Once upon a time, it used to be that every circuit board was fixed at the component level. We call these the "golden years" of electronics repair. Back then, the only real way to fix anything was finding the bad component on a circuit board using a multi-meter and/or a volt meter, removing the component with a soldering gun, and replacing it with an identical or a similar component of the same specification in its place. Ah, but those days are long gone. Fixing a circuit board at the component level has become a thing of the past. It is truly a 'lost art' that only a handful of skilled old timers still know how to do and do it with a level of mastery unrivaled by very few others. 

When it comes to fixing TV's and fixing it the right way, we are of the opinion that one should fix a circuit board at the component level as opposed to replacing the entire circuit board. However, that's often times very costly and time-consuming for small businesses to commit to and not really worth it--from a business perspective. In other words, it's not profitable. In this respect, it's the same as fixing a car. Replacing the whole part, be it the starter, the alternator, or A/C compressor, is so much easier, faster, and less labor-intensive (read: less effort) than breaking down the part and fixing and/or replacing what's broken inside. But from the DIYer's perspective, this is often times the more cost effective choice since individual components are far cheaper than whole circuit boards and this, of course, assumes that time isn't an issue for you. Soldering, however, takes a certain level of skill to do it. It requires strong accuracy and precision to do it well without ruining the circuit board in the process.The heat generated from the soldering gun may get so hot that the surrounding IC chips may get damaged in the process while you were trying to remove that transistor or IC chip that you suspect is the problem. And often times that component is sitting right next to all the other IC chips that are very sensitive to heat. At the end of the day, it's not a walk in a park, we can say that much. But it's doable, if you got the skill.

In any case, the question does come up. If your TV breaks and it is out of warranty, should you fix the circuit board at the component level or should you replace the entire circuit board? The answer to that would depend on how long you plan on keeping that TV. If you plan to keep it until the end of time, then we would suggest that you take your TV to a reputable TV repair shop (or a skilled electrician), ask if they repair boards at the component level, and have them rebuild that board. (Or, if you think you're skilled enough to do it yourself, you can go that route). This, of course, assumes you've done your research and you were thorough about it and you know with some level of certainty that the board that you diagnosed as the problem is, in fact, the problematic board that's causing issues in your TV. If, however, time is an issue, you don't know how to solder, or you're just winging it and hoping that what you think is the problem is, in fact, the problem, replacing the entire circuit board would be the more cost-effective choice. Ultimately, it just depends on what you want. We, however, would still recommend that you take your TV to a reputable TV repair shop to have them do the repairs for you and to make sure that there weren't other circuit boards that may be causing those symptoms that you may have noticed in your TV. 

We would never suggest throwing parts at a TV in hopes that it'll fix your TV just as car mechanics have often times remarked that you shouldn't throw car parts at a car in hopes that it will fix your car. But unlike a car, a TV doesn't have moving mechanical parts and realistically, it only has a handful of circuit boards plus the TV panel that literally makes up a TV. In this respect, compared to a car, a TV is much simpler in design and function. It's got to be one of these circuit boards that's causing the problem and you'd be right, to an extent. Worst case scenario, the panel is bad, despite replacing every single circuit board in your TV. But would you actually go and buy all of these boards individually in the hopes that it'll resolve your TV's issues? We're going to err on the side that most folks won't because at that point, you may as well just save up a bit more money and buy a new TV instead (and save yourself the headache, hassle, and cost of having to return every single board to each of the online retailers you may have purchased them from). 

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