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    Are screen inverters interchangeable?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Gracy123, Feb 12, 2011.

  1. Gracy123

    Gracy123 Agrees to disagree

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    Are inverters interchangeable/universal? I have a defective inverter on a Dell Inspiron 510M and at the same time one that should be working from a Fujitsu Siemens M6450...

    Would I be able to use it for the Dell?
     
  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Inverters are very electrically sensitive devices, I doubt so. You would have to check the voltages. I would recommend genuine Dell OEM parts, they aren't terribly expensive.
     
  3. Gracy123

    Gracy123 Agrees to disagree

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    They aren't.... but do you know how old this model is ;) Parts are not found on every corner :)

    I'll check them, thanks

    If anyone has more information or experience, please share.
     
  4. Gracy123

    Gracy123 Agrees to disagree

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    Bump.

    No one?
     
  5. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

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    Yes they are stansardized in many cases. But you have to be careful, remember your dealing with 500v. That said I've shocked myself several times and its not a real health risk, it just hurts.

    I'm using a gateway inverter on my clevo, its been working flawlessly for most of a year. Its 7 pin and I had a 6 pin plug, I plugged it into the top, I think you can generally be pretty sure that the Vin is at the top.
    The drawback as you can guess is no dimming/brightness control.

    Unfortunately for you the Dell ones usually have a special connector... so it probably wont work out. Unless you find an alienware inverter or something.
     
  6. granyte

    granyte ATI+AMD -> DAAMIT

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    speaking of inverter is there a diference fbetween one that has ccfl backlight and one that use wled back light
     
  7. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    There should be a diference (ccfl needs AC right, and led works with DC). At least as far as I know.

    In fact for a wled screen you shouldn't have an inverter (maybe some other board in it's place).
    Because there would be no need to switch the current from DC to AC.
     
  8. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

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    O, yes that goes beyond brand compatibility.

    CCFLs run at 500-800v or so, AC and they also have startup voltages of around 1000. I don't think the AC is 60hz either, might be more like 30khz.
    LCD datasheets tend to have good info on this.
    LED backlights don't need more than 12v so yea it doesn't get inverted, they need special voltage regulators however and some PWM circuitry.
     
  9. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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  10. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

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    ...on the other hand, thats not OEM.
    Some OEM inverters might be a better idea even if they aren't fully compatible.

    My thinking is that pretty much all inverters for the same screen size put out the same voltage to the CCFL, so incompatibility with the dimming circuit and pinout isn't quite as dangerous IMO, overall shoddy manufacturing and cheap parts could be much worse. I mean if you get seriously screwed up voltages going into the CCFL then it could potentially ignite and/or melt things important enough to destroy the LCD.
     
  11. granyte

    granyte ATI+AMD -> DAAMIT

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    something i don't get today i opened my laptop screen and found nothing that looks even remotely like a inverter

    and even worst when looking for the LP171WU4 i found this picture


    Google Image Result for http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/1161947/13056768/0/1275745400/APPLE_MACBOOK_PRO_2_6_GHZ_LCD_SCREEN_17_LED_LP171WU4.jpg

    the connector up there that connect to the leds is identical to the one that connect to the ccfl on mine is the invertor comming with the screen or hidden inside the laptop
    è

    EDIT never mind this is actualy the lcd connector the power connector is at the botom of the screen with my hidden inverter