Dark patch on monitor

[pzkpfw]

Once in a while I get a dark patch on one of my monitors. Its a 24" DELL P2412H.

The dark patch is about the size of my hand, up from the bottom, on the right side of the monitor.

Clearly an issue with one of the back-lights.

For now, turning the thing off, then on, seems to help - it always comes back with all the back-lights on, and equal brightness as far as I can tell. But I wonder if it's likely it can be "fixed".

Anyone got experience with this sort of thing? e.g. Is there a reasonable chance if I open it up I might find a dodgy electrolytic capacitor I can replace? Or is this a sign that the light itself is on the way out, and is that generally a hassle (or mostly impossible) to replace?

I've got some basic electronics and soldering skills, but I'm definitely on the [L] plate side of things.

[pete376403]

Unless its really special to you, probably not worth repairing. you can buy ex-lease stuff from PC traders for a couple of hundred or less https://pctraders.co.nz/collections/monitor-projectors/23%22-up

[GazzaH]

I've had some experience at fixing LCD monitors with fully broken backlights. The hardest part is dissembling the bezel to get the screen unit out. Replacing electrolytics is a straightforward soldering job if you have replacement caps of similar spec - including physical size as the boards tend to be cramped to squeeze them into slim cases.

HOWEVER, I've never come across the dark patch issue you mention. There may be more to it than swapping a few caps.

So, by all means strip it down and see how you get on ... or just save up for a replacement screen. Prices for used screens are low (there's a lot of surplus about as banks and other Big Cos churn their gear every few years), and even brand new ones are not outrageously expensive these days.

Personally I would invest in a replacement first, THEN see if you can fix the old one. It sounds as if it is on its way out anyway, so your fix may just be temporary.

[GazzaH]

PS Are you sure it's not just dried jizz?

[jellywrestler]

The dark patch is about the size of my hand,

can you post a photo of your hand so we can work out what size it is, that may help?

[caspernz]

My only thought here was who still has a monitor that small nowadays :innocent:

[pzkpfw]

My only thought here was who still has a monitor that small nowadays :innocent:

It's one of two that I have stacked vertically (prefer that to side-to-side).

If I replace one of the two they won't be the same. That'll irk me.


PS Are you sure it's not just dried jizz?

I didn't say handprint ... :-)