I have a laptop with a broken backlighting, and I am too cheap to buy a new cathode and/or inverter for it. What do I do? I make a new backlighting, IKEA style. Here's the laptop, two energy saving bulbs (11W each) and a big yellow box : \/ As you can see, the screen works fine when I hold it up against the sun: \/ I removed the entire screen section from the laptop: \/ Doing some measurements on the yellow box: \/ Here are the cut out parts from which the light box is going to be made. \/ More to come tomorrow... I guess this project won't give me status as a genius, but I though I should share it with you anyway.
Maybe you are talking about this thread, which is also started by me? Edit: I have cut out a circle and made a glowing logo on the back of the screen now. ATM I am waiting for the epoxy to dry. I'll post pics after my shopping spree...
I'm not really sure where the box is bought, but it's a typical IKEA item Here's an update: Here is the logo which I cut out on the back of the screen: \/ I drilled airholes in the bottom and top pieces: \/ And here are the things I bought today: \/ I have assembled the yellow box, and painted it black. I think I have smudged the logo a bit, but I'll fix it.
Bard keep it up! You are definently one of the up-and-coming original modifiers. It reminds me of when I first joined bit-tech, I was posting a new modification nearly daily That yellow could use some vinyl dye on the outside, and mabye some refective material on the inside?
Thanks for the comments. Zap, you read my mind. I have sprayed the yellow box black on the outside, and put aluminum foil on the inside. The only problem is that I couldn't put foil on the top and bottom pieces, because of the air intakes/outlets, so when I have the light on, the yellow color kind of shines through when I use the screen in a dark room. I will continue modding after breakfast, and put out some pics soon!
-> does the box really come apart or did you cut it up? -> interesting project dude, can't wait for more pics.
No, the box doesn't come apart. I had to cut out pieces of plastic to make a smaller box. The backlighting is finished now. Here's the box before I started putting the lights and wires in it: \/ To enable the entire computer to run from one power outlet, I had to mod one of these: One wire comes in, and two comes out: \/ The first test run: \/ The screen works! It still works! (Don't be fooled by the bad pic. The quality of the screen is really good) The only thing is that you can see a little shadow on the systray because of a circuit which runs there. Otherwise, it works like a charm. Another mod successfully finished. (I have to go clean up the mess I made while modding now ) I'm glad you people liked it. Personally, I think this project was a bit strange... Edit: sucked up my swiss army knife with the vacuum cleaner Edit 2: Found it!
Hi, You can probably add a thin white plastic just behind the LCD layer to spread the light coming from energy saving bulbs, in order to maintain (relatively) constant brightness for the whole screen. Good job.
Thanks I allready have a thin, semi-transparent piece of plastic and a piece of plexi in there. If I hadn't had those, it would have been much worse. If the ribbon cable connecting the two circuit boards weren't so short, I could have bent the whole thing back 90 degrees from the screen.
that actually looks pretty good.. really original..! BTW: how did you manage to suck up your knife? small knife or powerful vacuum? Get the Cybertooc series.. specially made for computers.. you just gotta love those..
It was my smallest Swiss Army knife, and the vac was a regular house vac. I have seen those cyber tools, but they are expensive!
Heh, my family found one at a local coputer shop and bought it for my birthday. They got a steal Nice mod, but I have to ask, what is IKEA (more than likely a n00bish question, but I lead a sheltered life )?
IKEA is a retro furniture store we have alot of them on the east coast. Have you ever seen the movie Fight Club? His is ordering his furniture at the begining of the movie from them.
