CF- Keyboards 28 inverter & 29/30 interchangeable

just a couple fast ones guy's - where can I source the inverter for the CF-28 that will allow the back lit keyboard to light up (Ive looked everywhere on line) & will the CF-29(any MK) back lit keyboard fit & function on the CF-30MK1? All signs point to yes, guess i just need the push to try one out.

 

There are 2 or 3 cables on the kb's.

28 backlit KB's have 2 FFC's
29 backlit KB's have 3 FFC's (extra 2pin one for backlight power, don't know why)
30's I don't know about, but I do know that 30 KB's will work in a 29.

they should all work with each other.

Anyone know any different????

 

Thanks interestingfellow, The back lit keyboard I have works well in the 28 but no light joy. it seems to need an inverter (think thats what I remember reading) before it will give off its glow. They are next to impossiable to source from what I have read. I think a 29 back lit will work in a 30 with no problems again from what all I was able to find on the subject. I know tac gear, I2's , & the like - lap tops - not so much

 

the backlight keyboards from the cf-29, will fit in the 30 and 31, and vice versa. however, the cf-28 backlight keyboard will function in a 29, but no backlight. and the standard keyboards from the 29+ models will work in a 28 as well

 

@ interestingfellow
You're right about the cables, but the 28 green emissive is a different animal. It takes a special inverter we call the Texas board. They are rare but I have an extra if someone really needs it (NOT free). Also have an even rarer modified Texas board that allows the CF-29/30 white emissive to be used with a CF-28.

Please use Azrial's search tool because this has been thoroughly discussed several times already.

TEST site:forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic - Google Search ... replace TEST with Texas board

 

uhhhh..... I don't know about all that.....

What I do know is that I have an mk1 29, and that it had a backlit rubber kb in it with 3 ffc's, a white backlit, and an xp style flag on the windows button.
Then, I purchased a different rubber KB that has only 2 ffc's, is green backlit, and has the windows 2k style flag on the windows key.
And it works without an issue. Perhaps my 29 has the "texas board". I"m trying to find a pic of the texas board to find out. I don't know why an "inverter" would be needed, it runs on 5v dc, doesn't it? I put 5v to the 2pin ffc on the old rubber kb, and it lit up.
I'm gonna check my new keyboards part number, and contact the seller. I'm quite happy with it, btw, but am perplexed.

 

The "Texas Board" inverter is needed only for the CF-28 version of the "emissive" keyboard which will not work on any other model. The keyboards have been beaten to death in the stickies and elsewhere.
CAP

 

ya, the cf-29 is all ran through the keyboard pcb, they all have (except special customer units) atleast 4 connectors on it. 2 are for the kb function, 1 is for backlight and the other is for other options, i think chicago pd uses it for their Motorola modems