Unplug all electronics during a lightning storm.
Fixing a flat screen that has been struck by lightning is not a common problem. The type of repair will depend on where the unit was struck and what was damaged. More likely, the home the flat screen was housed in was struck by lightning, causing a power surge and frying the power supply. If this is the case, then the power supply needs to be replaced. Always check the cost of buying a used TV of the same model over the cost of the replacement part. It may be more economical to buy a replacement TV rather than the part.
Instructions
1. Examine the TV. See where lightning struck it. Did the lightning strike only superficially damage the case, or has it damaged components as well?
2. Plug in the TV and try to get it to work. See if any of the components work. For example, maybe there is sound but not picture. Unplug the TV before working on it.
3. Remove the casing for the TV and replace any damaged components. The back and undersides of the TV will have screws that keep the casing on. Unscrew them and the casing should pop off. The exact placements of the screws will vary by model. For example, if lightning hit the screen, then replace that. Replacement parts can be found at a TV repair shop.
4. Replace the power supply if the home was struck by lightning, but not the TV. The power supply is the unit that connects the power cord to the TV. Most power supplies have a fail-safe to prevent a surge from damaging other components. However, this usually means the power supply takes the brunt of the damage. Power supplies can run between $50 and $200, depending on the model. The power supply is an independent unit, and the power cord connects right to it. Unscrew it from the housing and disconnect all the wires connected to it after you have labeled the wires. This will make installing the new power supply easier.
5. Screw in the new power supply. Connect all the wires that were disconnected from the old one. Replace the TV's housing and test out the unit.
Tags: power supply, struck lightning, damaged components, flat screen, power cord
