Replacing CCFL backlight in LCD-how to.

It seems my i8200 is getting a bit dim, a bit. I'm thinking it's age, But I'd like to replace it anyways. I've previosuly taken apart the LCD and plastics to replace a new cover and hinges. The screen OTOH is covered with silver wrap and tape..where and how is the CCFL tube on the LCD? I couldn't recognize it by looking at the connections..
Another question, is it necessary to replace the inverter as well? will the new tube work fine with the current inverter? What else do I need to know?
Does replacing the CCFL tube involve welding?
Any pictures to show what's needed?

 

There are many flavors of backlight tube, and no way of ordering one for a specific screen that I know of. It wouldn't be too awful hard to replace, but it would have to be done in an extremely clean-air environment to be sure that no dust ends up inside the LCD pane, between the laters of plastic.
Since there are so many different lights, (I've seen at leat 3 different diameters), I would be concerned that the inverter might expect a specific wattage, where the variety of bulbs' wattages might vary a bit. (I don't know if there is a standard wattage).
This is one of those situations that purchasing a used or refurbished LCD will be a bullet worth biting when compared to the cost of time and parts coupled with the possibility that you might wind up with parts that do not work.
It may not be what you wish to hear, and I sympathize particularly if you are like me and have a dead pixel-free screen that was hard to obtain in the first place and you wish to preserve it.
Your only "real" option, if you're hell-bent on doing it, is to purchase a screen off ebay that lights up well but has some other problem, like dead pixels or scratches, and swap out the light.

 

Thanks for the reply PK. As not wanting to invest in the laptop but like to dissasemble and fix problems in my laptops, i don't mind removing the tube. A used screen goes for over $100 and the laptop itself goes for $200-300, and so have thought that way. I've checked on JKlamps.com and spoke to the one of the reps there and they've warned me of things I can and can't do. I've also checked different websites and they all have the same specs for the tube. I also have seen an inverter board and plan to get that JIC. And yes, like you i have a great screenI say thank you to everyday it goes by with no defects as it's getting a bit old. I'm asking to find out if anyone else has done this and and how successful they consider the replacement.

 

Having disassembled many screens, I would say that if you know what you're in for, are handy, dexterous & patien t enough to complete a toy automobile model, and can work in a clean environment, you should be successful.

 

...Photo-documenting it would be a great thing to share with everyone, BTW.

-What size light do you need?

 

I replaced the backlight in my old dell inspiron 8000 that is more than 7 years old now just a few months ago after leaving it broken in its bag for over 2 years. It was very frustrating. I needed a soldering iron and about 4 gallons of patience.

Newer LCDs seem to have a slip feature where all you need to do is open up a slot, remove the bulb, and insert the new bulb.

If you have a screen like mine, you will need to order the proper length bulb, learn how to use a soldiering iron, and be ok with a few black specks on the inside of your screen (they look like faded dead pixels). I had to completely open up the LCD clamshell style and it just took too long to prevent stuff from falling in.

I followed this nice fellow's guide on how to replace the bulb. His posts begin a few posts down from the beginning.

I just found another guide on the net that seems to go through the same process. Here.

After I had replaced the backlight, my screen cable stopped functioning properly and I had to replace it.

Still... the entire processes only cost me about 40 dollars as opposed to the 300-500 dollars it would've been to replace the screen. Not bad, and it is QUITE the learning experience.

Just hope you don't have the same kind of replacement mechanism that I did.

 

PK and SE, thanks for the help. That link of the 8100 on DSLreports is the same screen I have. I've taken apart the laptop and looked the screen over numerous times and I think I could and should do this.
The hard part was really how to take the screen apart.

If you have a screen like mine, you will need to order the proper length bulb, learn how to use a soldiering iron, and be ok with a few black specks on the inside of your screen (they look like faded dead pixels). I had to completely open up the LCD clamshell style and it just took too long to prevent stuff from falling in.

No way around this, or to lessen the effect? How about using a can of air to spray some of it out just before closing the 2 halves? liquid crystal stuff is closed in it's own container right, so where is the dust specks going? maybe use some masking tape with newspaper to cover some up while soldering?
thanks again.