Television blacking out

[JoeMaio]

So recently my living room television blacks out when watching cable via Optimum, or streaming Netflix from the Blu Ray player. It only does this when the central air compressor kicks on.

Normally I know if they were on the same circuit this would happen with such a large draw to the compressor. But the AC units are on dedicated lines.

This is also recent, only AFTER doing some upgrading. I have a data closet that originally had one two gang outlet that was also on a dedicated breaker, cable entrance into home into standard splitter from Optimum.

I added a structured media panel which now houses a new powered coax amplifier, modem(moved from upstairs), Ethernet patch panel and switch.

I have added a surge outlet into the media box, an additional single gang outlet, and a light into the closet.

Sorry for the length but wanted to detail what I could.

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[ImpulsE69]

So is it shutting off or is the picture just going black?

 

[JoeMaio]

Goes black, audio cuts out about 2-3 seconds. Sometimes just a blip, most of the time 2-3 seconds

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[Red Squirrel]

Could very well be the TV is very sensitive to the slight voltage dip when the compressor kicks on. Maybe bad capacitors in the PSU output filtering stage? You would almost need a dual conversion UPS as the flicker won't even be enough to trigger a normal UPS. Though it could also be some kind of EMI. Some of the monitors we have at work randomly go black when you move something or walk near them. It's weird. Would bug the hell out of me if it was my home but I never gave it much thought at work.

 

[JoeMaio]

Could very well be the TV is very sensitive to the slight voltage dip when the compressor kicks on. Maybe bad capacitors in the PSU output filtering stage? You would almost need a dual conversion UPS as the flicker won't even be enough to trigger a normal UPS. Though it could also be some kind of EMI. Some of the monitors we have at work randomly go black when you move something or walk near them. It's weird. Would bug the hell out of me if it was my home but I never gave it much thought at work.

Well since we're at home, this is very annoying. Especially when the Fiance is binge watching OITNB and all I hear is "UGGGHHHH" every time.

Could the power amp splitter be causing this? Somehow causing interference? I'll need to attach the old splitter and see if the problem continues.

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[Red Squirrel]

Yeah for sure sounds really annoying. I would start with a dual conversion UPS just to rule out power flickers being the cause. That would also be an easy fix if it does work. Otherwise I'd try to google the model number and words like "flicker" or "black" and hope it's a known issue with a known fix.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Is it just the one tv that sees the issue? I assume you have more connected via that panel? If it's just that TV, disconnect everything else (including the splitter) and see if it goes away. Then plug them back in one at a time until it comes back.

Digital either works or it doesn't (thus the black). It typically means there is no signal getting to the TV. It could be ANYTHING in between the box and the TV as well.

 

[Thebobo]

Why do you have the AC cable wrapped around the coax?

 

[thebestMAX]

My Panasonic plasma TV does exactly the same thing. 2-3 seconds blackout w/ no audio and then all is fine. Does it a few times a night. Dont think the A/C has anything to do with it but Ill watch that more closely.

Dont think it does it from my Roku. I always assumed that it was Comcrap causing it since we have had various other problems come and go, but now Im not so sure. Got a new cable box/DVR and it still does the same thing. When it blacks out, if I rewind the DVR picture and sound are there. Wondering now if its somehow related to my HDMI cable. Need to try another but its so random its hard to troubleshoot.

Gonna live with it unless it gets worse but I agree, annoying as hell.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

So recently my living room television blacks out when watching cable via Optimum, or streaming Netflix from the Blu Ray player. It only does this when the central air compressor kicks on.

Normally I know if they were on the same circuit this would happen with such a large draw to the compressor. But the AC units are on dedicated lines.

This is also recent, only AFTER doing some upgrading. I have a data closet that originally had one two gang outlet that was also on a dedicated breaker, cable entrance into home into standard splitter from Optimum.

I added a structured media panel which now houses a new powered coax amplifier, modem(moved from upstairs), Ethernet patch panel and switch.

I have added a surge outlet into the media box, an additional single gang outlet, and a light into the closet.

Sorry for the length but wanted to detail what I could.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Maybe bad capacitors in the PSU output filtering stage?

I'd bet dollars to donuts you've got a bad cap somewhere inside the TV. Crack it open and see if any are burst, you might be restricting power too much when the compressor kicks on for it to continue. Note, this might still be the case if the caps are fine as well but it can cause the shutoffs to occur where it otherwise wouldn't I imagine if some are bad.

 

[JoeMaio]

Is it just the one tv that sees the issue? I assume you have more connected via that panel? If it's just that TV, disconnect everything else (including the splitter) and see if it goes away. Then plug them back in one at a time until it comes back.

Digital either works or it doesn't (thus the black). It typically means there is no signal getting to the TV. It could be ANYTHING in between the box and the TV as well.

Honestly, it's the only TV we really use. The TV down stairs doesn't have a cable box, and the one in our bedroom is really just to fall asleep with, so when you're half asleep it's hard to tell.

But I think this disconnecting and reconnecting will be my first troubleshoot step.

 

[JoeMaio]

Why do you have the AC cable wrapped around the coax?

Honestly, not intentional. Those wires still need to be cleaned up and dressed. Still a work in progress.

 

[Thebobo]

Honestly, not intentional. Those wires still need to be cleaned up and dressed. Still a work in progress.

Yea I don't know enough about what signal type running in the coax but AC induction can do some weird stuff to digital signals.

 

[JoeMaio]

Yea I don't know enough about what signal type running in the coax but AC induction can do some weird stuff to digital signals.

I'll get those wires separated as well and see if it helps. I hadn't even noticed until you pointed that out

 

[Darwin333]

I'd try to rule out the obvious stuff first that has been mentioned already, if it's not any of those then I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that it's bad caps. TV manufacturers (all of them) use the absolute cheapest craptastic caps they can, probably saving them a whole nickel per TV, and almost any time a flat screen TV/monitor dies or goes on the fritz it's because of bad caps. They are very cheap and easy to repair if you know how to solder, even if you don't it's easy to learn. The shipping on the caps is usually more expensive than the caps them self but shouldn't cost you more than $5 or so, I suggest that you go ahead and replace all of them regardless if they are bad yet or not while you are in there.

I have fixed dozens of TVs and monitors so I have started buying the caps 100 at a time, it doesn't cost much more than buying 20 and if I run across another TV/monitor that uses that cap I will already have it on hand. I generally don't believe in "conspiracy" nonsense but this would cost the manufacturers pennies more at the rate they buy them to make their products last a lot longer.

 

[deadlyapp]

My first thought was the AC cords wrapped around the Coax into the modem as well. You could be causing some very interesting things if that coax cable is unshielded, but I would be surprised if it would be affecting the TV (rather than the internet).

Best thing to do is just start ruling things out. Go back to no splitter, then add the splitter back in, then connect other items, etc etc. Get an analog multimeter and watch the voltage on the main as the AC kicks on (digital might not pick up a very rapid fluctuation).

 

[nakedfrog]

It may be time to have an intervention, have all the people close to the TV get together and talk about how it's drinking is affecting them.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I never even considered the fact that it might be a loss of signal to the TV, rather than the TV itself, try watching TV off another source like antenna or a PC plugged in just to see if it does the same thing.

I can't see how a simple wrap of wires would cause an issue with coax, but worth a shot to try to redress it more. Coax by nature is shielded.

 

[JoeMaio]

I never even considered the fact that it might be a loss of signal to the TV, rather than the TV itself, try watching TV off another source like antenna or a PC plugged in just to see if it does the same thing.

I can't see how a simple wrap of wires would cause an issue with coax, but worth a shot to try to redress it more. Coax by nature is shielded.

Well Netflix is on my smart BluRay player which is connected via HDMI, and happens while watching as well

 

[Thebobo]

I never even considered the fact that it might be a loss of signal to the TV, rather than the TV itself, try watching TV off another source like antenna or a PC plugged in just to see if it does the same thing.

I can't see how a simple wrap of wires would cause an issue with coax, but worth a shot to try to redress it more. Coax by nature is shielded.

You're probably right but I have seen AC interfere with Fire alarm shielded circuits. Also is an end connection grounded? Not all EMI is reflected with the shield that's why it should be grounded.

signals.http://www.mouser.com/pdfdocs/alphawire-Understanding-Shielded-Cable.pdf

 

[ImpulsE69]

Most likely his issue is cabling. could be the HDMI, etc.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Actually might be worth trying another HDMI cable. I suppose a bad shield on that could pose issues.

 

[JoeMaio]

Most likely his issue is cabling. could be the HDMI, etc.

Cabling on the end, where the TV is? Or in the closet? Seems weird it didn't happen untill adding those extra things into the closet.

 

[JoeMaio]

Well guys, it turned out to be that power cord wrapped around the coax. I separated it last night with no issues since.

That is also an optimum provided cable, so I will be terminating a new quad shield cable to replace it.

 

[Thebobo]

Well guys, it turned out to be that power cord wrapped around the coax. I separated it last night with no issues since.

That is also an optimum provided cable, so I will be terminating a new quad shield cable to replace it.

Cool glad it worked out for you.