Introduction: Dis-assembly and Repair of a Dell E173FPf Monitor

There are many Dell E173FPf monitor in use and many will have power supply issues. If this Instructables guide we will show you how to dis-assemble the monitor and replace the parts needed to repair the most common problem - the blinking power led or no power at all.

To do the repair you will need the following tools:
Soldering iron, de-solder braid, Phillips screwdriver, flat blade screwdriver.
You will also need the following electronic parts: qty(2) 220mf 25v capacitors.

We have repair guides for other LCD monitors on our site at http://www.ccl-la.com/monitor_repair.htm

If you don't have a monitor to repair check Ebay.com, you will find them for sale usually for less than $30 in as-is condition, just be sure the screen is not cracked.

This is not guaranteed to solve all problems but in most cases this is the issue with this model.

Step 1: Getting Started in the Dis-assembly

The first thing to do is remove the power and signal cables. Then remove the monitor stand by unscrewing the four Phillips screws shown circled in yellow. When the stand is off you can remove the back case by inserting a small flat blade screwdriver in the slot on the bottom. The case has a few plastic catches that need to be released. Gently pry the two halves apart and just work your way around the case separating the 2 pieces. After the case is seperate remove the monitor and set the case halves to the side for later reassembly

Step 2: Getting to the Electronics

Once the plastics are removed we need to remove the metal shielding so we can get to the electronics. Start by removing the 4 screws, 2 on each end and the display. Next unplug the LCD panel from the electronics and unplug the backlight tubes(white and pink 2 wire plugs). Last thing is to unscrew the power and signal plugs from the metal shield.

Step 3: Board Removal and Repair

To remove the board you need to unscrew the 7 screws marked by yellow circles. Then unplug the front control panel from the board. The normal problem on this model LCD in the 2 capacitors in the backlight inverter circuit. The 2 capacitors are circled below. The capacitors are 220mf 25v electrolytic caps. You can look at the board and see the tops of the caps have a bulge on them, this is a sure way to tell they are blown. It is very surprising to see how many different brands of monitors can be repaired by just replacing a few capacitors. When you insert the replacement capacitors be sure to line up the polarity stripe on the cap the same direction as the old cap came out.

Step 4: Re-assemble and Test

If everything went ok you can now re-assemble your monitor and test it. You should now have a good working monitor that will last a few more years and keep a dead one out of the landfill. If you have questions just email me. Be sure to check our web site at http://www.ccl-la.com/monitor_repair.htm for repair information on other brands and models of LCD monitors.

Good luck and good repairing!