Weird Plasma Problem

[Thoth]

I have a Magnavox 42" Plasma (42mf130a/37) and sometimes when watching tv... or having the comp (2nd one in sig) hooked up to it... the display will freeze... like if i'm watching a tv show the video will just stop.. and the sound will keep playing... usually after 30 secs or so the tv will resume normal activity... i usually turn off the tv by it's hardwired switch (different from power button) when i turn it back on it's usually fine...

the weird thing is that this is completely random... it'll happen on ANY input... svideo (tv)... component (dvd), and DVI (dvd player or computer)... sometimes it'll happen a few times in an hour... other times it'll do it once a week...

the plasma is from circuit city... i have the 3 yr protection plan on it... and it was bought dec 8 2005...

the TV IS grounded... the powerstrip i use had a little light thing for grounding... and it's "active"

i have never had a breaker tripped in that room... the room stays decently warm...

is there something wrong??? or is it just a quark?

[princeofdarknes]

well, i dont know much about tv's or plasma tv's but i do know plasma's get hot, so maybe its overheating? try putting a boxfan next to it blowing on the back or something, somekinda crosswind effect, and see if that helps, if so its overheating the videoprocessor

[matttaylor]

If the fan doesnt work, then it could be damaged and it'll be time to use the warranty. But be warned, (I work for BB) if the problem cant be duplicated, no matter how much you insist it happens, they will not fix the tv and you WILL be charged for any labor and shipping. MAKE SURE that if you have the tv serviced you specify the exact problem and the time it can take to occur.

Also next time it happens, check and see if the tv is really hot in any specific area to help find the problem.

[Thoth]

as far as i know... there is NO fan in the unit (can't hear or feel one)... it does put off a good bit of heat... and it's about 6-8 inches away from the nearest wall...

i'll be sure to more thoroughly check it out when it does this again...

edit : i took a flashlight and looked inside all the vents around the back... it doesnt look dusty at all... everything looks fine... There is NO fan that i can see or hear (room is totally silent)

i saw a sticker on the inside of it that said the model # and "3.5a 350w (on average)" that was on the back of the plasma tube/panel thing... if that relates to heat... 350watts is a lot to disappate passively...

[princeofdarknes]

i never asked if there was a fan i was telling you to have a fan blow on it, like a large AC box fan to see if that will help your problem, and i doubt it would be dusty inside if it doesnt have a fan in it
Its a plasma, it gets hot
and the "3.5a 350w" is the power rating of the power supply inside it i belive, it doesnt directly relate to heat but the more power it has the more heat it will give off

[[SaS]hornet]

plasmas do get very hot, if u stick ur hand over the grills at the back when its been on for ages, they are hot. a friend of mine doesnt need his heating on with his plasma turned on (no joking...).

there should be vents at the top of the set for the heat to rise up, do what princeofdarknes said, or get some smaller fans and attach them to either blow on the boards (there should be lots of grills in the back) or suck air away from it.