Lcd Monitor Flickers & Goes Black

oldgoat · Joined: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 118

I don't know where you folks do your computer shopping but $400 for a new monitor???
[url]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?Recs=10&Nav=|c:170|&Sort=4]19" LCD's[/url]

gvan · Joined: Jan 14, 2007 Posts: 1

XTS5000 rules! I tried the capacitor replacement on my Gateway FPD 1830 and it now works perfectly. I bought the capacitors through Mouser.com for $.43 each. Thanks much. Very Happy

Panthera75 · Joined: Jan 19, 2007 Posts: 5

I have a Gateway monitor too but mine is a FPD1950 and I'm having the exact same problem... can you please give me a little more info? First.. is it 'doable' for someone who's never done this kind of thing before? lol And can you pllllease tell me which capacitors to get? I'd love to fix it rather than buy a brand new monitor. Thanks a bunch. Smile

brewman · Joined: Jan 22, 2007 Posts: 5

I'd like to support Panthera75's request for additional information. I have the same problem everyone else has with the fpd1830 and would like to try and fix it without spending too much money. I don't even know where to begin trying to locate the capacitors on mouser.com. Any suggestions or instructional guidance would really be appreciated.

Thanks for your help. Confused

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brewman · Joined: Jan 22, 2007 Posts: 5

I decided to follow XTS5000 and gvan's example and replace the capaciters in my FPD1830. Following the instructions at the website referred to earlier in this thread (moniserv), removing the board was easy. I found capacitors at a local electronics store for $0.50 each. Since I don't have the soldering equipment and also didn't want to damage the board, I found a electronics repair shop and had them replace them for me.
The net result is that my monitor is working great and the total cost of the repair was $20. I encourage you to do the same thing Panthera75.

Thanks to everyone for sharing the information that made the repair possible. Laughing

Panthera75 · Joined: Jan 19, 2007 Posts: 5

Can you tell me what kind of electronics store I might be able to find this at? Radio Shack?? Also.. since you provided them with the capacitors.. they did it all for $20?? That's very inexpensive... seems most places charge by the hour. I doubt I can find that kind of price here.

brewman · Joined: Jan 22, 2007 Posts: 5

I was able to find 100uf/35V caps at an electronics supply store. I think Radio Shack may have them, but I'm not sure. If they don't, they can direct you to a store that does. The originals caps were 25V but I was told that 35V would be ok.
When you find them, ask somebody at the store if they can suggest someplace you might go to have them soldered. There may even be somebody at the store who can do it for you. It should only take 30 minutes at the most to remove the old capacitors and replace them with the new ones. $20 seems reasonable.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

j777dragon777j · Joined: Feb 05, 2007 Posts: 6

Got the same issue, just started happening..

How do I figure out what kind of 100uF/25V capacitors I need? I tried looking at mouser.com but there was a whole spreadsheet full of them. I would really like to have this be an inexpensive fix as I don't have the bucks for a new monitor. I've never done soldering before so hopefully someone near me would be able to do this - is there any type of place that anyone can suggest besides Radio Shack as I doubt that the people that work in the one near me would do the soldering for me. Thanks.

brewman · Joined: Jan 22, 2007 Posts: 5

Check the yellow pages under electronics supply/equipment. They not only should have the necessary parts but should be able to direct you to an equipment repair shop.

j777dragon777j · Joined: Feb 05, 2007 Posts: 6

Thanks for the info!!!

Another question...say that I did want to try to take this board out myself - it doesn't look too hard from the instructions...do I need to worry about shocking myself? or are there any precautions that I need to take? or can I just unplug it, unscrew the back and remove the board with my bare hands? Should I put it in a bag or something? (new to this so take it easy on me I just honestly don't know)

brewman · Joined: Jan 22, 2007 Posts: 5

I don't believe you have to worry about getting zapped during the process. I would follow the instructions at the website I linked to in an earlier posting. The card comes out without any problem. I put mine in a zip loc bag to protect it. I'm new to this too, so don't feel alone. If I could do it, anyone can do it. Smile

j777dragon777j · Joined: Feb 05, 2007 Posts: 6

Thanks brewman for the assistance...how did you end up fixing yours? Did you do it yourself or take it somewhere? Where did you end up finding the capacitors?

thrill74 · Joined: Feb 16, 2007 Posts: 2

So I have the same problem.....got the 100uf/35V caps at Radio Shack, soldered them in. Fired it up and got a signal and my desktop. Then a loud snap/frizzle. Unplugged it and opened it up. Cap #2 blew the side off and took a little of the board with it Sad

Oh well huh?

j777dragon777j · Joined: Feb 05, 2007 Posts: 6

oh crap, that sucks...sorry to hear that...

I just took my board out tonight as I was going to take it somewhere and get the capacitors or order them online...am I right with the specs on the capacitors because I have no idea and I want to order the right ones??? Please reply. THANKS!!!

Capacitance: 100 uF
Dimensions: 6.3 mm D x 11 mm L
Operating Temperature Range: - 40 C to + 85 C
Product: General Purpose Electrolytic Capacitors
Termination Style: Radial
Tolerance: +/- 20 %
Voltage: 25 V
Product Category: Radial Electrolytic Capacitors

thrill74 · Joined: Feb 16, 2007 Posts: 2

Those specs look right. Radio Shack only 2 of the 25 volt caps, but they had 4 of the 35 volt so that's what I got. But it did not work. Sad

But, a new, and even refurb'd, monitor is less than I thought they would be. That's always good news! Wink

j777dragon777j · Joined: Feb 05, 2007 Posts: 6

OK, thanks for the info. They are only like .10 cents online at mouser.com! I am going to get a friend who knows how to do that stuff put them on for me. I'll let you know how it works out. Hopefully I'll get the right ones and mine won't blow up. Sorry to hear about yours. Do you think that it was due to the higher voltage or a bad solder? Anyways, good luck in finding a new one. I would really like one of those 24" widescreens but they are really expensive.

ttwiv · Joined: Mar 10, 2007 Posts: 5

OK -- I found the 4 capacitors -- but how do I get them un-soldiered? I tried heating the solder connections up with a soldering iron, but I still couldn't get them out. Any tricks?

Thx,
-Tom.

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 993

Along with heating the solder, you must use a "solder sucker" to remove the hot, liquefied solder. Otherwise, the solder just flows back and remakes the connection. The old method of using "braid" can damage these new sensitive boards (tears the traces right off the board). Also, make a note of the polarity of the capacitors before removing them. Once you have the old ones out, heat the "pad" up and clear the hole with a sewing needle.

seaeagle

What I have seen recommended previously in this forum is don't remove the capacitor completely, but rather snip the wires if they are long enough & solder the new capacitor onto them. That way there's less chance of damaging the board which may be multi-layered.

ttwiv · Joined: Mar 10, 2007 Posts: 5

thanks for the advice. In my case the the capacitors have no wire showing (except the tiny nub covered with solder on the back of the board), so I need to take them completely out.

Of interesting note -- in the pictures that show how to change out the whole board at moniserve.com (http://www.lcdpart.com/images/GATEWAY_FPD1830.pdf) -- the replacement board doesn't have the capacitors at all (or holes where they would go). Apparently the replacement board is designed slightly differently...