Should I Try To Fix My TV Myself?

Should I Fix My TV Myself?

No User Serviceable Parts Inside!

In this report, I will detail the dangers of trying to repair your TV yourself. I know that there are a lot of DIY’ers out there that may have a little experience with some of the older television products, and on the surface that’s fine.

But modern TV servicing is very complicated, technically challenging work. If you don’t believe me, just take a walk into any service shop anywhere in the country, right now. See all the TV’s that are open and unrepaired, scattered everywhere you look? Have you ever called the shop that has your unit and wanted to know why they can’t fix it?

So let’s get into the real dangers and risks involved in trying to do this on your own.

First and foremost:

WARNING!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT ANY UNTRAINED PERSON OPEN THE BACK OF A TELEVISION SET AT ANY TIME!

There are lethal charges present inside of a TV even after being UNPLUGGED for months. Even experienced service people have been killed while working on product.
The high voltage section of a television can generate as much as 33,000 volts, while a big screen TV throws out over 100,000, both at considerable amperages. Please, don’t risk it.

As well, modern product runs about 70 volts AC above ground. Your TV is actually 70% on, even when it’s “off.” This is because of the standby voltages that are always present while the set is plugged in. So in many cases, the chassis must be “live” to determine what the problem is. This means that touching the inside with your moist hands might be the last thing you ever do.

As servicers we also see lots of people installing external speakers on sets that were not designed for them, and all sorts of other customer modifications that are just plain dangerous. To be sure when we see this at the shop we WILL undo what you have done. Simply because we cannot take the risk of sending out a product that has a dangerous modification installed. We simply don’t want the liability.

Many of the important parts inside of a TV today are also “static sensitive” or “X-ray critical” to shield you and your family from X-rays. Clearly, the dangers here are quite obvious. Don’t risk your family’s health and safety by trying to save a few bucks.
Then there’s the problem of unhooking everything inside the set. Connect anything the wrong way or FAIL to connect something because you didn’t see it, especially if it is a Big Screen and it’s over. Even if you are able to repair your set yourself, there is a great possibility that you may have done more harm that good.

HOW? Well, if you chose a cheap generic part or parts, and you did not use the factory originals, and/or you did not determine what caused the set to fail in the first place, When the unit fails again (and it most likely will) if you take it to the shop now quite a bit more damage has been done than what was there at the beginning. It will certainly cost more to put the unit back in proper working order, if it can be done at all.

So let the pros deal with it. We do it everyday, and in the long run it’s much cheaper than doing it yourself.

Thank you for reading this report and have a great day!