Plasma screen woes

[BliarOut]

Heelp, my plasma TV has just gone kinda pop!

I was watching it and a black vertical band just appeared. It's about 1 1/2" wide. I've done the usual power off stuff and now she's staying switched off as it's still there.

Two questions.

Does it sound terminal/expensive as it's not under warranty?

Is it a home insurance claim? The band appeared at exactly the same time as a flash of lightening.

:irked: to say the least.

[speedychrissie]

its quite possible that the lightning has blown some of its internals. it might be that something simple has blown (eg main capacitor on one of the boards) in which case any electrician with the right capacitor could replace it in a jiffy.

but its also possible that something more serious has happened and cause part of the actual screen to be damaged. if this is the case then its probably not fixable.

i dont know whether all home insurance covers for lightning strikes (it would be useful to know tho, so please tell me whether your insurance will cover it!) but i would have thought that it should.

chris

[Corin Denton]

Rob,
Sorry to hear that but plasmas do have a shelf life. They are in effect two screens with a charged gas between them, they are only good for x hours as opposed to a regular tubed TV which can be used indelinately,

Insurance is the key.

[sparkythecat]

Get yourself across to www.avforums.com/forums/index.php and post your query on there.

It's full of TV and video nerds, Techies and knowledgeable retailers all of whom will be only too pleased to advise you.

It's like PH only with TV's instead of TVR's

[andygo]

sparkythecat said:

Get yourself across to www.avforums.com/forums/index.php and post your query on there. It's like PH only with TV's instead of TVR's

What do TransVestites have to do with tellies?

[wannanicecar]

Well worth checking out your house insurance - Had the same problem with my old plasma - Just sat there watching it one day when it suddenly died with a loud pop!

Insurance Co collected the screen to see if it was repairable or not - 3 weeks later there was a brand new screen on the wall (And no increase to the renewal cost either!)

Am with Direct Line BTW

[CooperGreen]

Back in the good old days of the squarial!!, my BSKYB box went fizz in an electrical storm.
Insurance coughed, and as BSKYB were going bust, I got proper SKY!!

[simpo two]

Corin Denton said:

Sorry to hear that but plasmas do have a shelf life.

30,000 hours or 60,000 if a 'display' type. However they just gradually lose contrast, they don't go pop like a lightbulb.
In this instance I'd try a TV repair chap first, but don't get your hopes up; they're not really designed to be repairable.

[turbospud]

tv repair men cant repair a plasma screen,when a black section appears,replacement is the only option

[cotty]

Probably a bit late for the TV but you can still do this for other electrical equipment.

Get yourself multi plugs with a power breaker in them. Got them on my TV, Vid, Sky, DVD and another for all my PC plugs.

Sorry about the TV, I went for a normal CRT TV as was not confident in the longevety of plasma or LCD

[BliarOut]

Thanks guys....

I don't take extended warranties on anything. I prefer to save the money and just replace stuff that breaks. It would be the most expensive item though!

I have just read my home insurance though.... It covers me for accidental damage to TV's etc.... And lightening damage

Might not be so bad after all. Looks like I could get an upgrade as plasma's have dropped in price since I bought mine.

Hopefully be a "what plasma for £2k" thread soon

[parrot of doom]

Take a good look at LCDs, plasma is yesterday's technology.

Try and get something thats at least 1920 pixels wide and 768 deep (or 1080 is better), so you're ready for hi-def.

[406]

BliarOut said:

Hopefully be a "what plasma for £2k" thread soon

Depending on who you are insured with, depends on if they replace it or pay you out. Most insurance companies replace new for old as it works out cheeper for them. TSB tried that with me a few years ago but i told them I would buy what I wanted even if I had to pay extra for it. they will look at the cheapest like for like and offer you that. If you want a different model you will need to pay the difference. Try Multi Region Magic on Lincoln Road. They are a Panny dealer and have some mighty fine Plasmas and LCD's in at the moment - Ask for Gavin, he knows what the best plasmas are.

[BliarOut]

parrot of doom said:

Take a good look at LCDs, plasma is yesterday's technology. Try and get something thats at least 1920 pixels wide and 768 deep (or 1080 is better), so you're ready for hi-def.

I just might.... Are they in the 2K region yet?

And cheers 406... I'll give them a look.

Fortunately I have a friend who started working for an LCD importer just after I bought my plasma.... Now that might come in useful

[parrot of doom]

You'll have to research the resolutions, but you must try and make sure they'll be up to displaying HD, and that means H1920xV1080 at best, H1920xV768 at worst.

Sky start HD broadcasts next year, and Blu-ray and HD-DVD will be here very soon, so don't overlook this important point.




<a href="www.dealtime.co.uk/xPC-32PF9976">www.dealtime.co.uk/xPC-32PF9976</a>]



www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/catalog/product.jsp?productId=42PF9956_12_GB_CONSUMER&activeTab=specifications&language=en&country=GB&catalogType=CONSUMER&proxybuster=DNMWTYXEVUJB1J0RMRCSHQFHKFSESI5P

>> Edited by parrot of doom on Sunday 22 May 16:53

>> Edited by parrot of doom on Sunday 22 May 16:54

[BliarOut]

sparkythecat said:

Get yourself across to www.avforums.com/forums/index.php and post your query on there. It's full of TV and video nerds, Techies and knowledgeable retailers all of whom will be only too pleased to advise you. It's like PH only with TV's instead of TVR's

Damn you, damn you, damn you.... Now I've been on there it looks like costing me a lot of money

[B17NNS]

BliarOut said:

what plasma for £2k

My money is going in one of these directions.

Pioneer PDP-435XDE

Panasonic TH42PV500

Both accept HDMI
Both Hi Def ready

Will see if Jon Lewis can come close to the internet prices Ive found (5 year guarantee)

[thebluemonkey]

B17NNS said:

Both Hi Def ready

Don't let the marketing suck you in, they're not true HD ready. They will display it and will look better with an HD signal than with an SD one but they don't have the resolution to take full advantage of it. AFAIK there are no plasmas which will display an HD signal at its full resolution.

[rex]

Got the 434XDE a few months ago along with a HDMI equiped DVD player. Picture is nothing short of stunning with DVD's but does show up poor broadcast quality from sky and terrestrial. Outdoor broadcasts particularly noticeable.

[BliarOut]

B17NNS said:

BliarOut said: what plasma for £2k My money is going in one of these directions. Pioneer PDP-435XDE Panasonic TH42PV500 Both accept HDMI Both Hi Def ready Will see if Jon Lewis can come close to the internet prices Ive found (5 year guarantee)

Panasonic is getting rave reviews on the av forum at the mo.... Get yourself over there and look at the deals from www.av-sales.co.uk they all seem to rave about their service.