Posted on 02/26/2012 2:33:37 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave
One reader asked about the lifespan of modern televisions, but first we need to discuss what manufacturers mean by "lifespan."
CNET Reader Dadar asks:
Are the "lifespan" claims by manufacturers proper? I've read numbers ranging from 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours, often with plasma TVs at the higher end of that scale compared to LED and CCFL LCDs.
I would have thought, being solid-state devices, light emitting diodes would have had a greater lifespan than their fluorescent counterparts. Hearsay also puts plasma at the bottom, but numbers I've found show the opposite? Are any of these true?
All claims by manufacturers should be taken with a grain of salt, but you pose an excellent question.
The first thing we need to discuss is what manufacturers mean by "lifespan." This doesn't mean that after a certain amount of use, the TV will just stop working. This rating has nothing to do with parts or warranty coverage. Most manufacturers don't even mention lifespan on their Web sites.
What they're talking about is brightness. The generally accepted method for measuring lifespan is the number of hours of use until the TV is half as bright as it was when new ("half brightness"). The TV is still watchable, it's just not as bright. Nearly all new TVs are very bright, so they'll largely be watchable at the end of their "lifespan" ratings, assuming no other issues.
The fact is this: all TVs get dimmer with age. How many years it will take before it's unwatchable depends on a lot of factors. A few generalizations can be made, though. For one, the brighter the TV, the shorter its life. Turning down the TV's backlight control, or turning down the contrast control on a plasma, will extend its life (and lower your electric bill). Will watching a dim TV give you mediocre enjoyment for 30 years? Probably not, but it will help.
What's the longest lasting TV tech? Hard to say. Plasmas are often the only technology that even lists lifespan, and this is almost always a claimed 100,000 hours. The florescent lamps in CCFL-based LCDs age just like any other florescent lamp, and I've seen them rated for 30,000 to 60,000 hours (sometimes more). The "white" LEDs used in LED LCDs will also dim over time. There is little published data on LED lifespan (as in, the companies aren't talking), but it's assumed to be similar to CCFLs.
As far as the long awaited OLED TVs hopefully out later this year, there's no hard numbers, either. However, blue LED longevity was always a major factor holding back the technology (as in blue dimmed faster than red and green). In talking with OLED manufacturers, I've been told that blue lifespan is now in line with other TV technologies, which is why we're seeing OLED TVs now instead of five years ago.
What do these numbers mean? Well if we go with these numbers (all we have, at the moment), and you watch 5 hours of TV every day, a plasma will reach half brightness in around 54 years. Even the lower rating on LCDs would mean 16 years before half brightness. If you watch more TV than that, well, the math is pretty easy. Even running 24 hours a day, you're still looking at more than 10 years with a plasma till half-brightness.
To be fair, each technology ages differently, and not entirely equally. CNET TV reviewer David Katzmeier is doing longevity testing with plasmas, with interesting results. There have been reports of some LED LCDs experiencing a color shift as they age. There are multiple CCFLs in LCDs that use them, and while they're likely to age in a similar fashion, it's possible they won't, leading to dim areas of the screen (horizontally). But again, we're talking many, many years of use before this is even a possibility.
Keep in mind that with LCDs, what's aging is the backlight (both CCFL and LED). In extreme cases, the LCD layer itself can age, but it's largely the backlight that's the issue. Technically, you can replace the backlight of an LCD, but I dare anyone to prove that this is remotely cost effective. You're better off just buying a new TV.
And that, as much as it's sure to anger many, is the overriding advice here. Plasmas and LCDs are reliable and long-lived. Will they last as long as that ancient console CRT you've had in the basement since the '70s? Maybe, maybe not, but why would you want them to? Ten years ago, flat-panel TVs were incredibly expensive and looked like crap. Today, they're cheap and gorgeous. Imagine what amazing 70-inch 4K OLED you'll be able to buy 10 years from now. TVs get larger, cheaper, and better every year. So even if your TV "only" lasts seven years, you'll be able to replace it for far less money than you paid for it with something that performs even better.
In other words, don't worry about lifespan.
One of my big-screens is a somewhat older “rear-projection” model — it has a single bright white light, that is used to drive the display. It fades over time, and will last maybe 15,000 hours. It is however replaceable — costs around $200 bucks, but cheaper I think if I shop around.
I’ve bought 3 replacements, so I always have one around, and I’m on my 3rd bulb, so I still have one left. I’d say it lasts about 2 years per bulb, so in another year I’ll probably buy another replacement bulb, and then ditch the TV when I run out because there is better technology coming.
Sirius Lee
Since Feb 6, 2012
Welcome NOOB
Your stay is highly speculative
Intersting, I have never seen anyone actually doing this. Good to know though. My LCD is getting close to the 4 (or is it 5) year mark and I sometimes feel it is getting dimmer as well.
I might as well check out what my lightbulb would cost me and get some DIY action going.
Insted of just ditching it, sell it on eBay. I’ve done that successfully with two rear projection CRT TVs.
me- 1994 Sony, 20" / 1999 Sharp 25" ... did not even bother to look at the new stuff over the years- until this past Christmas 2011-when i saw price$ drop to more normal rate of 500$ +- range. I am good to go for several more years until the new stuff drops some more. Really, the new stuff isn't that much better for the price/size selection .
My Toshiba went out about 7 years ago..the repairman came out..replaced maybe it was a “tube’ ha. Good to go.
and that TV got moved from Ohio to Fla, back to Ohio, back to Fl and then moved about 7 more times within FL...HA.
Ha. ha.
Wow, you have high standards. The new Freeper is making an anti-Romney post that's actually pretty amusing and is relevant to the thread. How long do new Freepers have to wait before this is acceptable?
More info needed.
Do own a gun?
Do watch network news?
ottbmare...your sign-up date is less than 5 years ago, so I believe that under rule VIII para 3, you are disallowed from questioning NOOB challenges by old-timers.
Also, I note the absence of an about page - I’m estimating a 40+% chance that you’re an Alinskyite plant.
Prepare to meet your ZOT!
(do I have to say just kidding?)
That was precisely the problem with my gorgeous 27 inch Sony Trinitron XBR. One thermistor failed in the 25 years I owned it and it cost only $100 to repair as good as new. I simply got tired of waiting for it to break last year and finally bought a 55 inch Panny. As we near retirement age, I'm hoping to get good life out of our two flat screens as it will become harder to replace them on a fixed "income" (if there is any income at all in this interest rate environment).
Hey, I resemble that!
What are you going to do? Tell on me for making fun of mittbots? Go ahead.
How long the screen display and backlights will last means nothing, if the weak power supplies that manufacturers are using is entered into the equation.
I’ve only had one LCD tv so far, and it didn’t last long.
It was an “LG” 26”, bought new in March 2009. Lasted until December 2011, when one day, it just went “poof” and the screen went dark.
Took it to a local repair shop and had them look at it. Bad power supply/voltage regulator. They kept it for a while, then told me the cost would be about $260 to repair including parts and labor. Not worth it, you can buy a new, larger tv for not much more now.
So we’re back to a 25+ year-old tube tv, looking around for a new model.
I’ve heard of numerous other flat-panel sets going bad due to power supply related problems. My suggestion to the manufacturers/designers would be twofold:
1. How about an EXTERNAL power supply (like found on small electrical devices, a “power block” of some sort)? It would remove a source of heat from inside the case, and, it would be easily replaceable in the event of failure. Couple this with...
2. A “power in” port on tv’s that retain an internal power supply. If the tv experienced a power supply failure, it would be a trivial fix to simply plug in an external source of power and get your tv back, at least temporarily.
The article concludes with the line, “In other words, don’t worry about lifespan.”
2+ years of life from an LCD tv is pitiful, and simply unacceptable.
You’re right! However did you figure out that I’m just a troll from DU? ;-)
And I KNOW no one ever believes it when a Freeper says this, but I was here long before my sign-up date. I got here in 1999 or early 2000, IIRC. But I changed my ID with JimRob’s permission for security reasons.
“You’re right! However did you figure out that I’m just a troll from DU?”
The voices tell me...;^)
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