How to Replace a Fuse in a Television Set

When replacing a fuse in a television, the first thing that should come to mind is why the fuse broke in the first place. It could be a bad underlying issue, like a dirty or corrupted circuit board, a bad or shorting power supply, other electronics coated with dust, hair and grime, or other issues. Or, it could simply be that the fuse had outlived it's usefulness, and died. Now, how to change a TV fuse depends upon whether your television is a plasma, LCD, LED LCD, rear projection or CRT. But you can troubleshoot most televisions in much the same way.

The first thing to do when replacing the fuse in your television is to make sure that you have the exact right model of fuse for your specific television. Not all Sony fuses work in all Sony television sets. And it is a little more than a bit frustrating when you open your television up, locate the fuse, and find out that you have the wrong replacement fuse. Another trip to the store, or even worse, more talking on the phone with someone you don't understand, and doesn't fully understand you, in order to re-order the correct fuse. And, you should order (or purchase, if they are available locally or on the Internet) at least 3 each of the fuses in your television.

When buying or ordering fuses for your television, make sure that you have the make and model, year and electronic specifics of your television handy. This information should be in your user's guide, or on the spec-sheet. Once you have the correct fuse, purchase a small piece of fiber-filter, like they use in air cleaners or with furnaces that have air cleaners installed. Before changing the fuse, cut a piece of the filter to the size of the hole on the television's body for the it's cooling fan. Place the filter over the air intake holes in the television body. Tape it in place, or use a water-soluble glue. This will stop dust and hair from entering the television's body, and clogging up your electronics, as well as adding another vapor barrier to the sensitive electronics inside your television set.

You will most likely need a Phillips head screwdriver (electronic screwdrivers are great for this task, as there are usually a lot of screws to be removed and replaced after the fuse is replaced), a grounded wrist band, a multimeter (digital is preferred) slim cotton gloves and possibly a set of needle nose pliers or forceps. Patience and the user's manual would also come in very handy at this point in time.

First and foremost, unplug the television, and wait 15 to 20 minutes for the capacitors to discharge fully.If the television is wall mounted, or on a television stand, remove it from it's brackets and lay it on a soft, thick carpet, rug, or a few blankets. Remove the back of the television, and lay it up against the wall, so that it will not be in the way, or be damaged in any way. Keep all screws in small bottles, with labels for where they belong. Make sure that the area is well lit, and have a strong flashlight handy, just in case.

Once the back is off of your television, locate the fuse. It may be a thermal fuse, in which case it should be located near or under the optical block (refer to users manual, available on line at your manufacturer's website, if you don't have one, or lost it). Most other types of fuses are located on the power supply board, or the motherboard. Put on your grounded wrist band, and pull out the suspected broken fuse. Check the fuse to make sure it is broken using your multimeter. If it is broken, replace it with the new one, and stand the television up.

Turn on the television. If it is working, job well done! Unplug the television, carefully lay it back down, and replace the backing. Make sure that you get all of the screws installed, and fairly tight. Go around and re-tighten all of the screws in a alternating fashion (with a clock as a reference, you would re-tighten 12 o'clock, then 6 o'clock, 1 o'clock, then 7 o'clock, and so on). Never strip the screws, or tighten them too hard, as you may cause a headache for the next time your television needs to be opened up (possibly to clean the newly installed air filter).

If the television is not working after replacing the fuse, look for other fuses. Many televisions have more than one fuse, so don't panic just yet. Check the user's manual, and if that sheds no light on whether or not there are more fuses (you can also check the parts list. If there are two or more fuses listed, continue looking for them). If there is only one fuse, then check the fuse that you just installed to make sure that it is still good. If it is not, then the problem is more serious, and the television should be taken to an accredited repair shop. If it is still under warranty, contact your warranty provider for information.

If all of the fuses are still good, and the television is still not working, take the same steps in contacting your warranty provider. If the fuse(s) keep breaking, then you may have a power supply problem. Check the power supply board for any loose fittings, wires or components. Clean the power supply with a can of compressed air, and then try again. Check to see that the fan is working, and the heat sinks are not full of grime. If the same negative results occur, then the warrant provider is contacted.

It is always a great idea to make sure that you ask your salesman for technical assistance when buying a new, expensive television set. Ask them how many fuses are in the television, what types and ratings, and where they are. Also ask where you can get a user's manual, if one is not included, as well as a parts list.

You should always hope that you will never need to replace a fuse, or facilitate repairs of any kind to your beautiful, new television set. But when it happens, it is always best to be informed and prepared.