Friend wants to turn off SHARP TV video, for audio only - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2023, 11:31:06 pm
content: Hello:The SHARP widescreen tv schematic shows blocks for an 'AV Controller' with lines going to the 'LCD Controller' and want to know if there is fairly easy way to blank out the video, mainly to save the energy while long hours are spent working, with various talk shows running, (as a sort of background sound).Any ideas ?

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2023, 11:37:31 pm
content: Disable the backlight? Its my understanding that's where most of the energy is wasted on display. May be worth seeing how much you can cut the power just setting the backlight control to minimum.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2023, 11:46:21 pm
content: BrokenYugo:I think he said no menu setting, for the backlight. It's a SHARP, older, circa 2010.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 12:36:36 am
content: Unplug the backlight.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 12:47:09 am
content: I know it's not the answer you're looking for but it begs the question: Why go to all that trouble to save such a small amount of money? Even if the TV was running 24 hours per day, you're probably talking somewhere in the ballpark of a 10-20 cent saving? If cost of living is that much of an issue, why not use the computer your friend is already working on as the source of background audio?

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 01:13:11 am
content: Yes, thanks good idea.I do see him there, (across the street), seems a pretty conscientious worker, there with a (new) DC SOLAR Panel, running the home office desk lamp...But, yeah, some of it sounds trivial, but maybe because the dang thing is ON so much. Still I think he said (Sharp flat screen TV), totals some 1400 watts.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 01:58:43 am
content: Quote from: RJSV on September 20, 2023, 01:13:11 am1400 watts!? For an LCD TV? That doesn't sound right at all. Not even Plasma displays were that hungry. I'd expect 100-150 wattsat mostfor a decent size LCD display, even with the older technology.You could boil water on 1400 watts.

author: Peabody
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 03:06:36 am
content: I have a Sharp TV, and I believe it has a menu item that may be relevant. In the Menu, I go to Picture, Advance Settings, and there's an entry called "Active Backlight" which you can turn on or off. I'm not sure what it does. Maybe the manual will say.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 03:22:42 am
content: Maybe he meant 1400Wh/day which seems reasonable for an older one.

author: AndyBeez
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 09:58:09 am
content: Have a dig around on the internet an see if you can find this model's secret factory menu.On one of my TVs you hold the menu button and enter 0123 on the remote controller. Secret factory menus have a range of settings that are not available through the consumer menus. These include pixel over scan, signal to noise ratios, backlight black value and even an 'in-store demo mode'.So you may be able tore-defaultthe TV to a darkest screen value without the need to get nasty with a soldering iron.Tip: Secret menu modes work on hotel TVs, but you didn't hear that here

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 12:55:02 pm
content: Unplugging backlighg or fiddling with service menu is not practical, as TV still needs to be operated.Rolling down screen brightness to minimum will save some energy if that is desired.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 01:21:45 pm
content: Quote from: AndyBeez on September 20, 2023, 09:58:09 amOn a lot of Sharp gear, particularly the older stuff, they had special "engineering" remote controls. I remember the ViewCam's were such products. Basically they were special remotes with buttons/codes not found on the consumer remote controls. They enabled test functions and features not normally available through any other means.

author: AndyBeez
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 02:37:53 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on September 20, 2023, 01:21:45 pmI do remember on Panasonic remote controls there was a mysterious button contact on the PCB that had no button on the consumer remote - but when shorted it did some voodoo magic to the VHS recorder's syscon.Unlikely this is the Sharp TV model in question, but the operational concept linked to below on manuals lib is generally applicable to most post 2001 flat screen TVs.For the OP, a case of find and RTSM :https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1024365/Sharp-Lc-60le630u.html?page=21#manualI think the setup procedure described does not require a remote control - just the edge buttons. A "DIMMER" setting can be changedAlways worth a try hacking your TVs secret settings

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 04:20:00 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on September 20, 2023, 12:47:09 amI would assume he's mainly trying to save wear and tear on the screen itself and not so much on the energy it takes to operate.And I would agree. I have a TV that when it is set to a radio station it has some stupid "screen saver" bouncing around the screen. Why on earth? Just turn the darned screen off!It seems TV manufacturers cannot accept that TV was perfected the day they got rid of the video and kept the audio and called it radio.