Which display should i buy ??

tarzan · Post by **tarzan** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 6:37 am

Hello there..

Im going to buy/install a lcd display in my black Lian Li case. I looking for a display with a black backgroud, and a text that is bright enough to see from a few meters distance.. I need it 4x20.

Im looking at the vfd display VFD2041 (116$) but i think its a lottle pricy when you look at LCD2041 (55$) they are both identical (besides colour)

Is there a way to stay with LCD, and in the same time get that black background and good bright text ?

GreatOldOne · Post by **GreatOldOne** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 8:51 am

I'm not sure about the LCD - I don't think you'd get it bright enough...

Go for the VFD - You won't regret it, It's worth every penny (sorry, cent)

You can see mine in the gallery if you want an example of how bright they are. I can read it from across the room.

tarzan · Post by **tarzan** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 9:36 am

Holy shit - that look nice! Im no longer wondering wich display to buy..

OldOne i just have a quick question i REALY hope you can help me with (im a newbee in the lcd area)

I've long been wanting to do those LED mods (email, fans etc etc) The question is, do I just sold them to the GPO's and then configure the use of them in lcdc ? or do i need to do alot of technical stuff to sort out volts and watts ?

If i can just sold the diodes to the GPO's, then i just need the VK204-25 (with 6 GPO's) to make the trick.. Or am i completly lost

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 11:29 am

Hi.

Don't just solder the diodes onto the GPO-pins. Use for instance an old cable from a pc-case (reset switch cable works fine) and solder the diode to that. If you don't want to use resistors along with the diodes, you need diodes with built-in resistors, also called 5v-diodes. The normal is to use a resistor in series with the led. 220 ohms will give you a current of about 15mA for the regular red, green or yellow led.

Stig

tarzan · Post by **tarzan** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 12:17 pm

Yes, ofcourse i will use some small wires for connection between the GPO's and the diodes

You say that i need a diode with a build-in transistor, which i will buy.. But will that also work with one of those bright blue LED's ?

Keep the tips coming

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 2:43 am

Hi.

Not transistor...resistor..

I think you can get 5v blue leds too, but it's just as easy to use a resistor in series with the diode, just a lower resistance for the blue ones. It's very easy to calculate the resistance for the resistor..

R = (5v - U(led)) / I(led)

U(led) depends on the diode. The regular red, green or yellow normally are around 1.7 - 1.8V, while the blue ones can be from 2.5 - 4.5V.

I(led) is the current through the led, and 10 - 15 mA will normally be fine.

If you use I(led) in mA, then R will be in kilo-ohms.

Stig

GreatOldOne · Post by **GreatOldOne** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 5:33 am

On 2002-06-12 11:29, Stig wrote:
Hi.

Don't just solder the diodes onto the GPO-pins. Use for instance an old cable from a pc-case (reset switch cable works fine) and solder the diode to that. If you don't want to use resistors along with the diodes, you need diodes with built-in resistors, also called 5v-diodes. The normal is to use a resistor in series with the led. 220 ohms will give you a current of about 15mA for the regular red, green or yellow led.

Stig

That's exactly what I did! The LED's I used (Blue ultrabrights) are just soldered onto the old MB 'plugs, with a bit of heatshrink to stop them shorting. No resistors where used.

[ This Message was edited by: GreatOldOne on 2002-06-13 05:34 ]

tarzan · Post by **tarzan** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 5:46 am

GreatOldOne, you have one of those -V units and as far as i can see (and im not too good at this) it puts out 12 volts - is'nt that too much for a 4v diode ?

tarzan · Post by **tarzan** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 7:29 am

btw GreatOldOne, did you use a VFD filter on those pics in the gallery ? or is it a standart VFD2041 ?

[ This Message was edited by: tarzan on 2002-06-13 07:30 ]

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 8:47 am

The only display having 12v GPOs, is LK204-25PC, all the other have 5v GPOs (unless there have been any changes lately).

GreatOldOne: If you soldered the diode onto the GPO without a resistor, you probably have a diode meant for 5v (or possibly 4.5v), otherwise you are risking destroying either the diode or the GPO. Most GPOs can only output 20mA.

Edit: Just checked the manual, and there are already current limiting resistors on the GPOs, so you shouldn't need resistors on the diodes, just plug them in....

Stig

[ This Message was edited by: Stig on 2002-06-13 09:02 ]

Post by **Henry** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 9:05 am

If you get any of the Alpha Numeric LCDs... (except for the LK204-25-PC) all you have to do is plug a LED in, and you are good to go

If you plan on using the LCD in a computer, use the -V OPTION or else!!!! <--- it's just better and safer.

GreatOldOne · Post by **GreatOldOne** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 9:18 am

On 2002-06-13 07:29, tarzan wrote:
btw GreatOldOne, did you use a VFD filter on those pics in the gallery ? or is it a standart VFD2041 ?

[ This Message was edited by: tarzan on 2002-06-13 07:30 ]

It's not an MO filter - It's just a piece of blue gel sheet (the stuff used in lighting rigs).

Oh - and it's a VK204-25-V, not a VFD2041

tarzan · Post by **tarzan** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 9:48 am

Aah, okay.. i just read somewhere that i could attach a fan to a GPO, and read that all i need is the -V option to do this (because it gives out 12v - and therefore could drive a case-fan)

Post by **Henry** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 10:00 am

The -V option means you can give the unit +7 to +20V safely... and up to 25V spike. So if your computer power supply spikes, it will not blow up the display. The only display with +12V GPOs is the LK204-25-PC.

tarzan · Post by **tarzan** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 10:27 am

Oki, then i cant control my case-fans with the unit im in love in, without making some big prints and stuff