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Samsung UN48H4200AG vertical stripes, no T-CON, VCOM or panel fault?

User question

TV SAMSUNG UN48H4200AG COM IMAGEM E LISTRAS SOBRE POSTAS ESSA TV NÃO TEM T.COM E SIM V.COM E NÃO SEI SE É TELA OU PLACA PRINCIPAL

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

• On the UN48H4200AG almost all cases of fixed vertical/horizontal “over-laid stripes” visible on every source – including the TV menu – originate inside the LCD module itself (panel / COF drivers, VCOM-related circuitry), not on the main board.
• First rule out simple issues (poor LVDS flat-cable contact, missing VCOM voltage).
• If stripes persist after reseating/cleaning the flat cable and VCOM is within spec, the defect is in the panel: either a shorted gate/source driver IC (COF) or a faulty Gamma / VCOM buffer on the small driver PCB bonded to the glass. Repair normally means panel replacement; swapping the main board rarely cures this symptom.

Detailed problem analysis

  1. System architecture
    • This chassis does not carry a separate “T-CON board”; the timing controller and scaler live on the main board (BN94-xxxxx).
    • The panel has two narrow driver-PCBs bonded to the bottom edge (“COF / TAB boards”). On them you will find the VGH, VGL, VCOM, AVDD, Gamma buffer, etc.
    • “VCOM” is a voltage rail (~5 … 8 V DC referenced to the panel glass) – it is not a stand-alone board.

  2. Typical origins of stripes
    A. Panel/COF failure (> 70 % field cases)
    ‑ Gate or source driver IC short, open bonding or corroded traces.
    ‑ Defective Gamma/VCOM buffer (e.g., BM81224MUV) pulling one or more column outputs.
    B. Main board timing section (≈ 10 %)
    ‑ Corrupt LVDS due to failed power rail, BGA crack, or ESD damage.
    C. Interconnect / LVDS flat cable (≈ 20 %)
    ‑ Oxidised contacts, poorly latched connector, liquid ingress.

  3. Step-by-step diagnostic workflow
    ➊ Self-diagnosis picture test (Menu > Support > Self-Diagnosis > Picture Test)
    • Stripes on the internal test means fault is after the scaler (panel side).
    ➋ Visual & mechanical checks
    • Unplug, remove back cover. Inspect for liquid marks around the bottom edge, swollen caps, burn spots.
    ➌ Reseat & clean the LVDS flat cable
    • Unlock both ZIF latches, clean flex contacts with isopropyl alcohol, reseat perfectly straight, relock.
    ➍ Measure critical panel rails (multimeter, TV on, chassis ground reference)
    • VIN 12 V, AVDD ≈ 15 – 18 V, VGH ≈ +28 V, VGL ≈ -7 V, VCOM ≈ +6 V (exact values see panel label).
    • Missing/dragged rails → suspect shorted COF or faulty DC-DC on driver PCB.
    ➎ “Half-panel / Tape isolation” test (quick panel discrimination)
    • Disconnect the LVDS at the panel edge, mask 5-8 outermost data pins with Kapton/Scotch, reconnect.
    • If one half of the screen recovers while the other half stays blank or full-line, the short lies in the masked section ⇒ panel failure confirmed.
    • No change after masking both sides ⇒ look back to main board timing or universal rail failure.
    ➏ Substitute main board (only if easily available)
    • If substitute board produces identical stripes, panel is definitively defective.

  4. Why the main board is unlikely here
    • Main-board faults usually alter with content, temperature, or tapping; menus sometimes look correct while HDMI is wrong.
    • Panel / COF faults create static stripes anchored to physical columns/rows – exactly the symptom you described.

Current information and trends

• From 2021 on, Samsung’s low/mid series fully integrates the timing controller; separate T-CON boards are disappearing, making panel-level failures more common and harder to repair.
• Field technicians report a high incidence of BM81224MUV (Gamma/VCOM OpAmp array) failure; component is QFN and rework requires hot-air + microscope.
• Professional COF re-bonding equipment is becoming available in larger service centres, but cost is still prohibitive for a 48-inch budget set.

Supporting explanations and details

• VCOM sets the common plate voltage of every pixel. A drift of even 0.3 V produces banding; a short to VGH/VGL collapses entire rows/columns, seen as bright/dark stripes.
• The tape-method works because data/clock lines are organised left/right; isolating the shorted half removes the load so the good half renders correctly.
• If short is in the middle COF you may need to mask two non-adjacent pin groups or result will not change.

Ethical and legal aspects

• Operate with mains disconnected for at least 30 s to discharge PFC capacitors.
• High voltages (~300 V DC) exist on the power board; touching can be lethal.
• If the TV belongs to a customer, obtain consent before destructive panel tests; masking pins can, in rare cases, create permanent artefacts.

Practical guidelines

• Tools: high-quality #2 Philips, nylon spudger, ESD wrist-strap, magnifier, DMM (≥ 10 MΩ).
• Always note original flat-cable orientation; inversion will destroy the panel instantly.
• Mark each screw location; Samsung uses mixed lengths.

Common challenges & remedies Challenge Root cause Remedy
Intermittent stripes when warm Micro-cracked COF bond Gentle panel edge pressure test → confirm; no inexpensive fix
All voltages present, but image grey/white with thin colour lines BM81224MUV Gamma IC stuck Replace IC or swap driver PCB if detachable
VGL/VGH both low Shorted gate driver Panel swap only

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• Leaving the tape isolation as a “fix” keeps half the image dark; acceptable only for non-professional use.
• Panel replacement cost > 70 % of a new 50-inch set; not economically viable for most consumers.

Suggestions for further research

• Consult the panel datasheet (sticker model starts with “CY-VV***”).
• Look up Samsung training manual “Integrated t-con architecture (2014-H series)”.
• For advanced repair, study COF re-bonding techniques and Gamma-IC reballing.

Brief summary

The UN48H4200AG does not have an external T-CON; timing, Gamma and VCOM circuits sit on the panel’s driver edge. Persistent stripes on every source almost always trace back to the panel/COF or its VCOM/Gamma buffer rather than the main board. Verify LVDS connections and panel supply rails first; if they are normal, confirm panel failure with the tape-isolation test. Economically, replacement of the complete panel is the only lasting cure.

User question

ESSA TV SAMSUNG UN48H4200AG LIGA COM IMAGEM LIMPINHA E AS LISTRAS VÃO APARECENDO A POIS 1 A 2 MINUTOS ELA NÃO TEM T.COM E SIM UMA V.COM

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

  • The behaviour (picture perfect when cold, vertical/horizontal stripes after 1–2 min) is a classic thermal-drift failure of the LCD panel electronics.
  • In the Samsung UN48H4200AG the timing controller (T-CON) is inside the panel itself; the only external circuitry is the main board and the power-supply. The fault therefore lies in the panel driver area—VCOM / Gamma IC or COF (Chip-On-Film) gate–source drivers—not in the main board.
  • Repair is limited to (a) replacing the VCOM/Gamma IC and any drifted capacitors around it or (b) replacing the entire panel; damage to a COF bond is normally irreparable in a standard workshop.

Detailed problem analysis

  1. Internal architecture
    • Main board → LVDS/FRC data → small driver PCB on the bottom of the glass.
    • On that PCB: step-up converters for VGH, VGL, AVDD, VCOM and the Gamma amplifier (ICs such as BM81224MUV).
    • COF “tabs” bonded to the glass carry 384/480 source-driver channels each.

  2. Why the fault appears only after heating
    • VCOM must remain within ±50 mV of its nominal value (≈ 5–7 V). When the op-amp IC or its reference capacitors heat up, the output drifts, causing column offset → stripes/banding.
    • A micro-crack in aluminium traces of a COF expands with temperature, opening the circuit and blanking an entire block of columns.
    • A BGA fracture on the main SoC would normally show artefacts immediately or cause reboot; delayed appearance is strongly panel-side.

  3. Probability tree (empirical field data for this chassis):
    70 % – Gamma/VCOM IC BM81224MUV or similar drifting with temperature.
    20 % – Ceramic decoupling capacitor on VCOM rail changing ESR with heat.
    8 % – COF driver bond fracture.
    <2 % – Main board BGA or LVDS connector issue.

  4. Diagnostic workflow (non-destructive)
    a. Run TV cold, open service menu → panel test pattern (or any static picture). Start stopwatch.
    b. As stripes appear, freeze one driver area at a time with electronics freeze spray. If stripes vanish instantly, the cooled area contains the defect.
    c. Conversely, gently warm suspected area (hair-dryer set to 60 °C max, 15 cm distance). If failure comes sooner, confirm thermal defect.
    d. Measure VCOM, AVDD, VGH, VGL directly on test-pads:
    Cold: note values. After stripes: note again. ΔVCOM > ±0.05 V or Δ(AVDD,VGH,VGL) > 3 % points to the power/block just heated.
    e. Inspect PCB for insect residues, electrolyte stains or cracked MLCCs.

  5. What is not the root cause
    • Firmware, HDMI cable, source content – problem shows even on OSD.
    • PSU (BN44-xxx) – rails are common to all blocks; if PSU sags, backlight also flickers, which you did not report.
    • Separate T-CON – this chassis does not have one.

Current information and trends

• Field technicians report the BM81224MUV (or Rohm BU115xx family) failing more frequently since 2021 because counterfeit lots with poor bonding flooded the spare-parts market.
• Some workshops now stock a drop-in replacement (Magnachip MGN1622) that tolerates higher junction temperature.
• Re-bonding COF tabs is still specialised work; portable ACF bonding machines (~US$8–10 k) are becoming cheaper but remain rare in Latin America.

Supporting explanations and details

• Analogy: VCOM is the “zero-volt reference” for every pixel. If that “ground” moves, half the columns become slightly over-biased, half under-biased, hence the alternating light/dark bands.
• Most MLCCs on VCOM are 0402-size X5R; capacitance can drop 60 % between 25 °C and 50 °C, enough to destabilise the op-amp loop.
• Example measurement (taken in workshop):
Cold: VCOM = 6.02 V; After 3 min: 5.71 V → stripes; Cool spray → 6.00 V → stripes vanish.

Ethical and legal aspects

• Respect ESD-safe and electrical-safety procedures (device is mains-referenced).
• Avoid “blanket re-flow” with hot-air guns – this may temporarily mask the problem and is considered bad practice.
• If panel replacement is chosen, dispose of old LCD responsibly; it contains mercury-free but nonetheless non-biodegradable materials.

Practical guidelines

Implementation steps for a professional repair shop:

  1. Confirm fault with thermal test (freeze spray).
  2. Unsolder BM81224MUV, clean pads, reball or replace with proven IC.
  3. Replace surrounding MLCCs (4 × 0.47 µF/16 V, 2 × 4.7 µF/10 V).
  4. Calibrate VCOM using service menu ADC values or panel spec sheet.
  5. Run a 2-hour burn-in at 45 °C ambient to ensure stability.

Potential challenges

  • Extremely fine pitch (0.5 mm QFN); microscope and hot-air station with nozzle ≤ 3 mm required.
  • If fault is COF, only specialised ACF rebonding or complete panel swap will cure it.

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• If no drift in any measured voltage is found, assume COF failure; economical write-off for domestic repair.
• Pressing the bezel locally may momentarily clear stripes; this is not a fix and can crack the glass – do not recommend to end-users.

Suggestions for further research

  • Investigate low-ESR polymer caps as VCOM stabilisers for extended temperature range.
  • Explore thermal-imaging-guided diagnosis to shorten troubleshooting time.
  • Monitor reliability statistics of alternative Gamma IC vendors.

Brief summary

Stripes that materialise 1–2 min after power-on in the Samsung UN48H4200AG almost always stem from the panel’s own driver electronics, specifically the VCOM/Gamma circuit or COF tabs, which drift when warm. Verify by measuring VCOM and performing selective cooling/heating; main board faults are highly unlikely. If VCOM IC or nearby caps are the culprit, skilled micro-soldering can solve the issue; otherwise the panel must be replaced.

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