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View Full Version : Pimp my Cellpro 4S !!! New Display


FearNot
07-07-2007, 09:54 PM
Having used my Cellpro for a while now I have to say I love it! Great charger, cheap and works great.

HOWEVER there is this big suck display! Not that its a TV that you have to watch all the time but people like me just get addicted to watch the charge current go up :mrgreen:

On the web somewhere I found a mod to increase contrast of the display by adding a resistor to the display power pins ... it helps but not much.


Finally I decided to get rid of the big suck display and to install a backlit display. All you need is a 16 x 2 display. They all seem pin compatible.

I recommend the blue kind that has an inverse display and shines light through. That way the charachters are brighter and not dependant on viewing angle. Thats the on I used.

Now the old display has to be uninstalled. Unsolder it with a solder pump and chuck it!

Then install the new dislpay. It will fit on the pins. Since its thicker some cuztom work is required. I tossed the spacers for the old display and used washers made from silicone tubing that flatten as I tighted the display down to perfection.

Make sure to install electrical tape UDNER the new display to make sure it doesnt touch any electronics.

When it sits level at the right height solder it in.

The display needs 5V to power the backlight. You can either take it from the display voltage on pins 1 and 2 or better install a 5V voltage regulator like an 7805. Those can be explanted from old PC parts like soundcards or mainboards or else Radio Shak it.

Connect the input to the 12V in of the charger and then run the 5V to the last pins for voltage supply.

Reinstall the frontplate. You have to either use longer screws and spacers or tightned it down but then the display will come through the frontplate by about 1-2 mm. It still looks fine as it is covered by the sticker of the front plate.

You will then have a lit display thats vieable in total darkness, pretty much any angle and by daylight. See below

cheers

Matt

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2875/cellpro1cx9.jpg

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1384/cellprowk1.jpg

Probedude
07-08-2007, 12:22 AM
Lots of info on the Cellpro display here.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=107322
Includes info on their new LCD (much much better contrast)
Link to an OLED upgrade
Link to a backlit LCD upgrade


Long running thread on the original LCD
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576946

There's also thread on how the original display was designed to look that way.


Update: when you add the 7805 regulator straight off the 12V input, put a diode in series with the input leg to protect it from accidental reverse polarity.

Lastly, to cope with heat dissipation, I glued my regulator to the underside of the aluminum top plate to act as a heat sink.

Dave