Posts Tagged ‘television repair’
Wall mounting your Plasma or LCD TV can be done in five easy steps. Required tools are a ratchet set for the mount screws, drill, level or tape measure, sheet rock knife (if placing wires in the wall).
Step 1) Determine where you want to locate your TV. Consider a place where direct sunlight will not hit the TV. You may also want to think about where you can position the speakers to get the best surround sound and the best seating arrangement. General rule is that the seating distance should be 1.5 times from the diagonal size of the TV. When seated the bottom of the TV should be at eye height.
Step 2) Now that you know where the TV will be located, the next step is to locate the studs in the wall. It is very important that your TV mount be securely fastened to a stud and not just the wallboard. The easiest way to the studs is to buy a stud finder. (Most hardware stores)
Step 3) Next we need to determine how to run the cables from your equipment to where the TV will be on the wall. One option is to run the cables in the wall. Another option is to use a cable cover then texture and paint the cover to match the wall. If running cables in the wall, cut a hole where the TV will be and cut a hole where your equipment will be. Make sure the holes do not cross over a stub unless you plan on drilling a hole in the stud for the cables to run through. Run the wires in the wall.
Step 4) With the wires in place we know where the mount needs to be. The next step is to attach the mount to the wall. Make sure that the mount is level, either by using a level or my measuring from the floor to each side of the mount. Also make sure the screws go into the studs and that you drill (starter holes) for the screws so that you do not crack the studs. Most mounts come with the screws and tell you which size holes to drill.
Step 5) Last step is to place the TV on the mount. This is actually the hardest step, make sure you have help with this step as it is difficult to see the mount and lift the TV at the same time. You don’t want to drop it at this point and need Television repair.
Surge Protectors
You may not be aware of it but power surges happen all the time in homes and businesses. Everyday activities such as starting the dryer or dishwasher, using the garbage disposal, operating the copier, turning on the air conditioner or opening the garage door cause power surges. These small, frequent bursts of electricity can slowly deteriorate the internal circuitry of any device that is plugged in to a power outlet, phone line or cable.
Spikes of electricity, from lightning for example, are rapid and infrequent but much more powerful and destructive to computers, TVs, and other electronic devices.
Surge protectors are designed to prevent damage due to electrical surges and spikes. They act like a sponge, absorbing excess voltage before it reaches devices that are plugged into them. This protection is exceedingly important for valuable electronics and devices that store important data. Devices with microprocessors or “chips”, which are used commonly in most electronic devices, are particularly sensitive to voltage fluctuations. Portect yourself from costly Tv Repair !!
Consider using a surge protector on these electronic devices:
o Computers, laptops and portable hard drives
o Printers, copiers and scanners
o Phones and fax machines
o Scanners
o TVs and surround sound systems
o VCRs, DVRs and DVD players
o Game systems and stereos
o Microwaves, convection ovens and other kitchen appliances
o Medical equipment
o Tools and machinery
o Anything that’s recharging
When shopping for surge protectors, compare them for these features:
o UL clamping voltage - The lower the UL clamping voltage, the better protection. Make sure the rating reflects 500 amp test results for household or office use.
o Joules - The higher the joule rating, or MOVs, the more energy a surge protector can absorb before reaching its limit. A higher rating means better protection longer.
o Circuit breaker - When a circuit overloads, a breaker stops the flow of electricity (this is separate from surges and spikes).o Cost - Surge protector prices range between $10 and $40, the most common difference being how long they will last before they need to be replaced and manufacturer guarantee.
Has your tv remote stopped working?
Remote controls - these days we can’t seem to function without them. In modern-day living, remote controls have virtually become an extra limb that we cannot do without.
In fact, the first use of remotes in our homes began after WWII, when remote controlled garage doors started being manufactured. The T.V. remote followed suit. It was aptly called ‘Lazy Bones,’ and was made by Zenith Corporation, an American company.
In present times almost every gadget we own needs a remote control, from TVs, music systems, VCRs and DVD players to home theater systems, some of which require as many as six separate remotes. The day is not far away, when every single gadget we use will need a remote.
From controlling home and office appliances to directing robots, weapons and even equipment to be used in space, the humble remote control has come a long away and has now literally become a symbol of power in our hands.
But I digress, if your remote stopped working but the device still powers up manually then:
1. Check the batteries
2. Check to see if one of the remote buttons is jammed.
3. Sometimes drinks (liquids) get spilled onto the remote keypad, then works its way into the circuitry (electronics).
4. Sometimes the remote hand units gets dropped, the impact can dislodge the batteries or even crack the internal circuit board.
5. Sometimes the remote control is actually ok, but the remote receiver in the device has failed.
With 3-4-5 you may need to take the remote to a television repair facility for minor repairs.
3.
HDMI
By now almost everyone who has a high definition Television or a Home Theater System is familiar with an HDMI cable. If not, you should get acquainted with it ASAP! Check out this basic information about HDMI Cables which you should know. You may not need television service to get a more clear picture, you may just need a HDMI cable.
For starters, HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface and the name is basically a description of what the cable does. It transmits high definition audio and video through one single cable. The cable is used with Audio and Video equipment such as Blu-ray DVD Players and HDTVs. The cable itself looks very similar to a USB cable, but you have 19 individual wires wrapped inside a single HDMI cable.
HDMI is a pure, uncompressed digital source while the others are all analog. The difference is simple, analog cables take a digital signal and converts it to a less clear analog signal which is then transmitted to your TV. This signal is then converted back to a digital signal to be displayed on the screen. With all this converting of the original signal, it starts to break down and loses clarity, resulting in a poorer picture and audio quality. A HDMI cable keeps the original digital signal, eliminating any need for conversion, thus giving you the clearest, sharpest images and audio possible.
The next thing you need to know about the HDMI cable is that it comes in different versions. Through its technical evolution different versions of the HDMI cable have appeared. They are as follows: HDMI 1.0, HDMI 1.1, HDMI 1.2, HDMI 1.2a, HDMI 1.3, and now HDMI 1.4. Any older audio/video equipment you have will work together with any newer equipment regardless of which HDMI cable version you use. Basically, all you should be aware of is that the HDMI version 1.4 will fit all your needs in both your older and newer equipment.
Ok what HDMI cable should you purchase? When you go to a store you will see HDMI cables ranging in price from $10 up to $100. Does the difference in price reflect the quality in the HDMI cable? Will you get a clearer picture or faster signals with a more expensive HMDI cable? The answer is NO. Regardless of what information you are given, most experts agree there is no difference in performance quality between the differently priced cables.
CLEANING YOUR LCD & PLASMA SCREENS
Keeping LCD and Plasma TV screens clean not only provides a better picture, but extends the life of the TV. Learning the proper methods of cleaning your screen can save yourself a lot of grief and possible damage to your investment, and keeps you from costly television repairs.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1
Obviously, your LCD or Plasma Tv screen isn’t glass. So, DO NOT! use Windex or any other household cleaners. They Can Harm Your Screen! Ammonia is bad !
Step 2
Ensure that your TV has been off long enough that it doesn’t feel warm to the touch. Wipe your screen with a soft, lint-free cloth. If there are no visible smudges after dusting, stop here. The Less you have to clean your screen, the longer it will last!
Step 3
To remove smudges from the screen, you will need a mild cleaning solution. There are many LCD/PLasma screen cleaners on the market, but they are overpriced and contain little more than water and isopropyl alcohol. Why not make your own solution and save money?
Step 4
Using a measuring cup, make a solution of equal parts water and isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Do not add more than 50% alcohol, as this will produce a mixture too harsh to use.
Step 5
Take a soft, lint-free micro-fiber cloth and dip it in the cleaning solution. Squeeze out any excess solution. DO NOT spray the solution directly on the screen. This could damage nearby electrical components or wick into the screen layers. Wipe the solution-damp cloth lightly! over the screen, concentrating on visible smudges.
Step 6
If there is visible dirt in the corners of the screen, use a cotton swab dipped in the solution to clean them. Once you are finished cleaning the screen, give it a quick wipe with another dry cloth.
Now set back and enjoy your clean screen.
Troubleshooting and diagnosing it and perhaps repairing it by yourself means you have just acquired a very nifty and potentially profitable skill! You could pursue it as a hobby or very seriously as an alternative source of income. Either way I believe you are a winner.
There is a market out there for pre-owned, used and refurbished TVs. If you really can not help buying a new one, one option is to have your malfunctioning television repaired so you can re-sell it as a refurbished unit. You save some hard-earned cash and you help keep more trash from the environment. See follow up part 2.
Televisions contain environmentally harmful components like heavy metals and chemicals. Having your tv repaired and keeping it inside your home and not in garbage dumps and the land-fills means it does not go out there to do major damage to mother Earth. Considering what is happening to our planet, I believe this is one of the most important considerations when you are trying to work the buy or repair dilemma. If it can be fixed, why not do it (actually, this goes for CRT TVs, too)?
Procuring that new plasma or LCD TV is likely to be more pricey than having your malfunctioning sample fixed or repaired. Depending on what is wrong with it, it is probably more practical to have it looked at first by a professional to see what is wrong. You could either bring it to the Factory Service Center for some diagnostics (which might entail some costs) or you could DIY troubleshoot it! There are good plasma tv repair guide and LCD TV repair course available on the internet. You could avail yourself of these self-help programs and then find out what is wrong with your TV using the information you will learn.
Having an electronic home appliance like that state-of-the-art flat screen television suddenly die on you is not really an event we always prepare for. Our five year plans, after all, does not usually include an electronic device. Neither do we, as a norm, keep spare LCD or plasma TVs inside the store room. However, whenever such things happen, it always bring about that hair-pulling dilemma that I think most us go through. That is, the dilemma to either have the appliance repaired or to junk it and buy something new.
The answer to the question of whether to buy or to have your LCD tv repaired, as you would expect, is not easy as it depends on the situation. For example, with the older generation televisions like the cathode-ray tube (CRT) TV, a malfunction would most likely signal the owner to put more weight on the “buy new” scenario instead of repair scenario. This is because the prices of its more advanced descendants, the flat screen LCD and Plasma televisions, has gone down so dramatically in last few years. And with the modern flat screen’s relative advantage in picture quality, reliability and energy efficiency, the argument for the “buy new TV” option seems more convincing than having an aging, bulky and power hungry CRT TV under go repair.
But what if the TV that is breaking down is a high-tech LCD or plasma TV? The answer to this also depends on a number of considerations but the difference here is that the decision will not be as easy to arrive at since new flat screen TVs are not as inexpensive as CRTs and hence throwing away that flat screen in the living room will not be as easy as throwing away that 10 year old tube.
Buying a new TV certainly does have its advantages though. The flat screen TV technology is evolving on a monthly basis and hence, the newer ones will have already incorporated more advance and convenient features than the ones they sold just a couple of months before. The newer ones will also most likely be more energy efficient than its predecessors and so will be more environmentally friendly. New TVs will also have a warranty and that should give anyone piece of mind for one year at the very least.
The other option, the TV repair option, likewise, has its advantages (and it seems it has more advantages compared to the buy new option). Over the next four days I will cover those advantages.