Screen inverter board
Laptop inverter boards (also know as LCD inverter, FL inverter, screen inverter, backlight inverter) come in different shapes and sizes. On the picture above you see some typical looking inverter boards found in laptop computers.
The inverter board works as a power supply for the backlight lamp mounted inside the LCD screen. The inverter board converts low voltage DC power (few volts) supplied by the motherboard to high voltage AC power (few hundred volts) needed for the backlight lamp.
When the inverter board works properly, the backlight lamp gets power and the LCD screen lights up. As a result, the image on the screen is bright.
HOW INVERTER CONNECTED TO LDC SCREEN
On the picture below you can see a typical laptop display assembly which includes the LCD screen, video cable and inverter board.
One side of the inverter board connects to the backlight lamp and another side to the video cable (LCD screen cable).
HOW INVERTER MOUNTED INSIDE LAPTOP DISPLAY PANEL
In most laptops the inverter board is mounted below the LCD screen as it shown on the picture below. You can get an access to the inverter board when you remove the screen bezel – a plastic frame around the LCD screen.
TYPICAL INVERTER FAILURE SYMPTOMS
Usually inverters fail in one of the following ways:
1. When you turn on the laptop, the screen lights up for a short period of time and then goes dark. You still can see an image but it is very dark, almost invisible and definitely not usable. When you restart the laptop, the screen lights up and then goes dark again. The laptop works fine with an external monitor.
2. Your laptop turns on but the screen remains dark all the time. You still can see a very dim image outline. The laptop works fine with an external monitor.
3. The laptop screen works fine for hours or even days, but sometimes it goes very dark as it mentioned above. When you restart the laptop, the screen works fine again.
Inverter failure symptoms are very similar to backlight lamp failure symptoms and in most cases you cannot tell which one is causing the problem until you replace either the inverter board or the backlight lamp. From my personal experience, inverter boards fail more often than backlight lamps. If you have to guess, replace the inverter first.
Need spare parts for your laptop?
If you are looking for spare parts for your laptop you can find brand new and used parts here. Just search by the part name and laptop model.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
You are welcome! I hope this inverter works well and fixes your problem with the screen.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Thank you very much!
I have just order a new 452214-001 inverter.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Gianni,
So, it’s not related to the DC-IN power jack then. I guess it’s either a failing inverter board or there is something is wrong with the screen.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I forgot to say that I tried all different power combinations (only with battery/only AC adapter/both) but the problem didn’t disappear; it could really be the inverter board.
Unfortunately, my laptop is not in the list of the eligible models, anyway, I’ll write back to the HP support to let them know that their suggestions didn’t work. I’ll keep you informed!
Thanks a lot for the answer, and keep up the good work!
January 29th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Gianni,
1. Your problem could be related to the DC-IN power jack – the socket where you plug in the power adapter. It’s possible that the power jack is loose or broken and the laptop intermittently looses connection with the AC adapter and switches between AC mode and battery mode. Apparently the screen becomes dimer when the laptop switches to the battery mode because the screen brightness is set to lower level for this mode.
Here’s what you can do. Plug in the AC adapter and wiggle the plug inside the power socket. Does the laptop looses AC power when you wiggle the plug? Does the LCD screen flicker when you wiggle the plug?
If it does, your problem could be related to the DC jack or maybe the AC adapter has a damaged cord.
2. If there is nothing wrong with the power socket and the laptop not loosing power when you wiggle the adapter plug, there is a chance that you have a faulty inverter board.
By the way, check out the link I posted in the comment #11. Maybe your dv6560 qualifies for a free repair.
January 29th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Hello,
in august 2006 I bought a Pavilion DV6560EL. I never had a problem with it until a couple of months ago, when I noticed a slightly reduced brightness of the lcd panel, but I didn’t think too much at it since I wasn’t really sure about it. Then, some weeks ago, I started experiencing another annoying problem: basically, at random periods, the screen starts flickering…in other words, brightness increases and diminishes itself just a little bit for some seconds and then returns at the right level. I have to say that, sometimes, when the laptop comes back from hibernation, I can’t change the brightness level either from keyboard or vista’s “laptop center” applet (in these situations it disappears from the panel!!), but I really don’t know if it’s a problem related to the flickering.
I sent an email to HP support describing the problem and they answered that I should try unplugging the power cable for about two hours, then press the power button for a minute, and finally replug the power cable, I tried it but it’s always the same. Could it be an inverter problem?
Thanks, and compliments for the great website!
January 29th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Duc,
The best way to find a new compatible inverter would be searching by the HP spare part number from the old inverter. Take a closer look at the original inverter. Can you see the spare part number on it? Google this number.
According to the HP hardware and service guide for HP Compaq 8510p notebook PC, there is only one inverter listed for this model. Here’s the part number: 452214-001
Google this part number and you’ll find your inverter.
By the way, you’ll find inverter replacement instructions in the maintenance and service guide on the page 48.
January 29th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Hello,
I have a hp compaq 8510p, and it have problem with inverter. I was trying to replace inverter, but unfortunately I couldn’t find any store sold hp compaq 8510p inverter.
I have read manual, and found that this 8510 series have a dedicated inverter.
However, I wonder if can I use other hp laptop series inverter to replace for this 8510 series inverter.
I hope someone can tell me which inverter compatible with this 8510 series.
Thanks!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Mitul,
You cannot tell without testing the laptop with another working inverter or backlight lamp. Could be either one.
If you have to guess, go with the inverter first. It’s way easier to replace and is shouldn’t be very expensive.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Adam,
You are correct. If you installed a new inverter board but still experience the same problem, probably it’s a bad backlight lamp.
It’s not easy to replace the backligth lamp and you can damage the screen, so it might make sense to replace the whole LCD.
By the way, did you know that HP repairs some out of warranty Pavilion dv9000 laptop at no charge? Here you’ll find more information about free repair from HP. Maybe you can get your laptop fixed at no charge?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:27 am
When I start my laptop, for a fraction of second Ill get the light on the screen but after that it will become dark( But still everything will display on the screen. Is it possible that for a fraction of second I am getting backlight it means lcd bulb is fine but the inverter is bad??
January 27th, 2009 at 10:29 am
I have an issue with my HP Pavilion dv9000 that matches the symptoms of a typical inverter failure (the first description). I ordered a new inverter from HP and installed it and it is still having the same issue. What should be the next thing I replace? The bulbs?
January 25th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
William Silva,
I assume this problem appears even before Windows starts loading. It’s not software related, right?
From my experience I can tell that pinkish tone on white backgrounds might indicate a problem with the backlight lamp but you also mentioned that the image is fuzzy looking and that could be a problem with the LCD video cable.
It looks like you know how to disassemble the laptop, here are instructions for a Pavilion dv9000 just in case.
You can try replacing the video cable. Before you replace the cable, try reseating connectors on the motherboard and LCD screen. Maybe it’s just a connection related issue. Test the laptop after you reconnected the cable.
If a new cable will not fix the problem, I guess you’ll have to replace the LCDs screen.
January 25th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
My girlfriends HP Pvilion DV9000 has a problem with all of the white on the screen being “pink” and fuzzy looking. I have tried a different video card and it looks the same.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Mary,
That is a very typical LCD screen failure description.
I’m 100% sure this problem is not related to the inverter board failure. You have a problem with the LCD screen and it has to be replaced.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
My HP Pavilion dv9000 notebook is not in warranty anymore. A few month ago I turned it on and noticed a very think line on the left side of the screen. The line didn’t go away after I reformatted the notebook. About two week later two more lines appeared close to the first one. Now I have even more lines.
As you said, I tried my notebook with desktop monitor. There no lines on the monitor, I see them only on laptop screen.
Do you you think my inverter is going bad?
January 15th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Dominick,
If the screen lights up and you can see the image, there is no problem with the inverter board or backlight lamp. From the provided description it sounds like you have a problem with the LCD screen.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Hello, I have an old dell latitude c640 that notebook and it runs really well, but the screen has a vertical dark patch coming from the bottom-middle of my screen. It is darkest at that spot and changing the screen brightness works every were except that spot. Is this a backlight or inverter problem?
January 15th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Gauntlett,
Does it go completely dark so you cannot see the image at all, or the screen just gets darker but still readable? I’m thinking maybe your problem is related to the power settings. It’s possible that screen brightness is set to minimum for the AC mode.
January 15th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
MY laptop works fine on battery but as soon as I plug the power cord it goes dark. Could this be a problem with the inverter board.