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HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

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RealBlackStuff
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HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#1 Post by RealBlackStuff » Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:47 am

I just replaced the CCFL in a 15" IPS/Flexview LCD made by IDTECH.
This one is quite easy.

Lift up the silver/metal tape along the bottom (insert a small knife blade to get it started), but only from the 'flat' back.
Leave the tape on the small metal frame.
Cover the sticky part temporarily with some grease paper or similar, to prevent it from sticking to something.
Remove all the small metal screws on both short sides of the LCD.
Remove the screws on both sides of the CCFL metal cover and remove this.
Now lift the metal frame (with the tape) up, and make sure the layers of the LCD do NOT come apart!
Put something between the metal frame and the LCD (e.g. box of matches) to keep that frame lifted.
Temporarily secure the top/bottom of the LCD together with some scotch tape to prevent dust/dirt between the layers.
Do this on the short sides and on the bottom.
Now remove the silicone rubber moldings on each end of the CCFL.
Make a note (or picture) of how these fit onto the CCFL!
Just lift up the thin long wire out of its groove, but do not remove it from the LCD (so you know at which end the inverter connector sits).
The CCFL has enough 'play' to push it to stick out at one side, where you see the metal end of the CCFL, onto which the wire is soldered.
Use a 15W or similar low-wattage soldering iron to unsolder the wire from one side.
You will see that the wire loops around the metal end. Do not force this, it should come off easily.
With wire removed on one side, push the CCFL to the other side, and unsolder the other wire.
You can now pull the whole old CCFL out.
Insert the new CCFL, making sure to have a steady hand, so you don't break the tube.
Do NOT touch the tube itself with your bare hands!
If needed, clean up the old solder from the wires that go onto the CCFL, using desoldering braid.
You should see a nice clean loop in each wire end.
Pre-tin both ends of the CCFL with solder. Use as little solder as possible.
Now put the wireloop of one cable over the CCFL metal part, and push it all the way against the glass. Solder it quickly.
Let it cool of a few seconds, then use a small wire cutter to cut off the CCFL metal part that now sticks out.
Make sure not to 'torque' the cutters, otherwise you might break the CCFL!
Repeat this at the other CCFL end.
Put the silicone covers back on.
Remove the sticky tapes that hold the layers together.
Put back the metal strip over the CCFL.
Put back the outside metal frame, making sure the wires for the inverter come out freely.
With all the screws back in place, put the metal tape along the bottom back in place as good as you can, and flatten it as much as possible, without using any more force than necessary.
That's it.

The owner was very happy with the perfect result.

It probably took me longer to type these instructions, than to perform the above operation.
And just in case, don't ask me to perform this operation for you, the answer will be an emphatic NO!
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
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Neil
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#2 Post by Neil » Sun Aug 08, 2010 5:57 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:Remove all the small metal screws on both short sides of the LCD.
What size screw driver did you use for this?

I'm trying to do one today, and the PH000, the PZ00 nor anything else I have will turn 'em.
RealBlackStuff wrote:Remove the screws on both sides of the CCFL metal cover and remove this.
Now these I was able to remove with the PZ00, but that didn't seem to work on the side screws, even though they look about the same size. But, they do appear to have a flat head, where these on the metal cover have a bit of a crown. I guess the that crown allowed my driver to catch.
Collection = T430 - T500 - R400 - X300 - T61 (14" WXGA+) - R61 (15" SXGA+) - T60 - X40 - T43p - T43 - T42p - A30P

RealBlackStuff
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#3 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sun Aug 08, 2010 9:29 pm

I was using a PH00 for all of them.
From a set of precision screwdrivers, Made in Japan.
No brand name anywhere.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
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Raceboy
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#4 Post by Raceboy » Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:19 am

Anyone cleaned IPS FlexView from dust specs that reside between the layers of LCD?

I'd like to tackle this but wouldn't want to ruin otherwise perfectly working UXGA IDTech LCD on my T42p.
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mediasponge
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#5 Post by mediasponge » Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:10 pm

Any of a number of screen cleaning products that include microfiber cloths or a chamois would do. Monster ScreenClean is one. You would also need a spray duster. The best way to do something like this is to make a glove box for the final assembly. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glovebox for a generic description.
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#6 Post by ajkula66 » Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:32 pm

Raceboy wrote:
Anyone cleaned IPS FlexView from dust specs that reside between the layers of LCD?
Not that I'm aware of. And trust you me, I've been inquiring everywhere for years... :evil:

You can bet that if anyone had actually managed to get it done, someone on this board would hear about it and post the link...
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

seaweedsl
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#7 Post by seaweedsl » Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:09 pm

I just did one following your instructions, thanks! I had found a steal deal T42p on ebay for um..$42 I think it was. But with a black display. I bought it for the system board, but then it came fully setup with drive, RAM and everything. I saw that the LCD worked, only that the backlight was out. First, I ordered an inverter, but it did not help. Then I ordered a CCFL from moniserve (LCDparts). I was nervous about installing it, but these instructions helped a lot.

It went in fine, a bit of trouble getting the rubber end caps on, but all good. Works!

The only thing, sadly is that it's still not as bright or good as I'd hoped. I have a very nice SXGA+ LCD on my 14" t42p (thanks to Thinkpad lover) and hoped to see equal brightness with a new lamp on a flexview.

Alas, it looks as dim and yellow as my other UXGA T42p with an aged CCFL. I've seen better flexviews used, that's for sure. Quite a yellow cast and not as bright as other flexviews or my 14" regular. I wonder why.

Oh well. I got another flexview in my arsenal anyway for about $25 and a few hours.
T42p 14", T61 15", T601F

ilakast
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#8 Post by ilakast » Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:11 pm

Managed to take the old CCFL out from Utwig's 14 inch Samsung T60 screen.

Image Image

Having read extensively around the forum that Samsungs are not as easy as what RealBlackStuff is describing, I can confirm that :D I couldn't get access to either of the CCFL's ends without overbending the housing where it sits in. Also, the insulating caps were destroyed in my attempts to take them out. At the far end of the CCFL (mine being the white cable, the proximal end to the connector had a pink cable, if that helps anyone) there was an extra tiny black heat shrink wrap as Neil says on another topic. After stripping it away and desoldering that end, the loop was torn apart and thus now need to extend it in order to solder any new CCFL. So I gave it a break for now...

Anyone knows where to buy a brand new CCFL in the UK by the way?
asking questions before googling, is bad :)
http://backlightweb.co.uk/index.php?mai ... ucts_id=96
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#9 Post by GomJabbar » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:35 pm

ilakast wrote:Managed to take the old CCFL out from Utwig's 14 inch Samsung T60 screen.

Having read extensively around the forum that Samsungs are not as easy as what RealBlackStuff is describing, I can confirm that :D I couldn't get access to either of the CCFL's ends without overbending the housing where it sits in. Also, the insulating caps were destroyed in my attempts to take them out. At the far end of the CCFL (mine being the white cable, the proximal end to the connector had a pink cable, if that helps anyone) there was an extra tiny black heat shrink wrap as Neil says on another topic. After stripping it away and desoldering that end, the loop was torn apart and thus now need to extend it in order to solder any new CCFL. So I gave it a break for now...
My experience with my old 14" T42 was much the same. Didn't work when I finished. Ended up sending it to MoniServ for repair.
DKB

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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#10 Post by systemBuilder » Mon May 06, 2013 2:32 am

If the plastic is yellowed, you *might* try wiping it *briefly* (once, at most twice) with acetone, which will dissolve a thin outer layer of plastic on one or more of the backlighting sheets But do it only *briefly* as you don't want to cause the plastic to possibly become non-uniform in its lighting capabilities. Also, wait a long while before reassembling as you don't want the slightly gooey plastic to stick to other layers of the panel. Wiping with acetone works great when restoring bicycle parts, but I did accidentally remove a maker's logo the first time I tried it and got overzealous with the acetone.
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#11 Post by GomJabbar » Tue May 07, 2013 12:57 am

systemBuilder wrote:If the plastic is yellowed, you *might* try wiping it *briefly* (once, at most twice) with acetone, which will dissolve a thin outer layer of plastic on one or more of the backlighting sheets But do it only *briefly* as you don't want to cause the plastic to possibly become non-uniform in its lighting capabilities. Also, wait a long while before reassembling as you don't want the slightly gooey plastic to stick to other layers of the panel. Wiping with acetone works great when restoring bicycle parts, but I did accidentally remove a maker's logo the first time I tried it and got overzealous with the acetone.
I have to say the above is bad advice based on what I have read. I definitely would not allow acetone anywhere near my display. Acetone dissolves plastics. Acetone is also used to cement certain plastics such as acrylics.

Here is a better reference for cleaning LCD displays:
http://isweb.fdu.edu/computing/lcd.html
Fairleigh Dickenson University wrote:Not all types of cleaning solutions are acceptable for LCD screens. Using alcohol or ammonia - based cleaners repeatedly may cause permanent damage to the LCD. Over time, using these types of cleaners could cause the surface of the screen to yellow. It can also make the screen brittle and eventually cause cracking on the screen surface.

The following cleaners should NOT be used:
* Acetone
* Ethyl alcohol
* Ethyl acid
* Ammonia
* Methyl chloride
The link below says the same thing:
http://support-us.samsung.com/cyber/pop ... 1981606887
Samsung wrote:Do not use cleaners that contain the following agents:
* Acetone
* Ethyl Alcohol
* Ethyl acid
* Ammonia
* Methyl Chloride
DKB

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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#12 Post by systemBuilder » Sun Jul 14, 2013 1:36 am

GomJabbar wrote:I have to say the above is bad advice based on what I have read. I definitely would not allow acetone anywhere near my display. Acetone dissolves plastics. Acetone is also used to cement certain plastics such as acrylics.
I don't think you understand the situation. When the plastic yellows, the surface literally oxidizes and changes, chemically, sometimes in response to UV rays. There is NO cleaning solution WHATSOEVER that will take off this outer layer which has been chemically modified. You gave standard cleaning compounds that will have NO EFFECT. I have experienced problems with yellowed plastic many times with many different types of plastics. The solution, therefore, is to use a compound that will exfoliate the outer surface of plastic, leaving fresh white (or clear) plastic below. That compound, is acetone.

The alternative is to junk the display, typically, so there is nothing to lose. However, you will need to find out which layer of plastic has yellowed, and I suspect it will be the white sheet that spreads the CCFL light through the display. (NOT the outer surface of the display, usually).
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#13 Post by topshot » Sat Nov 23, 2013 9:10 am

RBS,
Is this the lamp you still recommend?

You find replacing the covers and tape (the other items on that page) isn't really necessary I take it?

This sounds a whole lot easier than the lamp I just replaced in a Presario CQ61 for my son!

I'm also curious how often our inverters go out. It seems to be somewhat common on other brands. Should I replace them while I've got the screens apart?

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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#14 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Nov 23, 2013 1:30 pm

I'd rather have this one: http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail.aspx?ProductID=1699
I never bother with the other parts.
IBM/Lenovo inverters rarely go out.
And when they do, they are always easy to replace.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

topshot
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Re: HOW TO replace a CCFL/Backlight in your LCD

#15 Post by topshot » Sat Nov 23, 2013 2:08 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:I'd rather have this one: http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail.aspx?ProductID=1699
Thanks. I also found http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail.aspx?ProductID=1695 for the T21/23/42 that could use new bulbs as well.

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