Electronics guys. Fuse question

[Frank]

So I'm troubleshooting the PS board on a Polaroid 12" LCD TV for a friend. Buying another is not an option for her right now so I am giving it a shot. I have component level repair experience but its been years.

All she did was move the TV from one room to another and it stopped working. Plugged in, the led on the front that is usually at least on for standby isn't even coming on. Tried a different cord and outlet to rule out the easy. I tore it down figuring maybe a cold solder joint, but no dice. There is a fuse right off the 115v plug. I never seen a one like this. I thought it was a capacitor at first. Its opaque, dark red, stands up with leads and no way to tell if its blown with out a dvm. I confirmed with my dvm it is blown. What puzzles me is it says T3 15a. Seriously, 15a? I swear there is no decimal. I can't believe its really 15a. Does that sound right? Can I just go with a glass fuse? Shouldn't it just be 1.5a?

[TexasDevilDog]

I Googled T3 15A and it came back as a 3.15A fuse

[Frank]

I Googled T3 15A and it came back as a 3.15A fuse

Ah ok. My googling wasn't that productive. Makes a lot more sense.

[BERNIE MOSFET]

T3.15A maybe? Is this what it is?





Did she slide the tv across carpet? Maybe that caused an electrostatic buildup that discharged across the fuse.

[Frank]

T3.15A maybe? Is this what it is?





Did she slide the tv across carpet? Maybe that caused an electrostatic buildup that discharged across the fuse.

Yep, they look like that except rectangle. I suppose its possible. Only logic I could figure. Didn't know you could blow one so easy that way.

[71chevellejohn]

An LCD tv doesn't draw 15Amps - hell the old CRT models only ever drew 6-7A. 3.15 makes sense for that size set.

Microwaves draw 15-18A

[ram57ta]

Static discharge can be a bitch with electronics like that. Hope its JUST the fuse...but realistically I doubt it. You could get lucky tho.

[BERNIE MOSFET]

Yep, they look like that except rectangle. I suppose its possible. Only logic I could figure. Didn't know you could blow one so easy that way.

Electrostatic Discharge is the bane of electronics and people getting out of their cars.

Human body static electricity can easily get up into tens of thousands of volts and a discharge can achieve tens of amperes over a short time. That particular fuse is rated to blow in .001 seconds at 40 amperes. I can't say that the fuse blew because of ESD, but I think it is possible.