Remember when you could fix a TV by just reflowing the solder on a specific board?

Had a 2015 Samsung LED back in the shop last month with the classic 'half the screen is dark' issue, and after checking the usual suspects, I just hit the main T-con board with a heat gun for about 90 seconds on low, which got it working for another customer who needed a cheap fix.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_grace25d ago

Honestly that "right one if it gets the job done" part from @michael_jenkins39 is the whole point. It's not about the perfect fix, it's about what works for the person in front of you. A temporary fix that gives someone another year with their stuff is a real win.

michael_jenkins3925d ago

Used to think reflowing was just a hack for desperate techs. That Samsung repair changed my mind though. Seeing a 10 dollar heat gun fix a 500 dollar TV for another year is hard to argue with. Sometimes the simple trick is the right one if it gets the job done.

coleman.gray25d ago

Yeah, that "simple trick" line really hits home. I brought an old Xbox 360 back from the red ring of death with just some fresh paste and a careful heat cycle. It's still running years later, so who's to argue with results?