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 Khadgar,

    Khadgar Khadgar Jul 14, 2010 7:38 PM in response to jakobeon
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    Jul 14, 2010 7:38 PM in response to jakobeon
    You are a god among men, sir. Did exactly what you said to do except I used something a bit more durable... a sliced off piece of a plastic straw. If we lived close by you'd deserve a beer.
  • by Dave Montague,

    Dave Montague Dave Montague Jul 21, 2010 6:10 PM in response to Gusson
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    Jul 21, 2010 6:10 PM in response to Gusson
    Hey I have the same problem only I have a 150 watt and then lost power and I get the short-long-short blinking light. When you guys say cover the center pin what do you mean? I have DVI connections and there are lot's of pins.
  • by Robert Klostermann,

    Robert Klostermann Robert Klostermann Jul 22, 2010 3:46 AM in response to Dave Montague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 22, 2010 3:46 AM in response to Dave Montague
    Not the DVI connector but the connector that goes from the monitor wiring into its power supply.
  • by martinKL,

    martinKL martinKL Jul 30, 2010 7:19 AM in response to lebungleski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 30, 2010 7:19 AM in response to lebungleski
    Had the same problem today, after powering down the display and computer and disconnecting from the power outlet.

    23" Cinema HD, 2.5 years old.
  • by akwalker77,

    akwalker77 akwalker77 Jul 30, 2010 6:16 PM in response to jakobeon
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    Jul 30, 2010 6:16 PM in response to jakobeon
    Your my new hero Jakobeon. I had the same problem as everyone else after moving my monitors carefully to another location. This problem is ridiculous. Show some love Apple...

    I used a slice of plastic cup I trimmed out with an x-acto and a sharp pair of scissors to cover the ole ground pin. Worked like a charm on the first try. My plastic cup now dribbles on my shirt when i drink out of it. Dang it. Another problem to fix. Never ends.... Thanks again Jakobeon the Jenious.
  • by craigdwlr,

    craigdwlr craigdwlr Aug 5, 2010 11:36 PM in response to jakobeon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 5, 2010 11:36 PM in response to jakobeon
    jakobeon... YOU DA MAN!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

    My symptoms were exactly the same as everyone in this thread. I was busy with painting my house outside for a couple of weaks, plus it was extremely hot inside so I decided to power off everything. When I came back only one monitor would work, the other was black with the LED flashing "short, long, short"

    I must say this fix was very frustrating for me; I am now a very happy camper... It took me about a 1/2hr or more of trial and error, but well worth the time and headache when your faced with a $150.00 to $400.00 In the end it was a VERY SMALL, single piece of paper in the "W" shape (I left it pretty long too so that I could hold on to it while pushing the cord into the brick) pressed very gently into place. ...and WOW!! I STILL CANT BELIEVE IT!!
  • by Studio1476,

    Studio1476 Studio1476 Aug 16, 2010 4:37 PM in response to lebungleski
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    Aug 16, 2010 4:37 PM in response to lebungleski
    Another satisfied center-pin blocker! Thanks to the many helpful fellow sufferers who have posted before on this topic. After a 1-minute power outage last week left me with a dark screen and short-long-short code on the 23" HD monitor, I tried replacing the 90W power brick, to no avail, then did what I should've done in the first place and located this thread. After watching the video posted earlier, I fashioned a little V-shaped piece of plastic to block the offending ground connection in the power cable from the brick to the monitor, and, Voila! Video has returned and I can get back to serious work on my G5 Powermac. At least this problem, however stupid in its under-engineered origin, had a simple solution!
  • by scheibenreiter,

    scheibenreiter scheibenreiter Aug 19, 2010 4:48 PM in response to lebungleski
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    Aug 19, 2010 4:48 PM in response to lebungleski
    Two days ago I encountered the same problem as so many here: my two-year-old Cinema Display (23") stays black and LED shows the "short-long-short" code.
    After finding this discussion, I tried the pin-blocking workaround and what shall I say, it works like a charm! Even though, with that as a backup in mind, I brought the display to the Apple dealer, where I bought it and explained my problem to them. Since I was always satisfied with them, I hoped they would for example offer a free 150w power adapter as an accommodating arrangement. They admitted that this is a problem they have heard about, but since it's not stated as a quality fail by Apple, they can't do anything about it, except selling me a new power adapter for 150 swiss francs. No thanks! Shame on you, Apple!

    As I said, the pin-blocking trick works perfect. Although I'm a bit concerned, because no one seems to be able to explain, what it really does. And long-term experiences don't seem to exist.

    Maybe a tip for some of you:
    Instead of an ordinary paper I cut the small strip out of the sticky part of a Post-it note. Stays much better in place when you poke it into the plug!
  • by ventrj,

    ventrj ventrj Aug 24, 2010 2:23 PM in response to lebungleski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 24, 2010 2:23 PM in response to lebungleski
    I have the same issues with the short long short blink from the ACD, so I tried the middle pin trick and that did not work. I then took it into apple and they tested it with another 90w power supply and it did the same thing and did not work. The computer does recognize that the monitor is hooked up and you can drag things to it but the screen is black. Does anyone else have this problem or know what it could be ? Apple wanted 400 to repair it.
  • by scheibenreiter,

    scheibenreiter scheibenreiter Aug 24, 2010 3:15 PM in response to ventrj
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    Aug 24, 2010 3:15 PM in response to ventrj
    Before you pay the 400 bucks, try to power it with a 150w adapter (from the 30" ACD). That's what they should have done.
  • by ventrj,

    ventrj ventrj Aug 24, 2010 3:22 PM in response to scheibenreiter
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    Aug 24, 2010 3:22 PM in response to scheibenreiter
    I asked the guy if he would test it with a 130w he said it would not make a difference even after i told him that fixed the issue for a lot of people on the forum. I wish i new someone with a 130w around me to test it with or some place i could buy one and take it back if it does not work.

    Message was edited by: ventrj
  • by scheibenreiter,

    scheibenreiter scheibenreiter Aug 24, 2010 3:49 PM in response to ventrj
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 24, 2010 3:49 PM in response to ventrj
    I assume the apple guy just did not have a 150w adapter around and was not motivated enough to order one, so he just claimed it won't make a difference. Stupid situation for you. Just hope, you find a way to try it with such an adapter.
    Did you try the middle pin trick several times?
  • by ventrj,

    ventrj ventrj Aug 24, 2010 4:29 PM in response to scheibenreiter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 24, 2010 4:29 PM in response to scheibenreiter
    I did try covering the middle pin with papper and a piece of straw but neither worked. If anyone is near Deland fl and has 130w that they would let me try i would be very grateful.
  • by don113,

    don113 don113 Aug 25, 2010 3:24 AM in response to lebungleski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2010 3:24 AM in response to lebungleski
    Exactly the same problem Today !

    One of my 3 23" cinema display failed after power cut... same short-long-short code... I tried everyting possible switching bricks and cables between the 3 screens/computers, but no way to make it work...


    I just Fixed it by blocking middle pin with masking tape.

    !!! THANKS SO MUCH FOT THAT BRILLIANT TRICKS !!!
  • by ventrj,

    ventrj ventrj Aug 25, 2010 5:41 AM in response to don113
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    Aug 25, 2010 5:41 AM in response to don113
    Just tried the tap with the straw over it still get the short long short. This *****
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