I'd like to know where I can get a replacement wire to connect the lamp ballast to the J4 input in my rca HD61LPW42 rear projection TV. I've gotten no response to an email I sent RCA a week ago. These types of wires aren't available at Radio Shack or Fry's.

I just had an issue with my rca hd61lpw42, I had replaced the lamp and got the same five blinks you described. I took out the ballast the smaller circuit board, its in front of the light and mounted to the front of the tv. To get to it you remove the back cover with the tv cooled down and unplugged of coarse. Be extremely careful when removing the ballast as it normally operates at about 336 volts dc. its basically no amps but it will still throw you across the living room. The being said I found another site that discussed our issue on the ballast going bad. It is not the whole board that is bad normally. There is a solder joint in the middle of the circuit board coming up off the bigger board and that solder joint normally goes bad and causes the issue. All I had to do was remove the board and resolder the connection and reinstall. But you can get them on ebay for $50. iif you have the money or no soldering experiance I would suggest that route. The site is http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p4712.m570.l1313&_nkw=%09+RCA+Ballast+Assembly+%28261629%29&_sacat=0

Now I hope I can keep the light tunnel together :-)

The buzzing sound you hear is the spark gap on the ballast circuit. It's what fires the lamp at startup. Perfectly normal.

Bill W
integrityhomeworx.com

Souns like the Lamp is going out ,If you have never replaced Lamp then that is what your Problem is Mats has them for $99.00 1-800-628-1118

Hi,If your tv is around 1-2 yrs and haven't replaced the lamp it might be time to replace it.But if you hear clicking or continually trying to restart it could be your ballast ,which is the board that powers the lamp.The lamp you will need is the 270414 Found the lam pyou need here: http://www.discount-merchant.com/RCA-HD50LPW164-Original-OEM-Lamp-P-N-265866-p/rca-hd50lpw164-265866.htm?Click=48173 Good luck and God bless you!

Well it seems you may have an issue with your ballast that it's losing the energy it used to have , but we would need more info for a more accurate answer about this, discountdashmerchantdotcom

Before replacing the Ballast I would look at the power-supply and see if you notice any of the electrolytic capacitors tops being bubbled. It is not uncommon for the capacitors to go bad as the lamp draws more current as it ages and fails. If you do see capacity's bubbled, Replace them or have them replaced and the set will probably work fine afterwards.
Hope this helps,
Skyassoc

Ballast Board #261629 Ballast is what turns Lamp on, Also Check your Lamp Fan if it is defective Lamp will not Light!

I haven't worked on an RCA DLP but have on Samsung DLP, based on your description it sounds like the color wheel is bad. Take the back off and turn on TV make sure its not a fan making the noise ,but most likely its the "wheel" it is inside the light engine probably right next to where the lamp is plugged in. If the whine comes from this area definitely the wheel.

light engine... lots of money... https://www.encompassparts.com/webwiz/wwiz.asp?wwizmstr=WEB.SEE&partnumber=5396908&smodel=HD61LPW42

Hi, This could be several things as the power goes everywhere. Long distance troubleshooting so hang in there. First try a cold reboot by unplugging and replugging after 30 minutes. If nothing check P1 on the light engine for the following voltages: pin 2 5vdc, pin 3 3.3vdc, pin 9 3.3vdc, pin 12 12vdc. If any of these are not good it is the formatter board. If all are good, does the color wheel spin at all. If this is OK then check J4 on the light engine, the ballast enable line should be 0 vdc in stby, .5 vdc at turn on, and 2.5 to 3.25 vdc in run. If good, is the light engine trying to fire the lamp? If not, inspect the J4 connector and the lamp power supply, If they look OK then the lamp ballast is probably bad. This will give you something to do for now, Good Luck!