PowerBook 1400 LCD replaced with New Old Slightly Different Stock

[AEChadwick]

I am an idiot with LCDs, but this actually worked so i thought i would share.

I obtained a PowerBook 1400c, hoping to harvest the active matrix LCD, but the screen was busted. The LCD pulled from the 1400c was a SHARP LQ11S42. I have not seen a list of the LCD screens used in the different 1400 models; and this was the first time i’d paused to notice the model number.

With the insight of a post listing 500-series LCD Model numbers, i recently found a NOS replacement for a 540c LCD. i figured it was worth searching for a replacement LQ11S42.

However, I could not find a source for the "SHARP LQ11S42"--just a few generic LCD-supplier-sites with "call for an estimate", or prices like "$245 + shipping, 0 in stock" and other fake-outs.

An eBay vendor from which i previously found spare parts randomly had a few SHARP LQ11S46--a couple digits off? Superficially, the LQ11S46 stats were identical: 11.3", SVGA, 800x600; and it appeared to have the same connector on the back. Best of all, it was only $17, cheaper than eggs and more entertaining.

The LQ11S46 arrived today and i swapped over the cables from the broken 1400c. I attached it to my G3-upgraded 1400cs/133. (only the backlight cable connector was different, quick surgery.)

It works perfectly and looks great.

Was the LQ11S46 also used in the 1400 series? I don't know what it might be doing differently, but for now I finally have a PowerBook 1400c/G3.

 

[LaPorta]

It may have been. I forget that number, but I also sourced some replacement LCDs for my 1400 that are sharp, but are a different revision that have only one capacitor instead of two on the back.

 

[Paralel]

I'm glad it worked out. A panel from around the same time period with the same apparent specs and connector should work, but sometimes the smallest differences end up causing trouble, it's a crapshoot. I'm not too surprised that the grafted connector worked since they are both two pin, and backlight connections are usually fairly simple. Strange that they chose a 3 pin connector and just left the middle one blank.

 

[aladds]

Do the 1400cs and 1400c have the same cable/connector at the screen end? This would be really cool as a cheap upgrade path!

 

[AEChadwick]

the parts have different numbers in the tech manual, so i expect those are not interchangeable.

i used this LCD and the cable from a 1400c to upgrade a 1400cs--so the motherboards are fine with the change.

 

[greystash]

Do the 1400cs and 1400c have the same cable/connector at the screen end? This would be really cool as a cheap upgrade path!

From memory the display cable connects at a different location under the bezel. I tried years ago to put an LCD from a 1400c into a 1400cs but it wouldn't work because of the connector position. I don't think I had a 1400c at the time so maybe if I had the longer display cable it would have worked.

 

[LaPorta]

I know for a fact that they are not interchangable. That being said, if you are able to source a 1400c LCD to logic board cable as well, that should work just fine.

 

[Snial]

Do the 1400cs and 1400c have the same cable/connector at the screen end? This would be really cool as a cheap upgrade path!

So, I've managed to note that you're talking about cable/connectors at the screen end. As it happens I bought a 1400cs from Ebay last November / December. I spent a bit of time swapping out the HD (after backing it up), then replacing it with an IDE to SD adapter (it's a little bit slower than the HD should be, but is very quiet). Then I bought a non-working PB1400c/133 from Ebay with a 16MB RAM expansion. I thought it had an internal CD, but it didn't (just another battery in the other slot), but the RAM worked (CPU didn't). I removed the PB1400c's screen and replaced my PB1400cs's screen, which has worked very well since!

The LHS cable braiding is frayed on the PB1400c's screen, so I plan to fold the screen only occasionally. But in theory, obviously the cable signals are compatible.

 

[AEChadwick]

Well there’s the difference: the lower mounting tabs are about a centimeter off.

Doesn't matter much on the left; on the right, i fixed it with a dremel.

(The bezel is tight enough, the screen stays in place just fine without the lower mounts.)

 

[MacUp72]

I wonder what displays of other Powerbooks actually are compatible for the 11,3" 1400..from the 5300c?..no they are 10"

 

[jeremywork]

IIRC the cs bezel is slightly different than the c bezel too. They’ll swap just fine, but will obscure the very top or bottom row of pixels.

 

[CircuitBored]

IIRC the cs bezel is slightly different than the c bezel too. They’ll swap just fine, but will obscure the very top or bottom row of pixels.

Correct but it is not just a single pixel line that is obscured. You can also see the metal lower lip of the display (when putting a c screen into a cs chassis). I found it to be far too visually "off" to be happy with it so I just used the entire c display assembly on the cs body in the end.

 

[MacUp72]

..well if you are lucky to get a complete c display anywhere in europe..

 

[AEChadwick]

…

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Strange that they chose a 3 pin connector and just left the middle one blank.

Sorry about the bump - realized why this likely is. It's probably to prevent against short circuits. Lots of high voltage going through there, and it's a lot less likely to short out in the event of damage to the connector if there's a pin of separation between them.