Is my inverter bad? Did lcd swap and have black screen...

Hey,
So as you can see in my sig, I have a Gateway 6831fx. I know this is a Dell forum, but it's quite active and I think the issue I am having can be addressed here as well I replaced the old screen (model ltn170x2-l02) with a LP171WU1(TL)(A2). Although it came with an inverter, one of the plugs (not the one with two wires, but the other one) was different from the attaching plugs in my laptop. So I hooked it up to the existing inverter that came with the laptop.
It worked perfectly for about a month, but now I'm pretty sure the inverter died. I say, "Pretty sure" because I guess there is a chance that the new screen is dead. However, I hooked up my old screen to the laptop and it's doing the same thing.
My question is particular to inverters. Are there specific KINDS of inverters that will or will not work? How do I go about identifying the correct one to buy? Or is there some sort of conversion cable so I can use the brand new inverter that came with my new screen?
I am glad to take pics if that would help.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

 

Here you go: http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=LP...sid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=LP171WU1&_osacat=0

Should work with both of your displays since your old inverter worked with both of your displays.

Going to move this to the general hardware forum as well.

 

I bet the fuse on your inverted burned out. Different LCD's have a different power consumption. If you put say a 50mw load more than what it is designed for it will die.
You can replace the fuse with a larger one, I did this because I draw some power from my inverter to power other gadgets. I think I replaced my 1amp fuse with a 3 amp or something like that

If you can get at the inverter, look on the PCB, for a small "F" next to one of the components. The F may have a number next to it, like "F3"
You can solder wires from those leads to a separate fuse.

Please note this is only necessary if you want to fix your inverter, but one of the requirements is you need to know that the fuse is shot.

K-TRON

 

yikes- I don't know about soldering to a new fuse- that sounds a bit above my skill level. As for finding a replacement, from what I can tell they all have the same plug as the one that came with the LP171WU1(TL)(A2). It's that black plug and it quite different from the connector coming out of my laptop. Can I change the connector and if so, how??? The main reason I ask is this: I already have a brand new inverter that I could use (the one that came with the new screen). I didn't use it though exactly because the plug doesn't match up with the plug on my laptop.

Edit: A new thought: Is the fuse the long black flat piece behind the plastic? Can I possibly take the fuse from the new inverter and place it into the old one?

BTW- I found "f2.5A on the new inverter, but no such markings on the old one

 

Please help, guys. I'm sitting here with an open laptop, no screen, and I'm dying to get this fixed. I spent over $1100 on it and it kills me to see it just laying around.
My questions:
Can I use the inverter that I have? If so, how to I convert the cable plugs so they fit?

Do I need a new inverter? Which one? How do I see the ratings of the amps to know what I need? The only thing I see on both inverters is 94V-0. I don't want to just buy a Gateway inverter since it seems to have been killed last time by my new monitor. Which brings me back to the first question: How can I use the one I have?

THANKS!

Edit: I found "f2.5a/32v" on the new inverter but don't see anything on the old one

 

Most inverters use the same input/output plugs, so they should be somewhat interchageable. However you should look for that model number and research it online. If the one outputs say 200V AC more than the other than you will fry the CCFL bulbs in your screen.
There should be information on both, it is usually on a sticker which sits atop the voltage rectifier, (usually the largest circuit on the inverter)

K-TRON

 

There are two plugs on each inverter: one has two wires and is running out of both of my lcds (so I'm assuming this is the "in"). However, it's the other one that is radically different on mine. My laptop has a white, 5-wire plug coming out, but the plug on the new inverter is long, skinny and black and seems to accomodate more wires.
Let's assume my best bet is to replace the fuse at this point. Where do I get a fuse that I can be confident will accomodate my screen? Do I then need to remove the old fuse or simply leave it on?
K-tron- you're my savior! ;-) I really appreciate the help.

Here you can see a picture of my inverter:

http://cgi.ebay.com/GateWay-P-6301-...21072.101_W0QQitemZ270355727548QQcmdZViewItem

The problem with buying the same one, of course, is that I will probably blow it again when using my new monitor

 

Checkout post # 153 in this thread of mine:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=224877

I show you how to locate the fuse and replace it

I used a standard glass tube like fuse. It doesnt really matter what shape your fuse is, just attach it via longer wires so you can position it elsewhere.
Finding the same surface mount fuse will be impossible unless the fuse states what part it is. In my case it did not, so I replaced it with a fuse I had lying around. Stick with fuses less than 3 amperes, the standard ones are usually around 0.5 amps

K-TRON

 

Here is my inverter:

I am assuming that the fuse is the piece directly left of the plug. Left of the fuse, there are two solder points. Can I solder the new fuse on there? Do I have to remove the old fuse?

 

You need to remove the old fuse, the traces to the left could be something different. I am not sure if that chip is the fuse or not. Mine had an "F" next to it meaning that it was the fuse. Your inverter does not have any labels. That could be a capacitor for all we know, but in experience, fuses tend to have the light blue center, so you can assume that that blue chip next to the plug is the fuse.
You can try connecting a 1 amp fuse external as I did. That should do the trick. If it doesnt work, than its time for a new inverter

K-TRON

 

It seems a simple enough, I don't think you need to worry about soldering and damages since it's not a motherboard.. You could just replace your old fuse.