If you try to adjust convergence with the flash focus, perfect focus, (depending on the make of your set) or by manual convergence and the lines will not line up or even move. Your symptom sounds like a damaged convergence IC.
If you want to repair this set yourself, I have some instructions below that will be a help to you. While it is not a very hard repair, this repair can be a bit tricky. If you have a 45W soldering iron, solder, solder wick, heat sink compound, and some basic soldering skills, you can repair the television yourself. *** VERY IMPORTANT NOTE*** If your set is not producing a clear picture and the colors are not lining up, do not continue to watch the set as this can lead to further failure and possibly damage the individual CRT’s in the set. I have repaired hundreds of these sets, so if you have any questions after reading the following, please reply to this post and I will help you in any way thatI can.
With that aside I have some support suggestions that I have put together that may help you make an informed decision.
You should be able to get a local service center to repair this at your house for between $350.00 - $450.00, If you want to repair this set yourself, I have some instructions below that will be a help to you. While it is not a very hard repair, this repair can be a bit tricky How do I tell if the IC’s are damaged? Since you cannot look inside of an IC, you will have to locate some of the components in the area around the convergence IC’s. You may be able to see some resistors that have changed colors or you test a resistor and it no longer reads the value marked by the color bands or the printed value. You will have to replace the IC’s and the supporting components.
When you remove the old IC's, please be sure to remove all of the old heat sink compound, as it can act as an insulator for the new IC's and cause them to overheat. I usually clean the heat sinks with alcohol and a small rag.
Where are the IC’s located and how do I find them? There are two and large IC’s that control the convergence in a big screen set. Some of the newer sets only have one. If you only have one, it is right in the middle of the set on the center circuit board. They are secured to a very large aluminum heat sink. They will have a part number stamped on them that will start with an STKXXX-XXX, like STK392-110.
Along with the convergence IC’s there will also be some associated components that will need to be replaced as well. There are some resistors that are part of the convergence circuit that will be open and need to be replaced. Most likely these will appear charred in the center. If you have an Ohm Meter or a DVM, check all the resistors that are close to the IC’s and you should be looking for either ones that have opened or have changed values.
If one of the convergence IC’s are found to be bad, I would replace them both, if one has gone bad the other may go soon. I usually order my parts from Andrews Electronics in California, they will have the OEM components that you will need. Their site is http://www.andrewselectronics.com/welcome.aspx And their phone number is a 24-Hour Order Desk: (800) 274-4666 I recommend the phone order so you can talk to the person about the different types of IC’s that are available.
I would also advise that the convergence IC’s be OEM or better, just because they are cheap does not mean that they are a good deal. I have seen the cheap IC’s fail after a short time, even though they look exactly like the OEM IC’s. I think that the bottom line is that you will get what you pay for when it comes to the parts.
You can also try http://www.tvrepairkits.com/ , they do carry OEM or better parts. When you order from them you will get a kit with instructions on how to do the repair, step-by-step.
I hope this information allows you to resolve this issue. I am doing this for free. If I have helped you, please help me, and rate this suggestion the highest FixYa rating. (Two Thumbs Up) If you need further assistance please comment to this post and I will try to help you further. Thanks for using FixYa asnowman I have attached some photos of really bad convergence problems; your picture may not be exactly as bad as these.
Answers & Comments
If you try to adjust convergence with the flash focus, perfect focus, (depending on the make of your set) or by manual convergence and the lines will not line up or even move. Your symptom sounds like a damaged convergence IC.
If you want to repair this set yourself, I have some instructions below that will be a help to you.
While it is not a very hard repair, this repair can be a bit tricky. If you have a 45W soldering iron, solder, solder wick, heat sink compound, and some basic soldering skills, you can repair the television yourself.
*** VERY IMPORTANT NOTE***
If your set is not producing a clear picture and the colors are not lining up, do not continue to watch the set as this can lead to further failure and possibly damage the individual CRT’s in the set.
I have repaired hundreds of these sets, so if you have any questions after reading the following, please reply to this post and I will help you in any way that I can.
With that aside I have some support suggestions that I have put together that may help you make an informed decision.
You should be able to get a local service center to repair this at your house for between $350.00 - $450.00, If you want to repair this set yourself, I have some instructions below that will be a help to you.
While it is not a very hard repair, this repair can be a bit tricky
How do I tell if the IC’s are damaged?
Since you cannot look inside of an IC, you will have to locate some of the components in the area around the convergence IC’s. You may be able to see some resistors that have changed colors or you test a resistor and it no longer reads the value marked by the color bands or the printed value. You will have to replace the IC’s and the supporting components.
When you remove the old IC's, please be sure to remove all of the old heat sink compound, as it can act as an insulator for the new IC's and cause them to overheat. I usually clean the heat sinks with alcohol and a small rag.
Where are the IC’s located and how do I find them?
There are two and large IC’s that control the convergence in a big screen set. Some of the newer sets only have one. If you only have one, it is right in the middle of the set on the center circuit board. They are secured to a very large aluminum heat sink. They will have a part number stamped on them that will start with an STKXXX-XXX, like STK392-110.
Along with the convergence IC’s there will also be some associated components that will need to be replaced as well. There are some resistors that are part of the convergence circuit that will be open and need to be replaced. Most likely these will appear charred in the center. If you have an Ohm Meter or a DVM, check all the resistors that are close to the IC’s and you should be looking for either ones that have opened or have changed values.
If one of the convergence IC’s are found to be bad, I would replace them both, if one has gone bad the other may go soon. I usually order my parts from Andrews Electronics in California, they will have the OEM components that you will need.
Their site is http://www.andrewselectronics.com/welcome.aspx
And their phone number is a 24-Hour Order Desk: (800) 274-4666
I recommend the phone order so you can talk to the person about the different types of IC’s that are available.
I would also advise that the convergence IC’s be OEM or better, just because they are cheap does not mean that they are a good deal. I have seen the cheap IC’s fail after a short time, even though they look exactly like the OEM IC’s. I think that the bottom line is that you will get what you pay for when it comes to the parts.
You can also try http://www.tvrepairkits.com/ , they do carry OEM or better parts. When you order from them you will get a kit with instructions on how to do the repair, step-by-step.
I hope this information allows you to resolve this issue.
I am doing this for free.
If I have helped you, please help me, and rate this suggestion the highest FixYa rating. (Two Thumbs Up)
If you need further assistance please comment to this post and I will try to help you further.
Thanks for using FixYa
asnowman
I have attached some photos of really bad convergence problems; your picture may not be exactly as bad as these.