine how to probe other plug on the ballast according to this statement:

"When the unit is powered on the correct voltage at pin 1 should be 5v pin 2 is gnd pin 3 should be 2.1v with no power applied 4.6 when unit is turned on pin 4 is gnd pin5 should be 5v at turn on then drop to 0v when the lamp is lit."

I am not sure on that plug where to ground, IE which wire is which, I dont know the pin numbers on the plug and do not want to accidentally back probe and short.

With the help of the board I actually have done some decent diagnosing, I feel I have a bad ballast, DMD board or bulb.

I would normally just throw a bulb in it, but see too many people who have gotten way more hours from their bulb, and it was lighting and staying lit for 20-40 seconds last night. Also, it seems that the buzzing noise in the ballast is quieter than it normally is. Lastly, the bulb seems dim and flickers, I would think the bulb fails, and then it is done. I don't see why the bulb would flicker every single time the ballast fires, if it was truly bad.

I really feel it is a ballast or DMD board, which I see no online supplier for this board.

Anyone have any advice? I can run a meter and have a basic understanding of electronics, but am very good at researching and learning how to do things, thats how I got here,

Thanks for the great help so far with everyones past posts on these tv's!!

Mike

Google

mdemco · Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Posts: 4 Location: Utah

Posted a video showing my issues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjkonc82r_0

mdemco · Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Posts: 4 Location: Utah

I just overnighted a bulb with my Amazon account. Got an OEM Samsung bulb. I noticed if the bulb is not installed the ballast buzzes just as loudly as before. With close to 10k hours on the bulb I need to eliminate it as an issue.

mdemco · Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Posts: 4 Location: Utah

Obviously no help here but thought I would post a response for future people googling for help.

New bulb has been in for over a week, tv has been working fine, brighter, sharper picture. Hopefully it stays running, really odd since it showed no signs of a faulty bulb from the research I did.