The noise sounds almost like a geiger, a rapid clicking noise that's nearly a buzz. Quiet, but loud enough to be heard outside the monitor. Various Internet forums suggested replacing capacitors, such as the 2200pF input safety cap. Other posts say these fixes failed after a month or more. I tried swapping that capacitor, with no change in behavior. It also strikes me that capacitors don't make noise, so the real culprit must be something else, right?
In the attached file I've circled the area where I hear the clicking coming from. The two aluminum heatsinks hold transistors, and the black square in the center is a transformer. I think the large black circular-ish thing is a coil of some nature.
I'm posting only because the number of things that could make noise in a circuit like this are finite. If it is a transformer, can I just like, cover it in silicone and call it a day?
Worst case scenario, I'll buy a replacement board on eBay
In the attached file I've circled the area where I hear the clicking coming from. The two aluminum heatsinks hold transistors, and the black square in the center is a transformer. I think the large black circular-ish thing is a coil of some nature.
I'm posting only because the number of things that could make noise in a circuit like this are finite. If it is a transformer, can I just like, cover it in silicone and call it a day?
Worst case scenario, I'll buy a replacement board on eBay
Attachments
Hello SoaDMTGguy, I recently purchased a 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display to accompany my 2017 MacBook Pro. After using the display for a day, I can also hear a clicking noise coming from the lower middle part of the display. I would be very curious to know if and how you found the culprit for this rather minuscule but annoying noise. Cheers!
This was a common problem for these displays. I tried all kinds of things to fix it — including suggestions from Apple support — but ultimately just lived with it for a few years until I traded in the monitor.
I figured if I replaced the power supply, the replacement would like have the same issue, since it was such a common complaint.
I figured if I replaced the power supply, the replacement would like have the same issue, since it was such a common complaint.
I stopped using it, but eventually that didn’t matter. I found that if I unplugged for a little while, the sound went away but came back once the monitor warmed up, 10-15 minutes later.
This is what I did:
I opened it up and replaced the fan, which I needed to do anyway. Then I examined the board and tried to identify the source of the buzzing, with no luck. All this time it was opened up it was disconnected from everything but power, and it was buzzing. I then threw up my hands and put it back together. I decided to try it without the laptop power connecter hooked up as I'd read people say that helped.
So far it has not buzzed, and it has been on nearly 24/7.
I opened it up and replaced the fan, which I needed to do anyway. Then I examined the board and tried to identify the source of the buzzing, with no luck. All this time it was opened up it was disconnected from everything but power, and it was buzzing. I then threw up my hands and put it back together. I decided to try it without the laptop power connecter hooked up as I'd read people say that helped.
So far it has not buzzed, and it has been on nearly 24/7.