Adding an LCD to a Color Classic

[olePigeon]

I was looking at bare bones LCD panels, and I can find them for around $20 or so for an 800x600 panel. However, finding pinout information was impossible even from the manufacturer. Plus, an LCD controller was around $100 anyway.

I stumbled upon this on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/8-4-inch-Car-TFT-LCD-TV-Monitor-AV-Player-with-VGA-Port_W0QQitemZ110462129838QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item19b80e56ae#ht_4839wt_939

It's 8.4", which is the size I want for a compact Mac. It already has the controller and VGA port, obviously. All I'd have to do is run a VGA cable from the mobo to the display.

This seems too easy. Am I missing something?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Check out the, now "all but defunct," CC forum over on 'fritter for info on Color Classic Hacks. To get VGA off the MoBo, ISTR that you'll need to do whatever they call the hack that'll put a Q630 or better MoBo into your CC. I don't remember anyone getting VGA off the stock MoBo.

If you can get the proper size LCD for the CC, I've got a suggestion for you. I'm modding a Compaq Portable II case & replacing the CRT with clear plexi, vacuum formed over the original CRT face, mated to a mold of the backside of the front bezel, that'll be cast around the CRT (with the proper thickness offset added behind the bezel) in plaster of paris.

The front bezel will be attached for casting the mold and then removed before forming the plexi over the combined form. Hopefully, the plexi formed on the CRT face will be crystal clear and the bezel will slip right back onto the "surround." Haven't worked out ALL the details as yet, but that's the jist of it and doing something similar should/might get you around the bezel-fit bugaboo of CRT->LCD hacking!

. . . or not! :rambo:

edit: I'm not trying to make a cover for an LCD for the CpqP2Hack™, I'm just trying to make it look like the original CRT with the ubuntu logo displayed (back painted on the plexi before vacuum forming) on the the original CRT. It's only going to be a door, for covering up a couple of removable drive bays and whatever other crud I can stuff into that part of the case. I don't know how an LCD will look behind curved plexi, but AFAIK, it hasn't got a very high refractive index, so it probably won't act as a magnifier, but I'm talking outta my . . . erm . . . "ear" . . . on this aspect, as I haven't thought it over very much as yet!

 

[trag]

clear plexi, vacuum formed over the original CRT face

I don't have a clue how or where to get vacuum formed plexiglas over a form. Can you elaborate a bit? Is this a home/garage project? Necessary equipment? Or are you paying a service? Approximate cost? where to find similar services in other locales?

 

[Mac128]

Trag, search the forum for CC mods. This has been covered a lot. There are some pretty sophisticated ones. I have not heard about vacuum formed Plexi either, but you do not need it for the CC, which used a Trinitron tube. A flat piece of plexi will fit nicely into the opening with only a slight horizontal curve, in fact one of the examples on the forum depicts that solution and it looks great.

The vacuum formed plexi idea intrigues me for all of the other shadow mask CRTs in the other compacts though ... the only solution that has been developed so far is cutting the front off of a glass CRT with a diamond cutting-wheel Dremmel tool, and removing the phosphor. It works, but it's a messy and difficult process.

 

[Bunsen]

This seems too easy. Am I missing something?

Assuming you're putting in a VGA/SVGA capable motherboard, nope. And that's a darn good price for a monitor with those specs and free shipping. I'm adding it to my watch list for the day I have some spare cash.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I don't have a clue how or where to get vacuum formed plexiglas over a form. Can you elaborate a bit? Is this a home/garage project? Necessary equipment? Or are you paying a service? Approximate cost? where to find similar services in other locales?

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=DIY-Vacuum-Forming-Machine.html&aq=f&aqi=&oq=DIY-Vacuum-Forming-Machine.html&fp=6b22d27f49a5e7dd

[] ]'> [] ]'>

 

[Bunsen]

cutting the front off of a glass CRT / It works, but it's a messy and difficult process

And even with the phosphor coating removed, it results in a loss of light transmission from the LCD and a darker picture than is desirable, so far.

 

[Mac128]

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=DIY-Vacuum-Forming-Machine.html&aq=f&aqi=&oq=DIY-Vacuum-Forming-Machine.html&fp=6b22d27f49a5e7dd

Ah. Well assuming the heated plexi does not distort, this would make a pretty easy to perform method for shadow mask CRT molds.

 

[trag]

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=DIY-Vacuum-Forming-Machine.html&aq=f&aqi=&oq=DIY-Vacuum-Forming-Machine.html&fp=6b22d27f49a5e7dd
[] ]'> [] ]'>

Thank you.

Regarding the later discussion about light transmission and such. Keep in mind that plexiglass is much more subject to scratching and picking up dings than real glass is. This is an issue in one of my other major hobbies, fishkeeping.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Thank you.

De nada, comrade! )

Maybe you can give me some feedback on my notions for a new home for my plastic fish! :?:

Methinks it's time to start a plexi hackin' techniques thread. Maybe we even need to re-establish the "Hacks Forum!" [] ]'>

 

[Bunsen]

I was looking at bare bones LCD panels, and I can find them for around $20 or so for an 800x600 panel. / Plus, an LCD controller was around $100 anyway.

Over in the SuperDuoHack Brainstorm thread in 68k Powerbooks, I linked a seller who sells the controllers for $35 - but only if you buy his panels. Might be worth checking out. They're not $20 though :-/

 

[Mac128]

Keep in mind that plexiglass is much more subject to scratching and picking up dings than real glass is.

I would be more concerned about distortion from the melting. All of my PowerBook and MacBook screens are plastic and after 10 years of use still look great. Besides, didn't your mom tell you to never touch your computer screen? :beige:

 

[olePigeon]

OK, so my Color Classic now has an LC 575 motherboard in it, which is awesome. I'm going to modify the back bezel so it'll fit. I just ordered a Presenter 575sc adapter. It was $25 new. It slips onto one of the chips on the motherboard, and offers an external VGA port (both Mac and standard VGA.)

I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. If this works, I think I might be able to buy one of these LCD screens next month (after Christmas shopping. Ugh) and try swapping out the CRT by plugging in this LCD to the VGA adapter I just got.

Since I don't know too much about electronics, this seemed the safest route for me. All the work has basically already been done and I just plug in the adapter.

 

[Mac128]

I just ordered a Presenter 575sc adapter.

We've discussed that before.

The only thing that concerns me is that the specs indicate you might have trouble adapting it to a modern VGA LCD. Double check the requirements of any new panels you are thinking of buying.

Resolution........................ 640 x 480

Scan Rates......................... 35 KHz Horizontal; 67 HZ Vertical

Signal Level...................... 1 volt P-P analog RGB; 5V TTL sync

Connector 1........................ D15 female (2 row) ; Macintosh 13"-14" color monitor signal

Pinout................................. 2,5,9=RGB, 1,6,13=Return, 3= sync, 15=Horiz, 12=Vertical, 8,11,14=Ground

Connector 2........................ HD15 female (3 row) ; VGA connector

Pinout................................. 1,2,3=RGB, 6,7,8=Return, 5,10,11=Ground, 13= - Horizontal, 14= +Vertical.

Power................................ 1.25 Watts

 

[olePigeon]

Oooh. Shoot. I was too quick to buy it.

Oh well. I guess I'll put this project off for a while.

 

[Bunsen]

Don't see why that should be a problem - The VGA output looks pretty standard, and 67HZ is about as basic and common a sync rate as you can find.

But if for any reason it is an issue, consider a PDS video card.

Don't be discouraged. Just double check and soldier on.