How to restore the screen on a TV

Long gone are the days of CRT televisions - they have been replaced by LCD screens. Thanks to this technology, the image is very clear and beautiful, in the smallest detail. Such devices look stylish and appropriate in the interiors of houses, and are provided by TV receivers. They are characterized by light weight and thinness, easy transportation.

There are two sides to every coin: modern TVs are very fragile, so operation must be very careful. Breakdowns often occur and a web of cracks appears on the screen - is repair possible in this case?

What does the screen consist of?

The main component is the matrix. It contains a huge number of particles that are filled with xenon and neon. The matrix is framed around the perimeter with semiconductors. Phosphors begin to glow when UV is created - a glow created by an electric current that passes through a gas medium. This process causes the cell to glow in the desired color. Together, tens of hundreds of cells create the image that the TV shows.

The entire screen structure is located in a small space between two planes, which are made of durable glass. To understand whether the LCD screen is broken, you need to understand how the breakdown occurred.

Damage to the cable and glass leads to the need to completely change the matrix.

Causes of screen breakdowns

Is it possible to repair a TV if the screen is broken or cracked? Let's consider several reasons for the problem:

the TV fell, was hit with a heavy object, was filled with liquid, or suffered other mechanical damage;
microcircuits that are responsible for the functionality of liquid crystals are broken;
pixels have burned out due to non-mechanical reasons;
The backlight has failed.

If the backlight is simply broken, there is hope that the LCD screen can be safely repaired. Especially if it is an outdated model with halogen lamps, which are easy to change. But if LED backlight technology (LED type) is used, repairs are possible based on the manufacturer’s company. For example, many produce models that have built-in LEDs, which are located in cables that cannot be installed. In this case, the situation cannot be corrected.

Signs of a crack

It is not always possible to immediately determine that the TV screen is cracked. Microcracks could appear first. And the device can work in normal mode for some time.

Signs of a broken screen:

colors are distorted;
cloudiness;
stripes;
black oil trace at the defect site.

If you notice one of the signs, you should take a closer look at the screen from different angles. Sometimes this is the only way to detect a problem.

Cracks on the display

Is it possible to replace the display if cracks appear on it? The fact is that cracks violate the very integrity of the matrix, and a mixture of gases leaks from the container under the glass. This kind of problem cannot be repaired; you just have to buy and install a new matrix.

Many people prefer to buy a new TV, since the cost of the matrix is equivalent to a new device.

It is easier to purchase a new plasma panel if it is a home theater component and does not have audio output devices. Here you just need to replace the broken panel with a new one. If a large multifunctional plasma TV is broken, you should think about repairs. Before choosing a new model, consult with sellers about the quality and place of assembly of the device - operation depends on this.

DIY repair

Some problems with plasma TVs can be fixed with improvised means. No special skills are required; it is enough to follow expert recommendations. It makes sense to repair TVs yourself only if the warranty period has expired. Let's look at the causes of failures and how to fix them yourself.

Remote control

A key sign of a broken TV remote control is the lack of response to user commands. Mostly the device stops working due to mechanical damage or liquid ingress. The user needs to disassemble the device, dry the components or restore the loose solder joint. Therefore, it is better to have a soldering station at your disposal.

When repairing the remote control, the TV manufacturer is not important. They all work on the same principle. Be sure to first check the performance of the batteries. It is possible that problems with responding to user commands arose due to the fact that they were discharged. For diagnostics, you need an infrared emitter, which is found in any smartphone. Troubleshooting algorithm:

Turn on the camera on your smartphone.
Point the remote control at the camera shutter.
Bring the remote control as close to your smartphone as possible and press any button on it.
If the remote control produces a signal, a red dot will appear on the smartphone screen.
The absence of a signal indicates that the remote control needs to be replaced.

The large red dot is an indicator that the main board is working, which means the remote control can be restored. The user needs to check the buttons. Disassembling the remote control is quite simple. Carefully remove all elements of the power system, and then separate the device into two halves. First you need to unscrew the screws that secure the structure. If the remote control is secured with latches, use a thin screwdriver. There is no point in making excessive efforts.

To visually identify damage to the board, use a magnifying glass. Some defects cannot be detected and recognized without repeated magnification.

It is advisable to have some experience in using a soldering iron. If you have never used this tool, seek professional help. Lack of skills can cause the LED mount to break, and the battery terminal may also come off. Careless use of the soldering station will damage the quartz resonator.

What to do if some buttons simply stop working? How can I restore the remote control in this case? Mostly, the keys sticking is caused by moisture and excessive dust getting inside the device. The ingress of moisture causes the formation of oil condensation - dust particles interact with water vapor. This becomes the catalyst for button sticking.

You can repair the remote control yourself. A soldering station is not required for this. All you need to do is be patient and careful to clean your device:

Carefully disassemble the TV remote control. How this is done has already been said above.
Wipe the board with a cotton swab or swab, first moisten them in alcohol. This method allows you to remove particles of moisture and dirt deposits, which are what close the contacts. There is no need to put in any effort as this is a delicate job.
Using the same principle, you need to wipe the rubber pads of the TV remote control buttons.
Clean the spring contacts of the entire power system; if there are traces of oxidation, they should be removed with fine-grained sandpaper.
After cleaning, you need to wait a little for all the components of the remote control to dry, then assemble the device.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated about this.

Lost signal

What to do if the signal is lost? Mostly, the “No Signal” sign appears on the screen for the following reasons:

The repeater does not transmit a signal due to maintenance work;
The receiver software is outdated or the tuner is faulty;
Bad weather – excessively strong wind, rain, snow;
The TV antenna is incorrectly installed or connected;
TV firmware system errors.

The problem can be solved quite simply. Try retuning channels using the automatic search option. Update your TV and receiver software. Check that the antenna and tuner are connected correctly. If all this does not help eliminate the problem, then you need to make sure that the tuner is working.

Simple power supply repair

To repair the power supply, you must have the appropriate equipment at your disposal:

Soldering station with temperature control option;
Screwdriver Set;
Multimeter;
Special knife;
Solder, flux and alcohol;
100 W light bulb.

Diagnostics and restoration of switching power supplies for computers and TV are carried out according to a similar principle. This is because they use standard circuits and connections. Be sure to follow the indication. It allows you to determine the failure of the TV voltage converter.

Troubleshooting problems in a TV's power system usually starts with the cable. Remove the power supply, carefully inspect all components and traces of the microcircuit. Swollen capacitors, dark spots, cracks, charring of resistances, broken solders - all these are the main symptoms of a malfunction of the module in question.

The search for external damage is carried out using a multimeter. The fuse, diodes, and power transistors are checked. It is imperative to determine the performance of the capacitors. If you are sure that all elements are working, you need to change the board that generates the pulses.

If we talk about the converter, then violations mainly occur in ballast resistors, electrolytic capacitors or diodes. When the damaged node is identified, you need to solder a 100 W light bulb instead of the fuse.

The light first lights up and goes out, then the sleep mode LED lights up. The TV screen starts to turn on. It is necessary to check the horizontal voltage; if the indicator exceeds the norm, replace the capacitors.
The lamp lights up, but then goes out. The LED is not lit. The reason is the pulse generator. It is necessary to measure the voltage on the capacitor; it should vary in the range of 280-300 V. If the value is lower, check the serviceability of the diodes; leakage from the capacitor is possible. The absence of voltage on the capacitor indicates the need to recheck the high-voltage power supply circuit.
Some elements do not work, but the light is bright enough. The voltage source needs to be rechecked.

To determine a breakdown in the power system, you can also use an incandescent lamp. It is extremely important to promptly identify and correct faults in the operation of the power supply. Ignoring this problem can lead to the motherboard burning out, which will significantly increase the cost of repairs.

Replace light bulbs

What to do if the monitor does not light up, but there is sound? The LED lighting needs to be checked. The diodes may have burned out. Backlight repair is a rather complex and time-consuming process. First you need to disassemble the TV, and then determine the damaged area. It is possible that all the backlight is not working.

The backlight placement system directly depends on the TV model. The advantage of LED backlighting is that you can only replace a damaged light bulb that does not work, and not the entire structure. It is more rational to entrust this type of repair to specialists. Lack of experience will cause the breakdown to worsen.

Now you know what kind of breakdowns owners of TVs from various manufacturers most often encounter. Some malfunctions can be eliminated with improvised means. It is advisable to entrust complex types of repairs to certified engineers. Because this avoids making the problem worse.

Replacing a cracked display yourself

If you decide to fix the problem yourself, use the general recommendations. Please read the device installation instructions first. So, how to replace:

disconnect the TV from the power supply, remove all cables from the outside;
place the device on a soft and flat surface;
unscrew the screws;
remove the frame on the damaged screen;
remove cables and wires from the inside, remove the screen;
mount the new panel and connect cables and wires. Turn on the power.

As you can see, it’s not difficult to do everything yourself. The main thing is that changing the screen does not cost you more than buying a new plasma.

How to protect your device from accidental damage

If the TV is not equipped with display protection from accidental mechanical impacts, you can take care of this yourself. Acrylic protective screens are produced separately, and you can purchase a product of a suitable diagonal to install on an expensive TV panel.

The option of installing protective glass on the TV panel will not affect the image quality, but will protect the matrix from moisture, dust and other mechanical influences. True, such protection will not protect you from damage in the event of a fall. To prevent the TV from falling, it is recommended to properly mount it on the wall using a special bracket.

Is it possible to change the matrix?

First of all, pay attention to the manufacturer of the device, the amount of damage and the price. If you purchased the device a long time ago, perhaps they no longer produce a matrix for it. If this is the case, you will have to buy a new TV. You may be able to find a replacement part in service centers or at disassembly sites with a quality certificate and warranty. If you have a device with a large set of functions, it is worth trying to repair it. You may just need to reconfigure the matrix - if all the gas has not yet completely come out of it, but stripes appear on the screen (horizontal or vertical), the situation can be corrected.

It is possible to repair this part of the TV, but the repair must be done by a professional. It is necessary to place the device in a vertical position, do not tilt it, it is advisable to fix it firmly or ask someone to hold it. It is recommended to transport large plasma in a spacious car so as not to spoil it.

To begin with, you can call a specialist to your home - this will save your transportation costs. The specialist will conduct a visual inspection and diagnostics, and may replace some components on site. If you pay extra, the technician will independently transport the TV to technical service.

Precautionary measures

The display of a modern TV is very fragile. A slight mechanical impact on it can lead to a crack. This happens especially often if there are pets or small children in the house, who can knock, hit the screen with a toy, or somehow touch it. You can protect your TV receiver from damage by purchasing a special protective acrylic sheet. They come in different types, some have a curved upper part, with which they are attached to the body. Others come in the form of protective stickers.

When placing the TV on the wall, you need to make sure that it is securely mounted.

If you are thinking about replacing the matrix, it is better to contact specialists to be sure of the result; in addition, you will receive a guarantee for all types of work. Call the number or fill out the feedback form on the website. If you call Remontano before 12:00, the technician will arrive on the day you call.

Prevention of cracks and recommendations for safe operation

If you have children in the house, and you are afraid of touching or knocking over the TV, take simple steps to ensure reliable operation. For example, you can install an acrylic screen to protect the LCD - it makes the screen thicker without compromising image quality. Also, you can be sure that your TV will not suffer from spilled tea or impacts or scratches. This acrylic overlay also protects the matrix from dust accumulation.

A serious risk of injury arises from the possibility of falls. Buy a hanging bracket that hangs from the ceiling. Of course, these are unforeseen financial costs, but it’s easier to secure a device than to buy a new one.

Proper operation of household appliances involves malfunctions, cracks and matrix breakage. Install the device on a flat surface or bracket, wipe off dust (without using aggressive household chemicals). Discuss behavior near the TV with your child - active games can lead to broken screens, falls and cracks.

Our service center is often contacted with the problem of a cracked TV screen. The most common cause is mechanical damage to the TV matrix as a result of an impact or equipment falling to the floor. As a rule, the main culprits of such breakdowns are children or pets (most often cats).

Here is one example of children and pets playing. The child was chasing a cat around the apartment and ended up knocking over the TV. A very decent device, model LG 55LA690V-ZB, was damaged. At one time, the owners of this equipment paid almost 2 thousand US dollars for it. And it took just a few seconds for a runaway child and a cat to turn it into trash...

We cannot convey all the grief and anger that wafted from the parents of a sloppy child and also the owners of a cat. First of all, we asked them not to move the cat to another place of residence, which is intended for the disposal of municipal waste (garbage dump). And also do not apply harsh measures to the child.

Before us, they addressed this problem to one of the official services of the manufacturer of the damaged equipment (LG). It announced the cost of replacing the matrix - 1,400 rubles (about $700). The funny thing is that the real cost of such a panel on online flea markets like “Online” or “Kufar” rarely exceeds 1000 rubles (500 US dollars). Having contacted our suppliers, we found out that no one would ship such a matrix to us at a price below 1,200 rubles (600 US dollars).

You probably have a lot of questions swirling in your head that are related to this kind of screen breakdown. In this article we will try to answer your questions as informatively as possible in the form of a question and answer.

Is it possible to repair a cracked TV screen (matrix) or is only an expensive replacement left?

Unfortunately, screen repair is not possible. The design features of the screen do not allow eliminating mechanical damage. The only option to restore the TV's functionality is to replace the panel.

Conclusions: repairing the matrix is not possible; unfortunately, the only option left is an expensive replacement.

Where does such a cosmic cost of replacing a TV matrix come from?

As a rule, the price of the matrix of the total cost of TV is 80 - 95 percent. This is due to the fact that the production of the matrix itself is a very expensive thing. The cost of a screen manufacturing plant ranges from 2 to 10 billion US dollars depending on the generation of production lines and their technological capabilities. In addition, the panel itself is a large item - therefore, the cost is significantly affected by high logistics costs. Due to its size, large storage facilities are required, which again entails increased costs.

Conclusions: the matrix cannot be cheap and its cost is 80 - 95 percent of the cost of the TV.

From the information presented above, another question arises. If the matrix costs 80-95 percent of the cost of the TV, then in practice its replacement may cost more than the cost of such a working TV at a flea market?

Everything is very simple here. The only supplier where you can order a matrix for a damaged TV without any problems is the manufacturer of the damaged equipment itself. Provided that he has warehouse stocks of the required spare parts. When shipping the matrix, the TV manufacturer relies on its purchase price. In simple terms, it looks at how much it cost the company. Naturally, the production/purchase of the required matrix model occurred at the same time as the production of the TV. But several years have passed since the production of the TV, and the TV that includes a broken matrix has lost in price. And the manufacturer produced (purchased) this matrix at the time of TV production (at the peak of price).

You will say that the manufacturer could sell this matrix at a loss in order to get back at least part of the money spent on it. But he won't do this for two reasons:

It is beneficial for the manufacturer that you do not repair the old TV, but purchase a new one.
If a manufacturer has decent stocks of old matrices, they simply produce new budget TVs based on them. And if the matrices are from top-end TVs, then you can also make TVs in the middle price segment. In practice, we have more than once encountered the fact that when disassembling a new TV, we saw in it a matrix that came with TVs that were produced 2–5 years ago.

Conclusions: the manufacturer is not interested in giving away matrices cheaply in order to force you to purchase new equipment. And if there are decent stocks of old matrices, he will produce an entry-level or mid-price TV based on them.

Then you ask the next question. If you can’t buy a cheap new matrix, maybe it’s worth buying a used TV after a thunderstorm. With a burnt out motherboard or power supply. And use the whole matrix to repair your TV.

Regarding TV after a thunderstorm, this is a very sound idea. But here the human factor “like entrepreneurship” begins to work. These types of TVs pop up from time to time at online flea markets. But there are even more people - professional outbids. These crooks spend days and nights scouring flea markets on the Internet in search of such TVs. In practice, if such an ad pops up, the product is sold within 20 minutes. You can create a fake ad yourself, just for fun, and you will be very amazed at the result. They will immediately begin to cut off your phone number.

This solution is feasible in theory, but very difficult to implement in practice. Moreover, you will need a TV with exactly the same matrix. Another matrix most likely will not work on your TV. If it is possible to start it, it is not without the help of a qualified engineer. Moreover, the specialist will want quite a decent amount for his services. Which will again increase the budget of the entire event. In addition, there is no guarantee that the matrix did not burn out as a result of a thunderstorm.

Conclusions: You can try to look for a used matrix at flea markets, but carrying out this activity will be very problematic and fraught with irreparable material losses.

Based on the above, your next question will be - what if I look for resellers who buy such TVs and buy a matrix from them?

In theory, a sound idea, but unfortunately it will have to be broken by the harsh realities of life. In addition to burnt-out TVs with intact LCD panels, resellers are no less actively buying TVs with broken screens (matrices) for 10-20 rubles (5-10 US dollars). Subsequently, they make one working TV from one burnt and one broken one. Which, of course, is immediately displayed on the same Internet resources where broken TVs were purchased. The cycle of things in nature in one word. You are interested in a matrix at a price significantly lower than the cost of the same used TV, at least for half the price. Agree, if equipment repair costs more than half the cost, the meaning of such an operation is lost. It's easier to spend more money and buy a new one.

But it’s easier for a second-hand buyer to sell this matrix by inserting it into a broken TV bought for pennies. In this case, he will receive maximum profit. Selling you a matrix for half the price will only do a good deed for you, but will not increase your profit. Outbids are greedy people, so you don’t have to count on altruism on their part towards you.

Conclusions: no one outbid will sell you a working used matrix. They have a more profitable method of selling such goods.

As a result, we came to the following conclusions:

Repairing the matrix is not possible, so the only option left is an expensive replacement.

The matrix cannot be cheap and its cost is 80 - 95 percent of the cost of a new TV.

The manufacturer is not interested in giving away matrices cheaply in order to force you to purchase new equipment. And if there are decent stocks of old matrices, he will produce an entry-level or mid-price TV based on them.

You can try to look for a used matrix at flea markets, but this event will be very problematic and fraught with irreparable material losses.

No one will sell you a working used matrix. They have a more profitable method of selling such goods.

And now we come to the most important question:

Main sources of failure

A crack on a TV is the result of mechanical external influence, which can occur in the following situations:

someone knocked the device during careless transportation;
The TV fell from a cabinet or table;
the child accidentally hit it with a ball or other toy;
an overly active pet turned the TV on its stand with the display facing down;
Due to poor quality wall installation, the panel fell to the floor.

There can be many sources of defects on a TV monitor, but the result is the same - a violation of the integrity of the monitor, distortion of the image at the point of impact, or a complete absence of the image.

Video of a broken TV: Broken TV screen Samsung UE40J6200AW

P.S. We apologize for the somewhat humorous nature of the article.

The article was prepared by an engineer with 20 years of experience in repairing electronic equipment, V.A. Zhdanovich

Is it possible to repair a cracked TV screen (matrix) or is only an expensive replacement left?

Unfortunately, screen repair is not possible. The design features of the screen do not allow eliminating mechanical damage. The only option to restore the TV's functionality is to replace the panel.

Conclusions: repairing the matrix is not possible; unfortunately, the only option left is an expensive replacement.

Where does such a cosmic cost of replacing a TV matrix come from?

Conclusions: the matrix cannot be cheap and its cost is 80 - 95 percent of the cost of the TV.

From the information presented above, another question arises. If the matrix costs 80-95 percent of the cost of the TV, then in practice its replacement may cost more than the cost of such a working TV at a flea market?

You will say that the manufacturer could sell this matrix at a loss in order to get back at least part of the money spent on it. But he won't do this for two reasons:

It is beneficial for the manufacturer that you do not repair the old TV, but purchase a new one.
If a manufacturer has decent stocks of old matrices, they simply produce new budget TVs based on them. And if the matrices are from top-end TVs, then you can also make TVs in the middle price segment. In practice, we have more than once encountered the fact that when disassembling a new TV, we saw in it a matrix that came with TVs that were produced 2–5 years ago.

Then you ask the next question. If you can’t buy a cheap new matrix, maybe it’s worth buying a used TV after a thunderstorm. With a burnt out motherboard or power supply. And use the whole matrix to repair your TV.

Conclusions: You can try to look for a used matrix at flea markets, but carrying out this activity will be very problematic and fraught with irreparable material losses.

Based on the above, your next question will be - what if I look for resellers who buy such TVs and buy a matrix from them?

Conclusions: no one outbid will sell you a working used matrix. They have a more profitable method of selling such goods.

As a result, we came to the following conclusions:

Repairing the matrix is not possible, so the only option left is an expensive replacement.

The matrix cannot be cheap and its cost is 80 - 95 percent of the cost of a new TV.

You can try to look for a used matrix at flea markets, but this event will be very problematic and fraught with irreparable material losses.

No one will sell you a working used matrix. They have a more profitable method of selling such goods.

And now we come to the most important question:

What to do if the screen is broken?

The LCD screen is a monoblock, which is produced using high-precision robotic equipment. The complexity of all technological production processes, including assembly, sealing, drying, makes it impossible to disassemble it. This means that the display cannot be repaired. If a defect appears, it will have to be replaced completely.

Manufacturers are not interested in the possibility of replacing the screen, so its cost includes the costs of production, delivery, warehousing and is quite high. It is 80-95% comparable to the cost of a new device.

In addition, the replacement cannot be done at home, so the TV will need to be taken to a workshop, observing all the necessary safety measures. Perhaps one of the options to solve the situation would be to buy a new television receiver.