lebungleski

Q: Apple Cinema Display 23" - Blank Screen, "short-long-short" LED code

Hello everyone.
This sounds like something of an epidemic... My Apple Cinema 23" HD Display (bought Dec. 2007) hasn't been turning on after a power outage hit our area last week.

The Computer and Display were OFF when the outage occurred. Everything was plugged into a surge suppressor. Everything ELSE plugged in to the suppressor is fine (including my Mac CPU)... but not the monitor.
It’s not dead-dead…. It’s a blank screen but there IS a morse-code flash on the LED (short-long-short). According to Apple Support’s LED Translation, it SHOULD be something to do with the power adaptor. The adaptor IS correct… a 90 watt… but just in case I bought ANOTHER 90w adaptor brick. I plugged the monitor to the new brick. THE RESULT WAS THE SAME.

I’ve tried power cycling, I’ve tried plugging it into different outlets, I’ve tried connecting to other computers. The same LED result remains.

And, yes, of course, I’ve got no Apple Support, and from what I read in similar posts, outside-the-warranty repairs could hit around $400. I REFUSE!

For now I have a Samsung monitor from Costco. It’s not bad, but it’s not the Apple monitor with its awesome color-fidelity.

I've read some other posts with the same problem (LED blink code and all) elsewhere but haven't got a solid answer.
I wonder… has anyone else incurring this same problem (with the same LED flashing deal) tried to use a 150-WATT adaptor brick? I would try this myself, but I’m currently financially unable (and personally unwilling) to throw more cash at this problem unless I know it’ll fix it.

Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jul 18, 2009 7:03 PM

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Q: Apple Cinema Display 23" - Blank Screen, "short-long-short" LED code

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  • by eackland,

    eackland eackland Jan 21, 2010 3:09 AM in response to lebungleski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2010 3:09 AM in response to lebungleski
    This reply is later than the rest but may be useful for he who is not too sure about going for and Apple Cinema Display. My display just died... Probably due to a power surge... I get the same blinking long-short-long LED light... So, i take it to the local apple distributor and they try with a 150W power adapter without success. They then tell me that they do NOT repair the displays in Spain. I then get on to Apple Tech Support by phone. After taking to a guy that had even less idea than myself for about 20 minutes, he comes to the conclusion that nobody in Spain repairs. So as i dont have apple care, and they dont repair, I have no solution whatsoever. Nice!
  • by Martin Holley,

    Martin Holley Martin Holley Feb 18, 2010 10:11 AM in response to jakobeon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 18, 2010 10:11 AM in response to jakobeon
    I tried the fix that Jakobeon suggested and IT WORKED! It is a little tough to do, since the strip has to be very skinny to cover just the middle pin and nothing else, but worth trying for a bit. I could not get the paper to work as described though. The paper kept breaking when I slid the plug in. I decided to try thin plastic. Actually a sliver off the dvi converter that came with the mac. The plastic was strong and thin enough to work, but it did take a few tries to get everything in the right spot.

    Jakobeon, whoever you are, you are a genius. Thanks. Saved me money and down time. From error, to discussion board, to fixed monitor was only about an hour.
  • by demircik,

    demircik demircik Feb 25, 2010 3:48 AM in response to lebungleski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2010 3:48 AM in response to lebungleski
    It worked for me too- just don't take the paper back out as it stops working.

    All good in the world indeed!
  • by deceptinator,

    deceptinator deceptinator Mar 1, 2010 10:18 AM in response to jakobeon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 1, 2010 10:18 AM in response to jakobeon
    Brilliant!
    Worked like a charm. On the phone with Apple to try to get a better solution.
    Tired of this $$$ gear going south and having to pay more $$$ even get it looked at. Especially when a bit of paper solves the problem.
  • by David Thorpe2,

    David Thorpe2 David Thorpe2 Mar 3, 2010 5:08 AM in response to deceptinator
    Level 3 (635 points)
    Mar 3, 2010 5:08 AM in response to deceptinator
    Totally same problem for me following a power outage, even though the 23" is plugged into a UPS which did a controlled shutdown. Works with the 150W power brick from my 30".

    Luckily I have Applecare and it has 1 month left If the only fix is a new monitor then it's nice to get one after 2 years and 11 months.

    Appointment fixed for Genius Bar on Saturday. Will report what they say.

    David
  • by David Thorpe2,

    David Thorpe2 David Thorpe2 Mar 7, 2010 11:49 AM in response to David Thorpe2
    Level 3 (635 points)
    Mar 7, 2010 11:49 AM in response to David Thorpe2
    So I am to get a new display. Except I suspect it will be refurbished. Slightly disappointed because the one I have is fine with a bigger power supply (i.e. the one from a 30") and the Genius said he would have been happy to let me have one but there was no way to process it because that power supply doesn't belong with that display. Shame because the display is pixel perfect and I hope the replacement is as good.
  • by matimac,

    matimac matimac Mar 12, 2010 8:07 AM in response to deceptinator
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2010 8:07 AM in response to deceptinator
    Have the same issue as the people in the thread. I can't quite visualise the fix - either with the W-shaped piece of paper or with the bit of plastic.

    Can anyone draw it or take a photo?

    Thanks,
  • by matimac,

    matimac matimac Mar 15, 2010 2:17 PM in response to matimac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 15, 2010 2:17 PM in response to matimac
    I figured it out. Pretty neat. If it can help anyone I created a short video of the fix. Available on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vodDfic8omA

    Cheers
  • by matimac,

    matimac matimac Mar 16, 2010 4:01 PM in response to matimac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 16, 2010 4:01 PM in response to matimac
  • by bbrazelton,

    bbrazelton bbrazelton Mar 18, 2010 10:18 AM in response to matimac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2010 10:18 AM in response to matimac
    Wow! Just fixed my ACD which was blinking short-long-short by inserting a piece of paper over the middle pin. Thanks guys! You saved me a lot of time and money.

    By the way - on the youtube video, I think you mean "short-long-short" not "long-short-long".
  • by japl243,

    japl243 japl243 Mar 20, 2010 2:06 PM in response to lebungleski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 20, 2010 2:06 PM in response to lebungleski
    Hello everyone!
    i recently bought a broken Cinema Display from eBay with a missing Power cord and adapter.
    Then i ordered a 90W Power adapter and the whole cable from Hongkong.
    Unfortunately, the cable was designed for an 20" inch Display which I intended to replace after having the 23" fixed.
    So i cut the cable off, soldered everything back together and boom- it worked like a charm.
    Then i also had solder the Usb cable which is not such a big problem.
    Everything im PLace covering the whole cable with tape.
    BUT......
    I had the same problems with my 90w Power adapter, the Mac would'nt go to sleep anymore, it was powering up shortly after.
    PLugged the 90w Power Adapter to my 20" which produced only some random flickering.
    Then plugged the 90w back to the 23" and same Problem!
    So the 90W was dead.
    I ordered an 150w POwer Adapter from England and........
    The DIsplay works just like it should.

    IN the End i got a 23 " Display (with a bit of tape on the cable) for the same Price as my 20" that i also bought in used perfect condition from ebay.
    Not to mention that the 23" was a shop model which is in perfect condition and that shop party usually seem to be military-grade products

    hope this works or is interesting for other people!
  • by epsComm,

    epsComm epsComm Mar 23, 2010 7:47 AM in response to Goose815
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2010 7:47 AM in response to Goose815
    I just got off the phone with Apple support (and then customer relations), and they told me there is nothing they could do (or were willing to do). Our monitor was out of warranty and we had to pay to fix it.

    It would be one thing if we had broken the monitor ourselves, but something about the screen is clearly defective if it breaks just moving it from one machine to another.

    That's the last Apple display we'll buy, that's for sure.
  • by matimac,

    matimac matimac Mar 26, 2010 1:27 AM in response to bbrazelton
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2010 1:27 AM in response to bbrazelton
    Thanks. Youtube annotation corrected to short-long-short.
  • by egieszl,

    egieszl egieszl Apr 1, 2010 1:01 PM in response to lebungleski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2010 1:01 PM in response to lebungleski
    I too am having the "short-long-short" error problem with my 23" Apple Cinema Display that is 15 months old.

    I returned home last night after being away for five weeks. The display is attached to a surge protector, but both the display and surge protector were unplugged while I was away. When I plugged in the display and reconnected to my MacBook Pro the display remained black and the power light flashed the short-long-short code.

    I made an appointment at the Apple Store and they were able to power up the display with the 150-watt power adapter with no problems. They tried a brand-new 90-watt power adapter and it didn't work. Same issue I described above. They offered a $399 flat-rate repair, which I declined.

    Something is wrong with the displays in general since so many are experiencing this failure. I called AppleCare (didn't know they offered it for displays only) and they agreed to repair the problem. I have to take the display back to the Apple Store.

    If you are experiencing this problem I would encourage you to post a reply to this thread, even if you're just repeating what others have said.

    For such an expensive display this sort of problem is disappointing and even more so since Apple doesn't even offer a option to buy a new one. They need to offer a matte-screen option for the 24-inch LED display.
  • by nplmdthfan,

    nplmdthfan nplmdthfan Apr 1, 2010 2:44 PM in response to egieszl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2010 2:44 PM in response to egieszl
    My 23" went down last Thursday (25 March). I went to my recording studio and fired everything up as normal. I then shut it all down and went out to buy a new printer as my Epson C86 had crapped out. When I got back I powered up, and – lo and behold – the monitor didn't work. First the printer, then the monitor. Nice week, eh? Luckily I have a 20" packed away, so I connected that and I was able to work again.

    Later that night I did a web search and found this thread. It's got to be a similar issue to everyone here, although I cannot be positive without taking it to the Apple store. I'm sure a 150W power supply is the fix, at least short-term.

    A couple of days ago I attempted Jakobeon's little trick. It didn't work for me, although I'm sure it had more to do with me not getting the paper in the proper position. That's just too small a space for my fat little guitarist fingers to work with.

    My question is then is to all the people who have obtained a 150W power supply – are you experiencing any problems?? Is that fix still working for you?? Does anyone know if this is fix is long-term?? I plan on buying one, but I'd like it to be 'the answer'. I see them on eBay at a decent price, but all the sellers are located in Hong Kong.

    Thanks to all for your time. Cheers...
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