There are many people that have heard the somewhat humorous story of my stunt as a TV repair man. But I have decided to write it down, just to practice writing.
I bought this TV from Arcadia, whom is a previous employee of mine. She needed some help moving, and I needed…OK, I wanted a big screen TV. She had the TV, I found the money. I was going to by a gun or liposuction, but the TV was good. It is a 65” projection TV. HD, 1080i, and did I say 65”… Freaking huge.
Well, It has been saying every time we turn it on that as the screen warms up is reads in a little box at the bottom of the screen
“if you change the Lamp, you see better image”
Just an example of a global economy if you ask me, but then maybe they put it like that to annoy people like me.
Well, Autumn and I were watching “total recall” and it was getting pretty dark. I didn’t really know how dark until I tried to play my video game, and couldn’t read anything. Darned annoying when your only real source of entertainment is, well I guess simply burnt out. I used that thing to play Xbox, the Tivo, play DVD’s, and even music. I have it on when I work out, well when I am able to work out. Working on blogs, my book, or just cleaning the house.
Well, my adventure begins one Tuesday afternoon, late in the month of July. I decided to stop at best buy to see if they have the bulb… Well, they didn’t have it, but they were happy to order it for almost $300. I then went to a TV repair store, and they said $170. I was talking with the guy there and I asked him how hard it was to replace the bulb. He looked at his computer screen, and said pretty easy, shouldn’t take more than 15 min for you to do it.
Well, I got home and used this new thing I recently heard about. Google. In fact there is a cultural phrase called goggling it. Anyhow, I found this $300 bulb for about $45. I ordered it on the spot. I mean, I could be watching TV again by the end of the week, instead of using the computer without watching TV.
The next day I get a call. There company has flagged my card for fraud. It was an Amazon subsidy, and apparently they decided that I hadn’t used that card before, so it was fraud. Took me 45 min to straighten that up, and in return for my tolerance they offered to express ship it to me.
The next night I left my computer at work, because I had a meeting and didn’t want to leave it in the jeep. After my meeting I got home, and there it was. I had completely forgotten about it, but it was sitting on my front door. I was thinking I was going to be completely board, as I left my computer at work, and didn’t have a TV. So, I decided to change the bulb and watch a movie, or play video games, or heck, South Park sounded good.
I opened the box, and included was a one page set of instructions, in only English. I thought that was odd, considering the world of today. Anyhow, the instructions also had a photo of the back of the TV. It looked easy, so I grabbed my screw driver, and went to the TV. I hold up the instruction and determine that I should open the right hand side of the TV. Got on my knees, and then determined it would be easier if I turned the TV around.
Well, long story not so long, I got into it 47 screws, took out everything I could find, and still couldn’t find a light bulb. I looked into this little box, mind a box that was inside a box that was on a large circuit board inside a 65” tv…. I looked in this box and saw what looked like the top of a light bulb. So, I stuck my screw driver in and ZAAAP… I was hit with a low amp high volt charge that literally knocked me on my butt. My left arm is tingling as I am sitting on the ground looking at this TV.
From my new perspective I could see the bottom of the TV on the side I didn’t open. There is a 1/2” by 1” sticker that says “lamp Housing” it also included arrows that pointed at the screws to take out. See, when I turned the TV around I didn’t change the side of the TV that I was going to open. And for some reason I just kept taking it apart, obsessive focus is what it was.
Well, I put it all back together. Turned it around, and plugged it in. I had the remote in my hand and ….pause.
What if I put it together wrong. What if all those wires touched in the wrong place. What if it caught fire…
Well, I went into the kitchen and grabbed the fire extinguisher, then turned it on. To my complete and udder amazement it worked. Not only did it work, but it continued to work. I watched TV for a couple hours starting at 1:00 in the morning. I sat in my recliner for two hours holding a fire extinguisher.
So, I learned two things. If it says danger risk of shock, do not stick a screw driver in it. And second, if the instructions say 4 screws, you should question if you are doing it right after 5 screws, not 50.
Very funny!
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