Acer Aspire Dim Screen

Hi,
Recently the screen of my laptop get barely visible. On general opinion the most probable reason for that is the screen inverter. I bough one from ebay (used one) and replaced it. It was working fine for a day and about 24hours later I've got dim screen again. I've already ordered a new inverter, due to the previous was used anyway, but if it happens again with the new inverter, most probably the fault is elsewhere or something is causing burning of the inverter.
About a couple of months ago I've installed second SSD & new processor, though I doubt it may be the reason for the issue.
Any advise would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

 

Does it become hot when it went out?

If yes then it was used anyway
if no then something surged the power into it . Check the voltage in the input of the inverter while starting you laptop, be careful not to touch the inverter's output it may get risky.

You asked for an idea, and that was one

 

Hi,
Thank you for that.
I haven't noticed to become hot, in a matter of fact after I installed second Hard Drive (SSD) I CPU it's working temperature seems a lot cooler than before (which is good).
Both times when the screen become dim was after working for a while, than leave the laptop for over 10min (when the screen switches off, this are my screen settings) when touching the touch pad or a button it lighten for a second and them become dim.
Has anyone face this sort of issue before?

 

You may first need to remove all the software limitations possibilities:
Screensaver . Power saving. And so on

Then with a small magnet try to move just around the touch pad on the right. Just on top of the sdcard slot. You will notice that the screen will go off as if it was closed.

Try this and see if it comes back to life

 

Thanks for the sugestion.
Tried it. Nothing happens.
I've just replaced the last screen inverter with the new one. Unfortunately I can't check the voltage now.
Everything is wroking just fine.
I'll write down again if it get dim again (or hopefully if it didn't)

 

Hope that it will stay working for as long as possible . Good luck

 

Hi,
24h later - Same thing. The screen went dim just like that. There was no sings for overheating or something. In a matter of fact I was just checking the area under the screen where the the screen inverter is (warm, but I presume it is normal, my tablet gets much hot than that), when the screen get dim again. As far as I read about that last days, it could be the cable, backlight, or who knows. I cant check the voltage to the screen inverter (I do not have a multimeter, neither know what's normal and what's not).
Currently I have no clue what could cause that.

 

That's really frustrating !
In general an inverter gives hight voltage from a low one.
So to destroy one you need either short to ground the output or under supply the input. Witch in your case is more probably the first option.

I think that the lcd screen it self is not compatible or has some failure .

Thus you need :
1 - check the cables from the inverter to the lcd screen
2 - check the compatibility between the lcd and the inverter board.
3 - check if the wires between the lcd and the lcd board . ( the very thing cables )
4 - check around the mounting plate of the inverter if it doesn't touch the metallic frame or something that could short circuit it to ground.

Good luck .
PS : don't buy a new inverter until you check the compatibility from the service manual.

By the way TPAKTOPA .
I know from a previous post the you have a aspire 6930G . I want to know of your problem has nothing to do with all the upgtades that you have done

 

On my opinion is unlikely some of the upgrades mentioned to cause this (but I might be wrong)
I'll check the cables this evening as you suggested.
I've read in another forum that the backlight might be warn off and this may cause switching off or burning of the inverters. Do you have any thoughts about that.
If there is no issues with the cables, I'll give it a try.

 

Yes that would be possible (back ligh) .
Check the cables and then check the back light it self , but be carefull and see if you can disconnect it

We are talking about the back light of the lcd not the back light of the logo acer

So check if you can disconnect the back light of the lcd and see if the screen is still working. Dimmer but working .

I hope that you are lucky enough to find something easy to repair

 

Yeah, the back light in the LCD. But are you saying that it will still work without it (dimmer), it is barely visible now???

 

Yes the lcd it self should be still working even if the back light is out. But it would be too dark to work on it .
Now you have to power the back light.

Check the above first . Then we will see

 

When I disconnect the cable from the inverter to the backlight. the screen is still dim (exactly the same way as when it is connected. I'm not sure indication of what is this. Checked all cables from and to the screen. Everything seems to be normal to me. I've removed the backlight (it was easier than I thought). The backlight itself has no signs of anything wrong, but It might not have ate all (I've never seen one before).
I'll order one, but I'm wandering, should I order another inverter??? It would be cheaper if I order them together. I don't know if it's still working or not???

 

Best thing is to order both of them ( inverter + back ligh ) at least you'll be sure that they are compatible and both working good.
So you may think about something else.

Hope it would be easy

 

I've got the new inverter and backlight today. I've replaced them (wasn't that difficult). My expectations that everything will work just as before was totally wrong. Still dim display. I've plugged in my previous backlight as an external, just to see is it working. When I switch the laptop on it just flashes for a second (not sure should it be this way). tried with any of the previous inverters - nothing happens (not even flashes). replaced the cable of the monitor (I've got one around), still the same. What are the chances the "new" inverter to be faulty or something?
Any ideas...... otherwise it looks like that I need a new laptop

 

Sorry to hear that . Let me check the schematic for you



This is for acer aspire 6930G that I think you have

 

The problem may be completely somewhere else. You see the LID SWITCH . that's the thing that controls the back light. If it's faulty then the motherboard will think that the laptop's lcd is folded down witch commands the back ligh to turn off.
I already told you to move a magnet next to the sdcard reader ( to the left) it should make the screen dimmer. So if nothing happens when you do that , means that that the switch is already activated . Anyway check the schematic and don't change the laptop . The aspire 6930G is ( for me) the best durable laptop ever ( expect for some MSI laptops)

 

Hi,
Checked the schema, but my knowledge of Electronics is obviously very limited nowadays. I've studied this over 15 years ago and never practised it. Anyway. I've tried to locate it in the motherboard, on one of the sides of the SD card is the Wi Fi card, on the other (where it looks like it should be, the magnet on the screen panel point this), there isn't a separate block of any sort, no visible signs of anything wrong and not sure what to do next with this.
I've measured the voltage at the input of the inverter, one of the cables measures about 19v, which should be the power source the next two are as follows 1.9v & 1.7v, one of it should be on/off, but it should measure around 3.3v when it is on. The other is for the brightness and depending of the current settings should be between 0.1-3.3v (I've read this in another forum). Obviously 1.9v isn't enough to power it, but what could cause this. Before that it was working at least for a day. I'll do some more measurements this evening. If you have any further advise, it is more than welcome.
P.S indeed the laptop is Acer Aspire 6930G (i should have written it on the title) and till now it was really good & reliable laptop (few small issues with the drivers).

 

I've ordered another inverter and everything is working this time for a few days already. Combination of bad spare parts + bad luck is not a good thing, but finally I've got some positive results.
There is only one thing that I've noticed recently, when I switch off the display some images or texts remain on it for a minute or two after is completely switched off. I've noticed this for the first time when I've started to replace the inverters. Is this an indication that the lifetime of the screen itself is nearly over or of any other issue that will cause more problems in the near future???
Please let me know if you have any opinion on that. If not, the time will shows.
Thank you for all of your help.

 

Yes. I think this is a life time issue