Your television’s power supply is a critical component. It powers all the parts that make your TV work, such as the screen, speakers, sound card, and so on. A bad power supply can cause problems like screen flickering, not turning on, and even lead to permanent damage to the TV. How can you detect if the power supply is faulty? Using this article, you’ll learn how to test it both with and without dismantling it.
What is a TV Power Supply and Why Should You Care?
The TV power supply is an essential part of a television set. It converts the electricity from the wall socket into a steady flow of electricity to power the other components of the television set. The main job of the TV power supply is to regulate the flow of electricity to the other parts of the television set.
This ensures that all the components work properly and don’t overheat. If any of these components are damaged, then the power supply will not be able to perform its job effectively. As a result, it is imperative that you frequently inspect the power supply of your television.
What to Look for When Checking Your TV Power Supply
A TV power supply is a very important part of your TV set. Therefore, it is important that you know how to check the power supply for problems that causes the TV to go black or not turn on.
It is possible for any component of the TV to malfunction due to a power supply issue. For example, a flickering TV screen could lead a person to believe that their screen needs to be replaced. However, even if they obtain a new one, the problem persists. This is due to the fact that the problem is being caused by the power source.
Here are some things to look for when checking the power supply:
Testing the Power Outlet
The power outlet is the first thing to check. TVs should be plugged-in appropriately to avoid any problems. Switching the outlet might solve the problem because it will make sure that the power is being supplied properly. If the outlet is faulty, then it will supply the power to the TV, but it will not supply the right amount of power. Using this method, you may determine if your power supply or outlet is the source of your problem and fix it.
Check The Power Cord
Sometimes a power cord is also responsible for a faulty power supply and this can lead to various TV problems. The power cord might not be properly plugged in, or the power cord might be damaged. If the power cord is damaged, then you will not be able to use the television because there is not enough power passing through the cord. Make that the power cord is correctly connected in and that it is not loose. You should replace it if it is damaged in any way. If replacing the cord solved the problem then your work is done here.
Dead TV Screen
A dead TV, a dark TV, or a blank TV screen are all different names for the same problem. Troubleshooting your TV can be tough if you’re having issues with it.
Assuming this occurs, your television may be on its way out. Alternatively, it could also be due to a lack of back-lighting. Replacing the back-light will require the services of a professional.
The power supply could also be to blame for this issue. Your television’s inverter or capacitor may need to be replaced in order to correct the problem.
No Sound coming from the TV
This is yet another very common issue you may encounter. The sound on your television may go out from time to time. The speaker on your TV may be malfunctioning, which would explain this. Most likely, a problem with the power supply is preventing the speaker component from receiving the necessary power.
A Bluetooth headset may be attached to your TV, preventing you from receiving any sound. If the problem remains, you can try a number of different approaches to resolve it. The volume can be turned up to its highest setting, but can you hear anything?
Check to see if the problem has been resolved by turning off and then restarting your television after 15 minutes.
You should check to see whether your TV is on mute or if a headset is connected to the TV before utilizing any external speakers (both Bluetooth and cable connections should be checked).
A faulty sound system or power supply could be the blame if none of these approaches work. You can hire a professional to inspect and replace it if necessary.
Before Consulting With a Technician…
If the above guides are not working and you are still facing issues with your TV then you should ask for help from professionals. But wait! There might be some other ways you can check the power supply on your own which are advanced methods.
Open up the TV
The first step is to open the television. Make sure the power is off and the TV isn’t plugged into an outlet before continuing.
Remove the rear panel by unscrewing the screws and removing the panel. The electrical voltage tester can now be used to locate the faulty component on the power board and mainboard.
It’s possible to know if a television’s power supply is malfunctioning just by looking at it. A meter isn’t always necessary, however. Inside, there may be noticeable damage to a few of the parts.
Blown Fuse
It’s possible to blow a fuse on any power supply board in the event of an electrical storm or surge. An ohmmeter can help you determine if the problem stems from the fuse.
A blown fuse is a common indicator of an inadequate power supply. A blown fuse can sometimes be detected simply by taking a close look at the circuit board.
It is important to keep in mind that if you replace a faulty fuse, the replacement one will likewise blow. Make sure you test the fuse with a meter before you begin the process of changing it out.
Bad Filter Capacitor
The capacitors are the next thing to keep an eye on. You can tell right away if they’re creating the problem because they’re little cylinders. There are two things to look for if something is wrong with them or not working properly.
If the filter capacitors are bulging or dripping fluid, this is an indication that they are damaged or have stopped working altogether.
How Does a Faulty Power Supply Affect Your TV?
A single power supply/distribution board is typically responsible for powering the entire television set. It’s the “input” side of things that most often fail, either from a power brick (smaller TVs) or the mains. As a result, if the TV’s power supply fails, the screen goes black.
If a problem occurs later on in the power distribution system, it will only have an effect on a single source in the TV. The lighting (LED, most likely), display processing (perhaps on a different board), and signal processing are all good examples of this (tuner, Internet, etc.) In most cases, a failure here will result in a light being turned on without a picture being displayed. For the ordinary user, this isn’t much different from the first scenario.
If you’ve got a screwdriver, replacing the power supply board isn’t that difficult. There are a lot of screws and connectors to remove, but no special tools or equipment are required.
If anyone is wondering, no one is going to fix a board like that. It may cost $100, but fixing it at the component level is likely to cost $500 at the very least… Even if the board is larger for an 85-inch TV, no one will fix it; they’ll just replace it.
Conclusion
We hope this article has provided you with the information you need to identify and possibly fix a television’s damaged power supply. It can be a challenging and intimidating problem to fix, but with the right information and a few tools, you can get it done. If you still need help, don’t hesitate to ask a professional technician.