I got the tv about a week ago and all seemed to be working fine, but when I had the tv on, I paused my ps2 system and went to answer the phone in the other room. 5 minutes later I come back and there is SMOKE coming from the back of tv, but the picture was still showing. I quickly unplugged the tv from the wall and waited for about an hour and plugged it back up and it hasn't done it for the last 10 hours BUT now the tv keeps shutting off every hour or so and three lights start flashing. I looked in the manual and it says that the lamp may be defective. I called up at samsung and the tech said that it is rare for it to start smoking and he's only heard about it once or twice since the 3 years he's been working there. He thinks that something in the tv had fried.

It hasn't smoked since, but it has been shutting off... Do you think that the bulb caused the smoke?

Note that I had used "game mode" for the first time and 15 minutes later BAM, it started smoking.. Could be something with the acceleration controls. Haven't used that option since.


Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!

bump

It does not seem to be the bulb. Smoke usually indicates a fried component. You need to have the set professionally serviced.

So you think a fried component is causing the tv to shut down and making me think it's the bulb?

I think its your ballast (controls voltage to the lamp). No matter what it is, it'll be covered by the warranty so you're in good shape. :)

just found out how to check the lamp hours and it's showing zero... So that's what's causing it. I hope the ballast didn't cause it to die out

just found out how to check the lamp hours and it's showing zero... So that's what's causing it.

Wait a sec ... what does the lamp hour count being at 0 tell you?

Regardless of what's wrong, someone will come out and (likely) replace your LE for this kind of failure. Good luck!

I still don't think it is the bulb.

I don't either.

You may have two problems now because when you yank the power out of the wall it causes the lamp to shut off without the fan cooling it off which I have read will cause lamp failure. Thats why I have an APC 750va battery backup between my tv and the wall.

You may have two problems now because when you yank the power out of the wall it causes the lamp to shut off without the fan cooling it off which I have read will cause lamp failure. Thats why I have an APC 750va battery backup between my tv and the wall.

Generally shutting off the TV like this will not cause lamp failure, but will just shorten the lap life a bit. My son had his DLP plugged it the back of his Comcast box using the Comcast switched outlet for about a mont without any problems. I have had several power failures with the DLP on without any problems.

If you purchased it from a B&M, I'd return it. No sense starting off with a "repaired" set only a week old.

Got a call from a samsung tech and he said the problem could be from it not getting enough airflow thus causing it to over heat and produce smoke. I will admit, I had the tv in a corner close to about a 4 inches from the wall. He also said that using "game mode" causes the system to heat up even more, so that's a likely reason of what caused the smoke.

I haven't seen smoke since I moved it further away from the wall. As far as if the over heating caused any damage, it will be inspected next week.

Although for some reason when the tv is on, It makes this ANNOYING buzzing sound, I would rate the noise level a 7/10. Anyone know whats causing it?

Got a call from a samsung tech and he said the problem could be from it not getting enough airflow thus causing it to over heat and produce smoke. I will admit, I had the tv in a corner close to about a 4 inches from the wall. He also said that using "game mode" causes the system to heat up even more, so that's a likely reason of what caused the smoke.

That's the biggest load I've ever heard. Return this thing immediately for a new one. Your TV did not start smoking because you had it 4" from the wall while using Game Mode ... that is ridiculous. Not to mention, Game Mode REDUCES processing on the image so it would stand to run cooler, not hotter ... and even if it DID run hotter, IT SHOULD NOT SMOKE!!

There is something very, very ...


Although for some reason when the tv is on, It makes this ANNOYING buzzing sound, I would rate the noise level a 7/10. Anyone know whats causing it?

... VERY very wrong with your set. Get it swapped out, do not settle for a repair at this point.