Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - RCA 32" Picture goes out completely!

I have a RCA F32645 32" TV and lately I've had a problem.
After it warms up, sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes an hour, my picture goes away completely. Sound is still there, but no picture. It doesn't fade away. It just goes out all at once. In order to get it to return, I have to turn it off for several minutes. I know NOTHING about TVs. Do you people think this is a major thing, like the tube needs replacing or something? HELP! Thanks so much.

-Stuart

I really doubt that is the pic tube, does the picture look good when it is there? If so, its not the tube. You may be lucky and only have the crt heater open up intermintly. when it goes out can look through the vent openings and see the filaments? Give the set a whack, when it goes out, does it come back right away? If so, you have a bad connecton somewhere. In any event, it sounds like a fix a tech can do.:)

Thanks man. I have had some people tell me I probably just have to add some solder to a bad connection on the board. They say the board warps when it gets hot. What I need to know now is how to get rid of the stored up electricity, so I don't fry myself when I get in there. Can you tell me how please. Thanks again.

-Stuart

The only charge of concern is the high voltage lead to picture tube lead from the flyback transformer, a rather large wire in diameterand red in color. Keep in mind it may not be just a bad connection, there are many other things that can cause your pic to go in and out.

But if you want to seach for it, first look for bad connections with the power off. If that does'nt do yhe trick, you will may have to try it with power on. scrape or tap the baord with a non conductive device, till you find the sensitve area, you may have to pinpoint it further with less pressure applied. also the cold joint may be under metal sheilds, if so you may better off to take in to be serviced. good luck

Thanks. I'm just gonna let a pro handle this one ;)