Panasonic Blinking Power light of Death

Clark · 01-27-2008, 11:38 AM

Earlier this month I took delivery of a panasonic 42PZ700U.

Maybe I got 20 hours or so of viewing on it before I got the "dreaded blinking power light of death"

The little red power light blinks 7 times, waits a while, blinks 7 times, waits a while, blinks 7 times etc etc etc.

The set cannot be turned on or off. Nothing.

So, I Googled panasonic blinking power light and guess what! I am not alone. An example:

http://www.epinions.com/content_373749878404

The only good news is that I bought the set from Crutchfield and they are going to come and get it (and that it happened right away so it is easily in warranty).

But this does seem to be a well known Panasonic problem.

Let the Buyer Beware!

Scottnot · 01-27-2008, 01:03 PM

Hey, every manufacturer is going to get a "bad" batch of components from time to time.
The issue isn't that it happens, but how they go about resolving it.

If they get on it immediately at the factory with proper failure analysis and resolution, and then respond quickly and positively to the customer, that's about the best that can be expected.

Hope yours gets good resolution.

z28rod · 01-27-2008, 06:50 PM

Call panisonic and get that set fixed, still under warr. correct ?

tipstir · 01-27-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clark

Earlier this month I took delivery of a panasonic 42PZ700U.

Maybe I got 20 hours or so of viewing on it before I got the "dreaded blinking power light of death"

The little red power light blinks 7 times, waits a while, blinks 7 times, waits a while, blinks 7 times etc etc etc.

The set cannot be turned on or off. Nothing.

So, I Googled panasonic blinking power light and guess what! I am not alone. An example:

http://www.epinions.com/content_373749878404

The only good news is that I bought the set from Crutchfield and they are going to come and get it (and that it happened right away so it is easily in warranty).

But this does seem to be a well known Panasonic problem.

Let the Buyer Beware!

No just a bad palet of them that's all.. Panasonic is excellent. But better this happen now then later on down the road. But you have taken the right actions Bravo!

Clark · 01-28-2008, 02:53 PM

So far, working with Crutchfield is a plus. I now have a comparably priced and featured Sharp AQUOS 42D64U swap on the way from Crutchfield and they are taking the Panasonic back. Can't complain about service like that!

I did like the picture and the sound quality of the Panasonic, but I found too many references on the 'net about Panasonics quitting exactly the way mine did. Couldnt bring myself to try another one of them.

Now -- if the AQUOS gets here by Super Bowl Sunday -----

Codes20 · 01-28-2008, 03:03 PM

I have never even heard of this until now. Panasonic seems to make about the most reliable set I've seen in 4 years of home theater sales experience. Especially in the volume I've seen pushed out of our store.

The PX50U, PX60U, and PZ/X series have all been fantastic sets, from what I can tell.

Bad batches do happen though.

Tarrant1701 · 07-02-2008, 10:29 PM

I just bought a Panasonic TH-42PZ800U and had the same problem. 10 blinks and the TV would not start. Then after some trial and error I solved the problem!

Here is my (apparent) observation and solution:
I had only one input into the TV, which was my HTPC connected via a DVI-to-HDMI cable plugged into the Panny's HDMI 1 slot. *IF* the HTPC was already on, then the Panny would have the blink of death. *BUT* if the HTPC was off, the Panny booted fine (assuming I cleared the blink of death first by powering off the HTPC, unplugging the TV, and replugging the TV back in with the HTPC still off).

My solution was to move the HDMI cable from slot 1 to slot 3. After making this one change, everything worked as it should. No more 10 blinks of death. I could even leave the HTPC on and turn on the TV last, and it still worked. Tried this 10 times, worked 10 times.

I don't know if this will solve other people's problems, but I hope it at least provides some clues. I wonder if this is a fundamental circuit design flaw on the part of Panasonic, rather than a "bad batch of parts" problem.

Thoughts? Feedback?

damaoji · 07-05-2008, 11:43 PM

Darn, I was pretty sold on getting the 42PZ800U. And now, I'm reading a few of these scenarios going on. Tarrant1701 has your solution solved the problem, as in, has it been stable and not powered off?

Tarrant1701 · 07-06-2008, 08:32 AM

It's been very stable. Have had no problems powering on, once I switched to HDMI port 3 on the rear. If you get a Panasonic that only has two HDMI ports in the rear, then you will have to use the port on the front to solve this problem.

It seems to be only a problem with certain PC video cards connected to the HDMI port. Others have had the same problem and found the same solution. For more discussion on this issue check out:

avsforum. com / avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13649180#post13649180

Joe_news · 07-06-2008, 10:57 AM

Powersupply issues are rare but are present from all TV makers. A google search result count is no justification to trace the reputation of the most reliable TV producing CE company IMO. Their TV failure rate are exceedingly low and their picture quality far exceeds anything on the market but Pioneer [which cost 3-4 times as much]!

If a Pioneer Elite can die 38 days after its purchase, any TV can. It happens, nothing is perfect. It only takes one component manufacturer to make a simply mistake and the final product will not work. Which reminds me, how is the black... I mean grey level on that Sharp

You should have contacted Panasonic and they would have hooked you up instead of getting a inferior product.

[Snarky Mode: Off]

Tarrant1701 · 07-06-2008, 02:19 PM

Joe_news not sure which post you were replying to.

However, the specific issue I am reporting on is NOT due to a defective power supply. Rather, it seems to be a design flaw with certain HDMI ports not working well with the signal output by a video card. Ergo, having it replaced with an identical unit won't help.

I agree with you about TV failure rates. Especially now that Pioneer has started outsourcing their Elite parts (including the glass), I wonder if their reliability will become more like Panasonic / LG / Samsung etc

WICKEDT · 08-15-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarrant1701

It's been very stable. Have had no problems powering on, once I switched to HDMI port 3 on the rear. If you get a Panasonic that only has two HDMI ports in the rear, then you will have to use the port on the front to solve this problem.

It seems to be only a problem with certain PC video cards connected to the HDMI port. Others have had the same problem and found the same solution. For more discussion on this issue check out:

avsforum. com / avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13649180#post13649180

I had the 10 Blinks of death also, but this worked Tarrant, in HDMI 3, no issues at all. Now im wondering what i should do next, its only been in the house 3 days.

Need some feedback, should i call the seller and demand a replacement, or call service to fix it.

Is this problem on all TV's or limited to a certain percentage?

Let me know what ya all think,
Thanks

PFC5 · 08-16-2008, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WICKEDT

I had the 10 Blinks of death also, but this worked Tarrant, in HDMI 3, no issues at all. Now im wondering what i should do next, its only been in the house 3 days.

Need some feedback, should i call the seller and demand a replacement, or call service to fix it.

Is this problem on all TV's or limited to a certain percentage?

Let me know what ya all think,
Thanks

Welcome to the forum!

Contact Panasonic and tell them that your PC video card on your HTPC only works with the HDMI #3 input. This may be some kind of "feature by design" kind of thing but it sounds like a dumb way to design the display to me.

See what they say and please let us know how you make out!

WICKEDT · 08-18-2008, 10:01 AM

Thanks for the welcome PFC5.

I am about to call them now. I was thinking over the weekend about what to do, and it seems to me it would be better to repair it, as i am almost certain parts replacement would be better than a whole system replacement. Who knows, maybe the same problem, but later down the road when the warranty is over. Other than this problem, the TV is awesome for the price and the smaller room i have it in. The lighting conditions in this room are plasma friendly.

I like many others, was on the LCD band wagon at first, till i did my research. Plasma really is the best technology, but like the Beta/VHS VCR battle of yesteryears, Sony seems to be leading another battle for supremacy based on marketing, not the better technology.

Ill let you know what happens later with the Panny service guys.

WICKEDT · 08-18-2008, 12:55 PM

I talked to Panasonic Concierge and they told me this is a well known issue, and has to do with the rear HDMI ports and an incompatibility issue.

Turns out i need a "GE - 22703 - ULTRA PROGRADE™ HDMI™ EXTENSION ADAPTER" in order to use the back HDMI ports.

To me this has nothing to do with incompatibility, but more so with the signal not being boosted strong enough for the Pany TV to use it.
She said different software is used on the front board.???????

Very strange, but if it fixes the problem, so be it.

Anyone know were i could get this thing in London, Ontario?
Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks

*Update 1: I just thought of something important. My Bell ExpressVue 9242 PVR comes with a cable that has a DVI connector at one end, then you use the adapter to make it full HDMI. I wonder if this might be the issue and if anyone else has tried changing the cable for a true HDMI cable.

*Update 2: Im wondering now if maybe the issue is this DVI to HDMI connector from the PVR to the back HDMI 1 connection, because after reading about boosters theres a warning that they cannot use the 5V HDMI voltage if used with a DVI to HDMI connector. Im now wondering if Panasonic cheaped out based on the 5 Volts supplied by the PVR. This would make sense in my case, because i cannot see why the front HDMI works but the 2 in the rear dont, or intermitently. IDEAS? Anyone?

01-27-2008, 11:38 AM	#1
Clark My plasma died Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 23	Panasonic Blinking Power light of Death Earlier this month I took delivery of a panasonic 42PZ700U. Maybe I got 20 hours or so of viewing on it before I got the "dreaded blinking power light of death" The little red power light blinks 7 times, waits a while, blinks 7 times, waits a while, blinks 7 times etc etc etc. The set cannot be turned on or off. Nothing. So, I Googled panasonic blinking power light and guess what! I am not alone. An example: http://www.epinions.com/content_373749878404 The only good news is that I bought the set from Crutchfield and they are going to come and get it (and that it happened right away so it is easily in warranty). But this does seem to be a well known Panasonic problem. Let the Buyer Beware!

01-28-2008, 03:03 PM	#6
Codes20 In need of speakers Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CA Age: 28 Posts: 1,404	I have never even heard of this until now. Panasonic seems to make about the most reliable set I've seen in 4 years of home theater sales experience. Especially in the volume I've seen pushed out of our store. The PX50U, PX60U, and PZ/X series have all been fantastic sets, from what I can tell. Bad batches do happen though. JezusFreak likes this.

07-02-2008, 10:29 PM	#7
Tarrant1701 What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3	possible solution... I just bought a Panasonic TH-42PZ800U and had the same problem. 10 blinks and the TV would not start. Then after some trial and error I solved the problem! Here is my (apparent) observation and solution: I had only one input into the TV, which was my HTPC connected via a DVI-to-HDMI cable plugged into the Panny's HDMI 1 slot. IF the HTPC was already on, then the Panny would have the blink of death. BUT if the HTPC was off, the Panny booted fine (assuming I cleared the blink of death first by powering off the HTPC, unplugging the TV, and replugging the TV back in with the HTPC still off). My solution was to move the HDMI cable from slot 1 to slot 3. After making this one change, everything worked as it should. No more 10 blinks of death. I could even leave the HTPC on and turn on the TV last, and it still worked. Tried this 10 times, worked 10 times. I don't know if this will solve other people's problems, but I hope it at least provides some clues. I wonder if this is a fundamental circuit design flaw on the part of Panasonic, rather than a "bad batch of parts" problem. Thoughts? Feedback?

07-06-2008, 08:32 AM	#9
Tarrant1701 What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3	It's been very stable. Have had no problems powering on, once I switched to HDMI port 3 on the rear. If you get a Panasonic that only has two HDMI ports in the rear, then you will have to use the port on the front to solve this problem. It seems to be only a problem with certain PC video cards connected to the HDMI port. Others have had the same problem and found the same solution. For more discussion on this issue check out: avsforum. com / avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13649180#post13649180 Last edited by Tarrant1701; 07-06-2008 at 08:36 AM.

07-06-2008, 10:57 AM	#10
Joe_news Sega does what Nintendont Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: U.S. of A. Posts: 956	"Buyer Beware?" Powersupply issues are rare but are present from all TV makers. A google search result count is no justification to trace the reputation of the most reliable TV producing CE company IMO. Their TV failure rate are exceedingly low and their picture quality far exceeds anything on the market but Pioneer [which cost 3-4 times as much]! If a Pioneer Elite can die 38 days after its purchase, any TV can. It happens, nothing is perfect. It only takes one component manufacturer to make a simply mistake and the final product will not work. Which reminds me, how is the black... I mean grey level on that Sharp You should have contacted Panasonic and they would have hooked you up instead of getting a inferior product. [Snarky Mode: Off] __________________ Home Theater Pro 1 ---------------------- Pioneer 5080 Logitech Z-680 Samsung BDP-1600 Panamax M4300 Fios HD Receiver Harmony 880 PS3, Wii, Dreamcast, 3DO

01-27-2008, 01:03 PM	#2
Scottnot Progress Not Perfection Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 5,714	Hey, every manufacturer is going to get a "bad" batch of components from time to time. The issue isn't that it happens, but how they go about resolving it. If they get on it immediately at the factory with proper failure analysis and resolution, and then respond quickly and positively to the customer, that's about the best that can be expected. Hope yours gets good resolution.

01-27-2008, 06:50 PM	#3
z28rod I love my plasma Join Date: Dec 2006 Age: 55 Posts: 1,699	Call panisonic and get that set fixed, still under warr. correct ? __________________ Panasonic TH-42PX60U 42" Plasma HDTV Klipsch Quintet™ II MicroSystem AudioSource SW-15 sub. Yamaha RX-V596 Oppo 971H dvd SA 8300 hd stb Olivia 332H lcd Magnavox Progressive DVD Player DP100MW8 Logitech Z-2300 2.1 THX Certified Spkr. Westinghouse LTV-27w2 lcd Magnavox Progressive DVD Player DP100MW8 Logitech Z4 Spkr.

01-28-2008, 02:53 PM	#5
Clark My plasma died Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 23	So far, working with Crutchfield is a plus. I now have a comparably priced and featured Sharp AQUOS 42D64U swap on the way from Crutchfield and they are taking the Panasonic back. Can't complain about service like that! I did like the picture and the sound quality of the Panasonic, but I found too many references on the 'net about Panasonics quitting exactly the way mine did. Couldnt bring myself to try another one of them. Now -- if the AQUOS gets here by Super Bowl Sunday -----

07-05-2008, 11:43 PM	#8
damaoji What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1	Darn, I was pretty sold on getting the 42PZ800U. And now, I'm reading a few of these scenarios going on. Tarrant1701 has your solution solved the problem, as in, has it been stable and not powered off?

07-06-2008, 02:19 PM	#11
Tarrant1701 What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3	Joe_news not sure which post you were replying to. However, the specific issue I am reporting on is NOT due to a defective power supply. Rather, it seems to be a design flaw with certain HDMI ports not working well with the signal output by a video card. Ergo, having it replaced with an identical unit won't help. I agree with you about TV failure rates. Especially now that Pioneer has started outsourcing their Elite parts (including the glass), I wonder if their reliability will become more like Panasonic / LG / Samsung etc Last edited by Tarrant1701; 07-06-2008 at 02:30 PM.

08-18-2008, 10:01 AM	#14
WICKEDT My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5	Thanks for the welcome PFC5. I am about to call them now. I was thinking over the weekend about what to do, and it seems to me it would be better to repair it, as i am almost certain parts replacement would be better than a whole system replacement. Who knows, maybe the same problem, but later down the road when the warranty is over. Other than this problem, the TV is awesome for the price and the smaller room i have it in. The lighting conditions in this room are plasma friendly. I like many others, was on the LCD band wagon at first, till i did my research. Plasma really is the best technology, but like the Beta/VHS VCR battle of yesteryears, Sony seems to be leading another battle for supremacy based on marketing, not the better technology. Ill let you know what happens later with the Panny service guys.

08-18-2008, 12:55 PM	#15
WICKEDT My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5	Need Help with a part I talked to Panasonic Concierge and they told me this is a well known issue, and has to do with the rear HDMI ports and an incompatibility issue. Turns out i need a "GE - 22703 - ULTRA PROGRADE™ HDMI™ EXTENSION ADAPTER" in order to use the back HDMI ports. To me this has nothing to do with incompatibility, but more so with the signal not being boosted strong enough for the Pany TV to use it. She said different software is used on the front board.??????? Very strange, but if it fixes the problem, so be it. Anyone know were i could get this thing in London, Ontario? Any help would be appreciated, Thanks Update 1: I just thought of something important. My Bell ExpressVue 9242 PVR comes with a cable that has a DVI connector at one end, then you use the adapter to make it full HDMI. I wonder if this might be the issue and if anyone else has tried changing the cable for a true HDMI cable. Update 2: Im wondering now if maybe the issue is this DVI to HDMI connector from the PVR to the back HDMI 1 connection, because after reading about boosters theres a warning that they cannot use the 5V HDMI voltage if used with a DVI to HDMI connector. Im now wondering if Panasonic cheaped out based on the 5 Volts supplied by the PVR. This would make sense in my case, because i cannot see why the front HDMI works but the 2 in the rear dont, or intermitently. IDEAS? Anyone? Last edited by WICKEDT; 08-18-2008 at 03:04 PM. Reason: got the part name wrong + an insight + another insight

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