Topic: Retrofitting a non-HD unit with LED's??

[Rotus623]

Rickie, where you at??
 
Fellas, I have an 898 HD and an 898. I was wondering if A) anyone has changed the CCFL to LED backlighting, and
B) Greg, do you have any info on how the backlighting is mounted in these units? Maybe there are some old broken units laying around that we can tinker with. I'd love to start a thread on how to convert CCFL to LED backlight, I am just not ballsy enough to bust open my units yet.......

[rnvinc]

Now that would be an interesting project....of which I have no idea if it can be done...

Be sure and take pix thru this adventure ...my experiments have not dealt with anything inside the unit cabinet...

Rickie

[Rotus623]

I'd love to do this. I don't think it would cause any harm, as the 898 is out of warranty anyways. But, Id like to hear from greg or maybe see some schematics to see if it can be done. It could be a simple job, or nearly impossible depending on how much they actually changed to change the backlighting......

[rnvinc]

Greg will probably check in next week...

On occasion he pops in on a weekend..but only if he's really bored..(and if wifey doesn't have his list too long)...

Rickie

[sfw1960]

The edge of the LCD is where the lights are for what's "back" lit - good luck with that one....LOL

[Humminbird_Greg]

Had to go shopping with the Wifey all Saturday in the 107+ heat.  She owes me a big present for that!  Wait, I’m probably already in debt to her…

Good luck on this Rotus.  I haven’t opened one of the displays for the 898 units but would expect to see the CCFL backlight built-into the back side of the display assembly.  We don’t assemble them, just use them as is.  The LEDs I would expect are around the perimeter of the display but the CCFL would be directly behind or at least it has been in older displays I looked at.  Retrofitting would require running new power wires for the LEDs and modifying the driver circuit for the CCFL (which should be high voltage but low current) into a low voltage/low current version plus you would need a different light pipe to spread the light out from the LEDs so it lights up the whole display.

[Rotus623]

Wow, thanks for the background. I think Ill leave her alone!!