ccft kit
Hi,
I'm currently playing around with assorted cheap LCD panels from eBay, trying to get them talking to some SBC's. Just got a 9.5" Colour DSTN working this morning - now I know why TFT was invented!
A couple of things about the CCFL inverters:
1. I have read that the tubes work better and live longer if they are driven with a sine wave, not a square wave.
2. Many of the cheaper "PC modding light inverters" are a poorly regulated nasty-square wave output (I know, I have a few)
3. The best inverters are those designed for notebook PC's - often available very cheaply from surplus outlets or ebay, or from a dead notebook. I have a few that cost about $5. You might need to figure out the connections though - I do this with a datasheet from the controller chip and a continuity tester on the connector. Some are tricky and require a PWM brighness signal, some just need power.
4. If the inverter is truly multi channel, not just two wires from one transformer, then it can overheat an unused channel. I learned this with a four-output one, just using two channels, when the other two transformers started giving off that nice hot varnish smell.
5. Most notebook inverters will have an 'enable' line, this can be connected to turn it off if the PC goes to sleep or whatever, so you don't waste the tube.
6. Try to get an inverter from something with a similar screen size if possible - it will (might be) a closer match to your tube size.
Hope some of this is helpful. I'm awaiting delivery of a 10.4" TFT unit ($40) to play with.
Cheers,
FoxyRick.
I nearly forgot: Whatever inverter you use, remember not to touch the output. It stings and leaves nice little burn spots. How do I know this? Guess! The main danger is jumping so much that the nice, shiny kit gets knocked onto the floor