Since the beginning of our journey on Homespoiler.com, we published hundreds of articles providing tons of troubleshooting guides on different TV brands like LG, Hisense, and TCL.
Every time we write a troubleshooting guide, we always mark ‘power cycling‘ as the first step and recommend readers give it a try!
However, we haven’t discussed in detail why power cycling is the first step in troubleshooting most TV problems.
And I bet you might not know this either; you’re probably only aware of how to do it!
Right?
Well, in this article, I will break down what power cycling is, how it works, and why your first troubleshooting steps should be this!
Let’s dive into it…
What power cycling basically is?
Power cycling, also known as a power reset, is a process that is similar to a reboot, but it goes a step beyond that.
During a reboot, you simply press the reboot option in the settings or the power button, and the TV turns off and then back on.
But in a power reset, you need to unplug the TV completely, wait at least 60 seconds, and then press the power button for a minimum of 15 seconds. After this, you can plug the TV back in.
In simple terms, a reboot only fixes software glitches but a power reset fixes glitches from both the software and the hardware like a capacitor or transistor!
Why is power cycling a go-to solution for fixing TV issues?
In most cases, when a TV stops working, it’s due to temporary glitches in the system, such as those that develop in the RAM, firmware, or capacitor.
What I’ve found is that when someone power cycles a TV, it instantly:
- Clears out the RAM
- Reloads all the core files
- Drains all the remaining power from the internal circuit
Since the RAM is cleared out and all the core files are refreshed, that pesky temporary glitch is wiped out from the system, and the TV starts working again as normal!
Remember: Power reset is just worth a try! It doesn’t always do the trick!
How to do an effective power cycle in a TV?
In case you don’t know the exact way of power cycling, here I have provided the steps:
- Turn off the TV and disconnect it from the power source completely
- Wait at least 60 seconds.
- During this time, press and hold the TV’s power button for about 15 seconds.
- Once done, power the TV back on.
FAQs
Q: Can power cycling fix all TV problems?
No, power cycling cannot fix all TV problems. It is only effective for troubleshooting issues caused by temporary glitches or errors.
Q: Can power cycling harm my TV?
Power cycling is a safe troubleshooting technique that will not harm your TV.
Q: How often should I power cycle my TV?
You should only power cycle your TV when troubleshooting issues. There is no need to do it regularly unless you are experiencing frequent problems.
Q: Will power cycling delete my TV’s settings or data?
No, power cycling will not delete your TV’s settings or data. It will only reset the device temporarily.
Abdul Kader, a handy guy and experienced founder of a TV repair shop in Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is mainly an expert in understanding and repairing different types of issues with Smart TVs and providing helpful insights on how to keep them in good working order. Read his Full Story.