LG OLED C8 Pixel Refresher

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Paul1977

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#237832 20-Jun-2018 08:57

Question for any C8 owners out there:

I just got one of these and am testing various functions.

There is a Pixel Refresher option to fix noticeable image retention. It says it takes about an hour to run, and you can schedule it to start the next time you turn the TV off.

Well, I scheduled it to run and then turned the TV off at the end of the evening. When i turned it back on about 18 hours later it said that the Pixel Refresher had been interrupted and would try again the next time the TV was turn off. I tried again and left it overnight and turned it back on in the morning - same thing. So I've now disabled the schedule to stop it from trying to run.

I don't want to keep trying as I have read differing options as to whether excessive use could actually be bad for the TV (age the panel?).

Have any other C8 owners tried running the Pixel Resfresher? If so, did it complete?

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Smpl Mnmlst
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#2041114 20-Jun-2018 14:50

I’m interested in this - currently away but looking to buy a C8 when we return next month.

Why don’t you raise it with LG NZ?

Found this with google:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OLED/comments/7uvme6/pixel_refresher/

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Paul1977

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#2041207 20-Jun-2018 15:48

eracode:

I’m interested in this - currently away but looking to buy a C8 when we return next month.

Why don’t you raise it with LG NZ?

Found this with google:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OLED/comments/7uvme6/pixel_refresher/

Yeah, I found the same thread when I Googled after after I tried running it. I was just trying out the different features and settings, and there is no warning in the menu about running it too often and it gives no guideline of how often to run it.

I raised it online with LG and am waiting to hear back as, regardless of whether I should be trying to run it on a new TV, when I did try it never finished - which just doesn't seem normal to me.

My concern is that if the full pixel refresher isn't working then maybe it isn't running the mini compensation cycles either (which it is meant to do automatically whenever you turn it off after more than 4 hours of viewing).

I also queried the retailer who got in touch with LG as well and didn't get a definitive answer from them, but LG suggested to them that maybe it didn't even start the cycle because it didn't need too (suitably vague) and basically said not to worry about it. It had occurred to me that if you would generally only run it after 1000 or more hours that maybe it just won't run on a panel with only 20 or so hours on it (although I would have expected a message indicating this). That's pure speculation though.

I've had it noted that I contacted them about this only a few days after purchase, so if it does cause an issue down the track then I should be pretty well covered. I would hope that since I logged the issue so early that if it turns out to be a problem in a couple of months that I have grounds to push for replacement rather than repair. But I am getting ahead of myself.

I'll update if/when I hear back directly from LG. Other than that, unless I start seeing a problem with the picture, I'm just going to leave it and maybe try running it again after 1000-2000 hours.

Paul1977

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#2041643 21-Jun-2018 12:13

@eracode Just to update you, LG contacted me and, after explaining the issue and clarifying that this was a brand new TV with very few hours he then put me on hold to check. When he came back he advised that the TV would have detected that the panel had no issues and so would not have started the pixel refresh cycle. Hence I get a message about it being "interrupted" before finishing (it didn't finish because it never started).

My natural paranoia still makes me think this sounds a bit strange, but I guess they are the experts.

eracode

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#2041757 21-Jun-2018 15:20

Thanks. Understand your scepticism but if you take their advice at face value and if the TV is that clever - that’s pretty cool. Quite reassuring on that basis.

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Paul1977

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#2050066 5-Jul-2018 20:12

TLDR: Are there any C8 owners on Geekzone who can advise if the Pixel Refresher function completes successfully for them?

Long version:

My TV now has over 200 hours on it and I have factory reset it and also updated the firmware since I first tried the Pixel Refresher so thought I'd give it another go.

Same thing. Leave it way longer than the 1 hour it is meant to take, and when I eventually turn the TV back on manually it says "The TV was turned on before Pixel Refresher could be completed".

I've Googled and haven't found this mentioned anywhere, so I feel like it is a problem with my set (or possible the local model OLED65C8PTA).

I read on other international forums people saying how they have run this straight out of the box to fix some initial panel issues, so what LG said when I contacted them a couple of weeks ago really doesn't sound correct.

Are there any C8 owners on Geekzone who can advise if the Pixel Refresher function completes successfully for them?

eracode

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#2050119 5-Jul-2018 21:03

I just re-read the the reddit thread (that I linked above) and re-read what you reported LG told you - and TBH I get the impression that you’re second-guessing the whole thing. It doesn’t seem that you have any reason to believe that the TV isn’t operating correctly. Why don’t you leave it to do its own thing per reddit and LG advice?

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afe66

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#2050188 5-Jul-2018 22:31

on the sony a1 is stays you shouldnt do manual fresh more than once per year as it might shorten panel life ?

Paul1977

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#2050192 5-Jul-2018 22:46

afe66:

on the sony a1 is stays you shouldnt do manual fresh more than once per year as it might shorten panel life ?

Does it say that in the manual? Or on in the menu when you access the function?

EDIT: I just downloaded the manual for the A8F and that says that as well. The manual for the LG doesn't have a similar warning.

Paul1977

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#2050194 5-Jul-2018 22:48

eracode: I just re-read the the reddit thread (that I linked above) and re-read what you reported LG told you - and TBH I get the impression that you’re second-guessing the whole thing. It doesn’t seem that you have any reason to believe that the TV isn’t operating correctly. Why don’t you leave it to do its own thing per reddit and LG advice?

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me!

I've read just as much stuff saying to run the pixel refresher as often as you want, with some people claiming LG support explicitly told them this. The problem with Reddit (and any other forum) is that you don't know if the people on them have any actual knowledge of what they are talking about.

I could buy the explanation I got when the panel only had a couple of hours on it, but after 240 hours it just doesn't sound right. Especially when I have read in international forums some people apparently running the Pixel Refresher straight out of the box, with no mention of what I am experiencing.

And I've heard plenty of stories about people being told things by official customer support (from all types of companies) that is just plan wrong. And I have experience this myself on more than one occasion.

Paul1977

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#2050634 6-Jul-2018 15:36

Update:

I chatted online with LG support today who initially advised that there was no harm in running the Pixel Refresher more frequently than annually.

However, when I asked them to clarify why Sony advises to only run it annually on their sets he disappeared for a while and then said technical support would have to get back to me.

It seems very poorly understood by everyone, so the truth is probably somewhere in between.

On another note, I looked through and posted on the AVS C8 Owners thread. It took some back and fourth, but chatted to someone who ran the manual Pixel Refresher with only 2 hours on the display and said that it completed normally. His was the 65C8PUA (USA model I think) where in NZ it is the 65C8PTA, but I would have expected the behaviour to be the same.

So that leaves me thinking it is either a problem with just my set or a problem, with the Australasian model. I would normally think that either possibility was extremely unlikely, but I am quite sure now that what I'm seeing is not normal behaviour.

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#2050668 6-Jul-2018 16:52

PMed you.
Am I right in recalling that the '8' series LG OLEDs also have a 'logo removal' setting? Where it looks for a static logo and virtually blanks it out.
Since LG is top of my shortlist, I'm hoping the pixel refresh isn't going to be a problem. Having said that, the family are well versed in looking after screens susceptible to burn in, having had Plasmas for more than a decade. (First rule: No Gaming).

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afe66

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#2050689 6-Jul-2018 17:42

Are you trying to fix something or is this more of a let's play with all the nobs and options to see what happens sort of thing?

Paul1977

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#2050750 6-Jul-2018 18:25

Dingbatt: PMed you.
Am I right in recalling that the '8' series LG OLEDs also have a 'logo removal' setting? Where it looks for a static logo and virtually blanks it out.
Since LG is top of my shortlist, I'm hoping the pixel refresh isn't going to be a problem. Having said that, the family are well versed in looking after screens susceptible to burn in, having had Plasmas for more than a decade. (First rule: No Gaming).

There is a setting that is meant to dim static logos (not blank them out), but I haven't noticed it doing anything myself.

I'm wondering if it's because most channel logos on Freeview are slightly transparent, rather than completely solid.

I'm currently doing some testing to try to make sure it is just the manual Pixel Refresher I'm having trouble with. I want to make sure that the automatic mini Pixel Refresher is working (this runs automatically whenever you turn the TV off after 4 or more cumulative viewing hours).

Should have more info by the end of the weekend.

EDIT: @Dingbatt I just changed the logo dimming setting form the maximum setting to "off" while watching One News. The solid part of the logo increased in brightness (noticeably, but not hugely), however the translucent part didn't appear to change at all. So the feature does do something on solid static logos.

Paul1977

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#2050765 6-Jul-2018 18:30

afe66: Are you trying to fix something or is this more of a let's play with all the nobs and options to see what happens sort of thing?

Both.

Initially was just playing, but then discovered that this feature appears to not be working correctly on my TV.

So even though I have no need to run it yet, the feature appears to not be working. If there is a problem with the function I'd rather get it sorted BEFORE I need it.

eracode

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#2050773 6-Jul-2018 18:47

Dingbatt: PMed you.
Am I right in recalling that the '8' series LG OLEDs also have a 'logo removal' setting? Where it looks for a static logo and virtually blanks it out.
Since LG is top of my shortlist, I'm hoping the pixel refresh isn't going to be a problem. Having said that, the family are well versed in looking after screens susceptible to burn in, having had Plasmas for more than a decade. (First rule: No Gaming).

Yep - the C8 does have a ‘logo removal’ setting. I adjusted ours without too much thought and I’ve noticed that the History Channel logo in the lower RH corner of the screen is now semi-transparent. I’ll go back in and turn it right down (or I may have already turned it right down).

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