the transformer t501 on my panasonic th-42pw5bx is faulty - it works, but is deafeningly loud. from what i can find, the transformer buzz which changes depending on screen brightness is from the enamel/varnish wearing away, so now the micro-vibrations get amplified by making contact with the housing (or something to that effect).
since the part is discontinued (according to the service manual it's g4d4a0000051 and on the side it says d4a51 a1ac and the logo says either enva or enwa ) i have 3 choices:
1.) find a modern equivalent to replace it with
2.) have the original professionally refurbished
3.) according to a post on AVS forums, zip-tie it tightly until the buzzing stops, and/or add some silicone to help with rigidity
4.) harvest from a donor board
for obvious reasons, (i.e. the rarity of boards, the fact i may be depriving another who needs the full board, no guarantee the transformer won't end up the same in a week of use), i don't want to do #4.
unfortunately for #1, i can't find any in-depth technical specs for the d4a51 to even begin sourcing an equivalent replacement part.
#2 is definitely an option, but this is ideally my last resort, as there is no guarantee that without the full tech specs of the transformer itself, that it can be made to work. plus, it may overheat if done to a different standard. apparently motor rewinding companies can do it, but i don't know exactly what that entales: more info would be nice if anyone knows (e.g. is it typically the core or the housing that this issue is from? would it be viable to refurbish purely with an acetone bath in an ultrasonic cleaner to eat away the enamel, then put in a vaccum varnisher, or could that cause the core wires to short and the plastic base? (i assume plastic, it may be resin? without full data idk)). plus, again pointing to what i read on AVS, some transformers were recalled for being a faulty design and the core cracking, so i need to know if this is one of such models?)
#3 i am hesitant on, due to the original pictures being long gone so it's not exactly clear what to do, and as it may damage the transformer, whether from the base being plastic (or resin?) so i may end up snapping it from tightening, or interfere with the wiring/pins, or the extra pressure when heat is added may cause it to crack due to ageing brittleness. also, i don't know what zip-tie would be best, if anyone has suggestions (i have plenty that came from PC PSUs if these are adequate; i assume so since they end up being in potential contact with electrical components etc. and heatsinks, but they are rather thin)
any help would be extremely useful and appreciated; if you have new-old stock i may purchase (or know anywhere that does) and have delivered to the UK please let me know.
P.S. secret option #5: saying bye to the transformers and instead cutting the traces and soldering in a PC power supply's cables in their stead, if anyone can suggest where to splice the 12v, 5v, 3.3v and ground to, if applicable. (ideally with an adaptor so the psu may be tested and/or replaced as needed using the original 24-pin plug, and so i can connect the 12v from a modified sata cable to retro consoles that will handle converting said 12v to 5v using their respective internal 7805s)