Hi, I got myself a parallel LCD and in order to save a few pennies I got one without a backlight, thinking that the difference would hardly be noticable... How wrong I was! You can hardly see whats on the LCD without putting your nose against it and even then it becomes unreadable (but that might be just because I'm hyperopic ). Now, the LCD pcb has two points right next to the display where the A and K are located, does this mean I can just fit a very tiny flat led and use that as a Blue Peter(tm) backlight? Also, would anyone be kind enough to tell me where to get such a led (links/types/etc is most appreciated)? Thanks, Q.
You probably can fit an LED in the spot you mention. Just about anything should work. if you only have 14 pins on the interface, I don't know where the power to the LED is coming from though. Look for an extra two pins, sometimes it's 15 and 16.
Yeah, it's got pin 15 and 16 (labelled A & K). So any led will do? I dont have to pay attention to wats/volts/amps?
Are you SURE it has no backlight? Try connecting it up as the parrallel lcd diagram (sorry don't have it 2 hand) and see if it works. Soundz like a backlit one to me /looks over at 16pin backlit lcd Charlie
I'm 100% sure it hasn't got a BL as I didnt order one with it. It has all the pins/plugs/etc for a BL, it is just physically missing the BL...
Yeah sounds like they make exactly the same thing for backlits and not and just wire lighting into the backlit ones... However it might not be led lit... the two contact you suggest could be to connect to some el sheet and an invertor could be missing off the back - or they could be the contacts for an led array. I'd take the unit apart (twist the metal fixtures on the back) - what do you have? Cheers, r.
I haven't gone as far as taking the unit apart (but I guess I can). This shows the lcd in detail I might take it apart later, but I'm sort of trying to avoid it as long as I can as I'm not toot sure I'll be able to get it back together again... Q.
There is not a big danger when you take it apart - just be careful and it should all go back together.
It's not hard at all... if you're ham fisted you could break the glass display but that's pretty hard. You need to make sure the conacts are clean - so don't spill coke on your open display but not spilling coke on things is a general rule... Cheers, r.
So what should I be looking out for when I open the thing? Would I instantly be able to reckognise what is missing?
