Expert: Cleggsan - 1/17/2009

Question
The Red Power Light is blinking on my rear-projection Toshiba TV, and it won't turn on.  When I unplug it for a few minutes, and plug it back in, you can hear a "clicking" noise, similar to when it turns on, but then it does not, and the Red light goes back to blinking.  It's a 10 year old set, but would like to fix it if it's not to expensive.

Answer
This condition, normally referred to as the "protection mode", is caused when there is excessive current being drawn from somewhere inside the set.  Most common is the main power supply itself.  The diagnosis, to determine the exact culprit, is to go through the set with a voltmeter or oscilloscope in search of the guilty components.

If you have the technical know-how you may be able to find it and repair it.  If not, the customary repairs for power supply failure is always over $200 and as much as $400.  If the failure turns out to be the convergence circuitry the repair is always around $400!

I know that is not very encouraging, but the set is getting very old and it is several generations obsolete in terms of performance.

You may be wise to apply the repair expense towards a new Plasma or LCD set!

Wish there was better news for you; sorry.

C