DIY EL flatfield panel based on old laptop backlight

[astrovirus]

Hi All,

Charmed by YesYes design of an EL panel for taking flat field images I decided to make my own using an old Packerd Bell laptop I had laying around.

Made a small converter to supply the laptop inverter with the correct signal voltages to make it work outside the laptop without the VGA signal coming from the LCD screen. See also the YesYes blog for further explanation for this. In my case both the signal pins 3&4 are supplied with 3.3V from the converter and pins 1&2 are supplied with 13.8V from my main PSU. Finally pins 5&6 are the return mass. Only thing left to do now is to construct a nice box around it for the finishing touch.

Oh, and first testing result look good as the test shot shows.

Thanks for watching,

Tim

[beamish]

That's a very neat solution !

Any chance of a link to YesYes post as I happen to have a dead Acer in the house ??

[astrovirus]

Any chance of a link to YesYes post as I happen to have a dead Acer in the house ??

Done in the start post

[dc509]

I was just about to splash out on an EL panel, but I've got a handful of laptops clogging up the house that don't work any more, so I can feel a project coming on...

Thanks for the tips here (and YesYes)

d

[beamish]

Cheers! Can't see for looking !

[Daniel-K]

wow thats neat

[yesyes]

hehehe, thanks for mentioning my lightbox.. ;-))

Good to see more old laptop displays being recycled...

I have since build another of those lightboxes for an SGL member. And I'm currently building another one for my new 10" Newtonian from a 17" monitor panel. ;-)

[yesyes]

good progress there astrovirus.

What are you going to use for a box? Acrylic as well?

[Earl]

hehehe, thanks for mentioning my lightbox.. ;-))

Good to see more old laptop displays being recycled...

I have since build another of those lightboxes for an SGL member. And I'm currently building another one for my new 10" Newtonian from a 17" monitor panel. ;-)

And mighty fine it is too

[astrovirus]

What are you going to use for a box? Acrylic as well?

Probably some 9 mm Multiplex I have lying around, sorry to go to waste.

[yesyes]

That's a very neat solution !

Any chance of a link to YesYes post as I happen to have a dead Acer in the house ??

I've made a new website, so the link has now changed.

For anyone who's interested, the article about my first lightbox has moved here:

yesyes DIY and astro :: 8 inch lightbox MK I

[JamesF]

I must have about half a dozen dead laptops lying about the place. I think I can see a(nother) project coming on

James

[Gina]

How easy is it to "persuade" a dead laptop to light up it's screen? Coz I have one or two as well.

[yesyes]

Should be easy for you Gina.

You need the inverter board. It needs 12V for the main supply. Then it has an "enable" input, usually 2V, 3.3V or 5V and a brightness input usually the same levels as the enable but can be inverted. The last one I made was brightest when the brightness input was on GND.

[Gina]

Should be easy for you Gina.

You need the inverter board. It needs 12V for the main supply. Then it has an "enable" input, usually 2V, 3.3V or 5V and a brightness input usually the same levels as the enable but can be inverted. The last one I made was brightest when the brightness input was on GND.

Thanks - I'll add it to my project list Won't be wanting it for a while but it's always good to be prepared

[libraryman]

Having an old Hp laptop iv'e stripped it to the back light but electrically i'm stumped!!

could anyone guide me to finding the correct lead for the enable imput?

The photo's might help someone to help me fingers crossed!!

need a little help to complete this!!

Ray

[astrovirus]

As a request from Ray (Libraryman) I have uploaded my schematic for providing the signal pins in the inverter with the correct voltage (3.3V DC in my case). I used a TS2940 1A Ultra Low Dropout Fixed Positive Voltage Regulator for down regulating 13.8V DC to 3.3V DC as this was the only one my local shop supplied, but it does the job nicely. In addition I put in a diode to prevent damage by accidental reverse connection to my 13.8V DC PSU. In my inverter board, pins 1&2 provide power to the backlight, pins 3&4 are the signal pins VGA and dimming (experimantally determined to receive 3-3.3V DC when laptop was running a bright level) and pins 5&6 are return ground.

Hope this helps.

Regards Tim

Backlight Inverter Supply 3_3V.tif

[libraryman]

Cheers Tim, i will be able to use this; i'm sure it will help others too.

Regards Ray