Electronics Powertip PC1602-D Backlight wiring?

Howdy all,

I did the Ebay thang and obtained a couple of Powertip PC1602-D LCDs for a few pennies.

I finished wiring one up over the weekend and it's all working peachy with LCDCenter (Kudos to Cheese et al for the FAQ & links).

The only problem is, the backlight is not on. I have wired pins 15 and 16 as per the guide but the backlight isn't lit.

I have looked at the schematic for the LCD (link) and there are two contacts labelled A and K which are at the side of the LCD. On the simplified diagram it suggests they connect to the backlight but not how/what they do? I was thinking maybe they are switch contacts?

As cheap as they were, I don't want to blow up one just connecting wires all over the shop .

Oh, btw, the D in the model number tells me that it does have a backlight (green I believe).

Hope someone can help

Regs,

Tonka

 

Well here are three questions for you:

Are they actualy backlit LCD's?
(They may have the connections, but no light)

Are they a Electroluminecent strip backlight?

Or a LED backlight?

 

Yes they do have backlights as the product code breaks down as follows (from Elatec's site):

P - Powertip product
C- Character
16 - Characters per line
02 - Lines
D - EL backlight, Yellow-green

I assume that EL = Electroluminescent?

Thanks for any help you can offer

Cheers,

Tonka.

 

Ok you need an inverter for it.

allelectronics used to have one that I am using for my Car MP3 LCD but I don't see it on their site anymore.

 

Thanks.

Being a n00b, can you tell me exactly what an inverter is and what specs it needs (I live in the UK and will most likely have to try and get one from Maplins or the web).

Thanks again,

Tonka.

 

In inverter is pretty simple.

I takes DC voltage in, and creates an AC voltage out.

For an EL Strip, you need a HighVoltage, Low Current inverter.
I am in the US so I don't know if maplins carries them.
Mabey someone else on Bit-Tech has a link to one.

Also don't try and build your own unless you know what you are doing, I shocked my self five times with my last mod that involved and inverter.

 

Seems like a real pain to sort out - are inverters expensive?

 

Once you find the right one, it should be very cheap.

They are not hard to use.

12 volts in - High voltage out (to EL backlight on LCD)

Just four wires

 

Thanks for all your help

Tonka.