Backlit DX7? They exist! Video.... question is, HOW.

[poor_red_neck]

So yes I searched, and only found the thread about the X9303 trying to have it backlit and that basically went nowhere.

Found this video online and and remember uttering a "WTF" when I saw his DX7 with that beautiful backlit LCD.

Soo......

Discuss what you know! Is this a custom mod or do they exist as a "limited or special edition"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEvHezGsnJo&feature=related

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

I want one but as far as I know it's a custom job. I'd pay to have that put in my TX.EuVimVDATc4

[Aussie_G]

I used to have a bookmark for a site that sells blue backlight kits for most everything.

I was going to put one in my Ice charger, Ill try & find the link..

You can check out this link for ideas

http://www.rochesterrc.com/2005/03/11/duratrax-ice-back-light-modification/

[JaggedEdge]

DIY LCD Backlight (http://www.radiolocman.com/shem/schematics.html?di=42787).

[tungym]

Use EL sheet cost $10/sheet
http://www.weclonline.com/product_shot/145x145/58-04-0308.jpg

[Wildcat9]

Just caught this video on youtube. It seems to be a bit more explanatory about putting in a backlight, though it doesn't say much about where he's drawing power from. Maybe he's hooking into the green, binding light on the back of the TX. Either way I'm very interested in this. I've also looked around at the "flatlite" electroluminescent lighting, but everything says it needs an inverter and I have no idea the size of the inverter or if it'll fit in the TX. I wish someone that has this would sure take the time to explain the mod.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=G-7U85D6LMA

[Buzzkill]

awesome I was going to post if it could be done last night but forgot too. You guys are good! I'd love to do this but, I'd ate to fry my $300 tx. Anyone up to a "how to" video?

[Wildcat9]

I've been in correspondence with the fella who made the vid I posted above...I'll paste in the last 2 emails. I've gotten my piece of plexiglass cut, but have yet to order the surface mount LEDs. I think they should work fine on the circuit I've seen used for fellas who've added the LED just to show the TX is on. The fellas making their own night blades are using a single cell 3.7 volt lipo to power 4-5 LEDs.
Hopefully I'll have something by next week. Here's the emails...

You can refer to this link too,find a pc of 3mm thickness transparent acrylic sand it with 600 grit then 1200 grit,applied vertical/horizontal force depend the LED light emitting direction.Wrong sanding direction against LED light emitting direction will give u shadow when light up.
I've tried the EL sheet also but not so practical coz it needs more current.Adjustable backlight is not possible by simply adding the rheostat.The inverter will produce a high-frequency noise(probably heard in quiet environment).This may affect DX7 2.4GHz component working properly.It is harder to read the display if u switch off the EL light(we dun like it lights on when daytime unless u like :)).Somemore it's more expensive mod...I juz spend a few dollars to mod my DX7 Backlight with LEDs.
However if u mod the DX7 with EL,juz feel free to share with us.Happy modding :)

For EL backlight,u can use Align Driver for Cold Light String http://www.align.com.tw/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22_29&products_id=487.It requires 5-8V to drive & small enough to put it into DX7.
I used 4 pcs 3mm smd led on the top side of the acylic,it fitted perfectly into the filed notches 3mm acrylic plate.You can use the 3mm super light LED but u need to sand it into shape to fit into ur Plexiglass like the link u show me.I doubt u can get the rectangular superlight white/blue LEDs easily.I haven't seen one.I recommend using white instead of blue LEDs coz DX7 LCD characters r violet in colour,it will be hardly visible using blue LEDs i think.For the video I posted actually white LEDs r used not blue effect as u ppl see my vid.
For sanding direction,let's us make it simple as this way...if we put the LEDs on top or bottom side juz file the plate from up to bottom or from bottom to up(vertical direction);if we put LEDs on L & R side of the plate juz file from L to R or R to L(horizontal direction)-u'll have difficulties to put the LEDs in this direction .
And for the power led,if u need a simple power led indicator then u can refer to Helifreak post.but if u need it as the binding indicator also,u'll have to remove the ori green binding led from the circuit & route the wire to ur led & forget about the 3.3V pt on the pcb.I juz relocated the ori green binding led to blue led on front of DX7 only & it appears as power & binding indicator.LED lights on when power switch on after few secs but its fine.This is a simple way what I modded.
Hopefully this helps u in backlight mod :)


Good info on the Align driver for EL light if anyone wants to try it. :thumbup:

[Buzzkill]

Great post. Thanks for sharing the info!

[MiniBichus]

I am the fella who built/owned the DX7 on the original post. I say 'owned' in past tense b/c that particular DX7 caught on fire b/c of the LiPo charger didn't shutoff, not really sure why it didn't but it burnt down the radio to melted plastic, along with the backlight... :(

Wasn't for long tho... :lolol My latest DX7 has been modded even further, now it has two hi-power blue LEDs which illuminate the controls at night, I built a better neck strap out of SSG graphite, I added the missing ball bearing to the gimbals (what a PITA, I wouldn't do it ever again, if I would've knew then how much tearing down was involved on this sh*t!!) and then backlighted it, again, with another EL sheet that I cut. The EL color is actually a cool white, not blue as it shows on the camera.

Here is the latest MB-Commander control unit. (a.k.a as DX7 for the rest of the world.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krONshYigiU

I did the mod b/c I only had time to fly at night, therefore I needed to see the screen in the dark. Another reason was b/c my Futaba 3PK, which also has a backlight so I had to have one on the DX7 as well.

Cheers.

MB.

[flexbs]

wow that looks real nice. I am tempted to do it but i never fly at night.

[MiniBichus]

wow that looks real nice. I am tempted to do it but i never fly at night.

Thanks,
As for doing it, well, at the end of the day its all nuts and bolts, (well, more of the later) The hardest part was to do the gimbals, by a long shot, b/c you have to put them back together without screws left over on the bin. The backlight was easy for me b/c I've backlit a bunch of devices before this one, clocks and misc stuff like that. The LEDs take dissasembling the frame and the front 'chrome' mounting plate to get behind the speaker grille.

MB.

[dxtarl]

I am the fella who built/owned the DX7 on the original post. I say 'owned' in past tense b/c that particular DX7 caught on fire b/c of the LiPo charger didn't shutoff, not really sure why it didn't but it burnt down the radio to melted plastic, along with the backlight... :(

Wasn't for long tho... :lolol My latest DX7 has been modded even further, now it has two hi-power blue LEDs which illuminate the controls at night, I built a better neck strap out of SSG graphite, I added the missing ball bearing to the gimbals (what a PITA, I wouldn't do it ever again, if I would've knew then how much tearing down was involved on this sh*t!!) and then backlighted it, again, with another EL sheet that I cut. The EL color is actually a cool white, not blue as it shows on the camera.

Here is the latest MB-Commander control unit. (a.k.a as DX7 for the rest of the world.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krONshYigiU

I did the mod b/c I only had time to fly at night, therefore I needed to see the screen in the dark. Another reason was b/c my Futaba 3PK, which also has a backlight so I had to have one on the DX7 as well.

Cheers.

MB.

can you please give us a parts list and a tutorial as to how to do this. :D

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

can you please give us a parts list and a tutorial as to how to do this. :D

I second that.... :YeaBaby:

[MiniBichus]

I second that.... :YeaBaby:

LOL,

I did most of these mods ~5 months ago...

For the gimbal bearing mod just do a search in google, apparently other people have done it too since then and they also have nice tutorials.

For the LED's, you'll need to take apart the front 'chrome' plate, along with the gimbals. Again,other folks have done similar mods to add a power LEDs to their DX7s, and some of those mods go as far down as to take most of the radio apart (as I did), just follow any of those tutorials and you'll be able to put LEDs on your radio.

As for backlight, well, I could offer to do this mod for a limited time. However, I am not sure how many and how much people are willing to pay for a backlight on their DX7s, I mean, I only did it because I needed to see the screen at night. Nobody really noticed at the airfield b/c during the day the sunlight clouds the backlight and it becomes a regular reflective LCD screen. I guess you could go and show off... :YeaBaby::lol:

Cheers.

MB.

[flexbs]

Here is the best link for the bearings mod (step by step) If you follow the steps you should not have any screws left over :lol: I did it and i am real happy with the results. This is the only mod i have done to the TX.

http://www.rchelimag.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6343&page=1&pp=1

[MiniBichus]

Here is the best link for the bearings mod (step by step) If you follow the steps you should not have any screws left over :lol: I did it and i am real happy with the results. This is the only mod i have done to the TX.

http://www.rchelimag.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6343&page=1&pp=1


Yep, thats a very nice tutorial.

The gimbal mod definitively made a difference on mine. Specially the throttle, it slides much better and it doesn't have the sticky feel to it.

MB.