Backlight failures on 20" Cinema Displays

Here is the url for the part needed if you have a 20" display. Unfortunately, the part is currently out of stock.

http://www.lcdpart.com/Products/t65101400mss.html

You will require the inverter and not bulbs according to description of your problem.

I have emailed them about when they expect to receive this part, as i'm sure a lot of people here are in need of it. It is an extremely easy part to replace; they even have a pdf with instructions on how to do it yourself.

what

I thanks to this forum, bought an inverter for my 17 inch studio display after getting the short short long for about 3 weeks with resets and unplugs not doing any good. Paid 109 bucks for it on lcdpart.com plus shipping, came today, used their photo instructions to replace it. Worked great, no more light flash, great even brightness, and was simple to do, 5 snap plugs and your done inside, screw it all back together and you are good to go. Hope this helps some of you as much as it helped me, im glad my beautiful studio display is back to its original self!

Powermac G5 Dual 2ghz Mac OS X (10.4.6)

That's great news! Glad to hear everything worked out for you. I placed my order for my 20" and should get my inverter next week. Opening up the monitor seems pretty simple according to the instructions. I can't wait to get my monitor back to it's normal brightness.

I've had the same problem with the blinking power light and the dim lower section of the screen.

I did what only the brave and frustated should do with 100% results.

I unplugged and replugged the monitor hot. It came back up with no blinking light and no dim lower section.

-MikeH

G4MDD dual 1.25 w/20" cinema dispay Mac OS X (10.4.6) GeForce4 Ti 4600 128MB, 1.25GB RAM

Well, i successfully replaced the inverter. The power light on the monitor no longer flashes; however, the top third of my monitor is still dim. The only thing left to replace is the actual backlight itself which requires soldering and a bit of finesse. Don't think i want to tackle that repair.

Can anyone post a picture of this "dim" symptom?
Is it very subtle or is it obvious?
It would help for users to compare their screens to some of the situations mentioned here.

G4 Dual 1.42GHz Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Oh, you would definitely notice it. I doubt posting a picture would show the symptom.

after reading this forum it initiate me to think to repair my one and half year old ACD 20"
my story is different since the display is dead when it was 9 months old. why I did not repair it under warranty? Since I bought it from US and I am resident of Saudi ARabia.
Initially i was planing to fix it on my next trip to US which is next Week!! .
But after reading the forum and knowing the price apple will charge me mega $$$$ and already I bought it when it was $1200. NO THANK YOU APPLE
I will email lcdpart.com and let me see how they gonna help.
KHourshed

I have a 20 inch cinema display, and recently got the blinking and upper screen dimming problems... Well, after replacing the inverter board (via lcdparts), the blinking stopped, but the screen was still dim on the top. Obviously I am going to have to eventually replace the bulbs as well...

BUT: I have found a weird temporary work-around to the dim screen that I discovered purely by accident, I wanted to post it here in case it might work for someone else with this problem:

Go into System Preferences --> Displays
Turn the Brightness all the way down
Switch to another Screen Resolution
Switch back to your usual Resolution
Turn the brightness back up

This clears the dimming at the top of my screen for some reason! BUT: I have to do this each time I wake the computer. So it's not a permanent solution, but it'll work until I can get the bulbs replaced!

Also, I'm not sure if this trick will work without replacing the inverter board first, as I only discovered it after the replacement.

Give it a try, it worked for me! 😉

Duel 867 MHz PowerPC G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Did not work on my monitor... and yes, i did this after replacing the inverter board.

Thanks for the suggestion though, it was definitely worth a try.

I had this problem a couple of years ago on a 17 inch. Apple customers were left on their own to figure out a third party solution with no help at all from Apple support. This whole issue is a sad commentary on Apple.

Richard

I am just now having the described problems with my 20" monitor. The dimming at the top and the blinking short/short/long. I am on the phone with Apple since I purchased the G5 and the monitor at the same time (although the monitor came to me lonnnnnng before I got my G5-for those of you familiar with that lovely problem getting your first G5).

I am on hold right now because the young man says that it is definitely covered under warranty (extended) but for some reason he has to get ahold of another person to get them "connected"? I'll report back as soon as I know something.

I have boxed up my 20" (thankfully I have an old 17" that is doing fine that I had connected along with a CRT to my PC so I am still able to work with my Mac) and it is ready to be taken in to the Apple store. I just want to make sure that everything is set and I won't have any difficulties with anything once I get there.

Thankfully I called on my cellphone since now the dog needs to go out. I'll be right back, hopefully with the news that he has them connected and all the Apple Store has to do is take it in to process and send it to them for repair.

Ok, got cut off, redialed the number that my phone had. It was some communication quality.....or something...I don't quite remember what she said. She told me she'd call Apple and have them call me back. Hmm. Ok, I am going to load up the monitor and head in to the store now while I await a call back (or more likely, I'll just call them back).

Hi just read your workround for the inverter/dimmed upper screen of the 20 inch screen. Has this problem now cleared up for you? Did ou change the Inverter AND the bulbs?

I have just changed the INverter - followed your workround and presto - all seems well...

curious to know your end result

best

Drew

the bottom portion of my screen dimmed followed by the 2 short flashes and one long one on the light on front. if i unplugged my monitor and plugged it back in it would fix the problem for anywhere from 5 seconds to a couple of days. very annoying. after 5 hours or so of researching on the internet, i purchased a brand new backlight inverter on ebay for $15. it took about 30 minutes to install and now my 20" cinema display is like new again. yay! i almost never have this kind of luck. i can't believe apple wants $600 for this repair. what a joke.