LCD Monitor Adapter Cable?

A question for the omniscient Toughbook deities.

Do any of you know of any type of extension cable or apparatus that would allow me to attach one end to a Toughbook base(cf-28/29/18), and with maybe a 2-3 foot length, then the other end into multiple LCD monitors, one at a time, as a way of checking them.

I have a bin of say 15-20 LCDs, and I’d like to check them out and verify condition, but its problematic pushing them into the little sockets on the MB, and I ended up breaking one LCD cable when I tried the last time

 

I think this is what you are looking for:

Newegg.com - IOGEAR 6 ft. VGA Extension Cable Model G2LVGAE006

a simple VGA extension cable, no?

 

He means multiple LCD display panels , so no

 

Not true. He said he wanted to test multiple monitors, but one at a time. Dumb cat.... hehehe

 

No just a smartalex

 

Are you talking about plugging in the LCD monitors off of toughbooks into the motherboard of your toughbook? If your just checking regular monitors, then the extension cable described will suffice. I don't know of a way to check toughbook displays that plug into the video card on the mother board.

 

I would take a couple lcd cables and put a connector / splice in 18" of cable in the middle. You could then leave the motherboard connector plugged in.
You already have the one busted cable with a good lcd end still on it.
Maybe salvage connectors from bad lcds and bad mb.

I'm thinking as I type. I guess the lcds still have the cable on them. I would take the connector from a bad lcd, cutting a section of the pcb to make it easy. Then take a connector from a bad MB, cutting the pcb also. Dremel tools are great. Splice the 2 connectors together using 18" of wire.
The created extension cord would accept the lcd connection from the end of the motherboard cable. The other end of the cord would accept the motherboard connection on the end of the lcd cable.
It probably sounds alot harder to make than it really is. Pay attention to the color code and solder 1 wire at a time.

Shawn

 

Actually, the cat was right, smart kitty....

I'm looking to test individual lcd monitors/screens/pannels that came off cf-28,29,18 etc, to see which ones work and which ones do not. Id rather not try to plug each one in, one at a time to the little ports on the motherboard, as its a tight fit.

What I want is a type of extention cable like shawn mentioned, were one end is attached to a mother board test unit, and the other end long enough, and with ports the same as on the mother board. Testing one lcd isnt a problem, trying to check 15-20 lcds, thats a pain and I risk breaking a port or the thin lcd cable trying to get in in just right mounted in the case.

sorry for the confusion,

Sam

 

Shawn,

You talking brain surgery skills, I dont even own a soldering iron, its on a par with large power tools in my shop, dangerous....

When we go on the missions, my guys wont let me near the saws and nail guns, something about not wanting to have to carry me afterward.

 

Are you testing bare LCDs or whole lids?

If just bare LCDs, then you should be able to rob the LVDS (Low Voltage Digital Signal) from two or buy two from eBay and hack them together to make one longer one. Most of these are the same at the LCD's LVDS end. Where it gets tricky is the inverters; they have several different ones and they all use a different plug-in on the low-voltage side. If you're looking to test whole lids, then Shawn's idea is pretty much your only solution; short of buying a commercial LCD testing rig. Even then, you'd probably still have to build your own custom header for the LCDs to plug into.

mnem
It ain't pretty.

 

OK; I think I see "The Problem" that needs clarification here:

You stated "LCD monitors;"; did you actually mean "LCD panels"?

 

Apparently he did... especially considering most VGA cables are more than 3 feet in length

This probably wont work... whether or not you enjoy splicing together cables.
The reason is simpler than that. LVDS interface is not meant for distance. It degrades very easily over long distances and imperfect cables.

It might make it simpler (and safer) however to actually get an LCD monitor and disassemble it, then use the VGA cable to plug into its video circuit and plug the panels into that.

Wait a minute...

You want to test laptop LCD assemblies?

Well, thats just not very smart, unless you think the cable & inverter are worth as much as the panel...

 

OK, I'm lost in translation.

The LCD pannel, the top lid, the back cover, the lcd itself, whatever its proper name; I'm talking the entire assembly that is removed from the laptop, case and all, that when removed from a 28,29,18 etc, has the wiring harness hanging from the lcd, usally with two or three attachment cables if digitizer, and the antenna wires.

What I was looking for was some sort of extention cable, or testing block, were I could, rather than trying to plug each lcd wiring harness into the small opening and plugs on the laptop motherboard, I could have an extention cable that was a little longer, plugged into the motherboard, and the other end to plug into the lcd assemblies one at a time to see if they work or not.

Thanks for all the responces, I think I have my answer.

 

That's a pretty narrow-minded view; it makes perfect sense to me to want to test complete lids without having to tear them all apart. Tearing apart a ToughBook lid is a bit more involved than your average Dell; they're made of sterner stuff. The panel inside, however, is often a very common model that may very well be available on eBay for $35-60. If you place any value on your time at all, it soon becomes apparent that being able to test complete lids as he is suggesting would be a valuable thing unless you're just testing 2 or 3 here & there.

Yeah, you want to be able to test a complete lid. This is going to require the work that Shawn was suggesting, I'm afraid. You could very well spend more time trying to build this thing than you would tearing down a dozen lids and testing them one at a time on a laptop with the LVDS cable from one of those lids used as a test rig. And I KNOW some of those lids don't have the same ribbon cables; you'd need to figure out & make a different adapter for those. You're probably better off tearing them down & testing them.

I don't blame you for wanting an easier solution but I don't have one, I'm sorry.

mnem
*Bearer of bad news dwagon*

 

For a 28 or 29, why not use just a bare mobo? Connected it to a power supply, may an old (external) keyboard with a good F2 key, and leave the connectors exposed without any case. Should be easier to connect without the case. And I bet you have a spare mobo or 2 laying around ... if not Rob™ might have one with bad USB ports he might give away ....

 

Springfield,

That will work, I've got of those in every flavor, and just for fun, I'll mount the MB to a piece of clear lucite and go from there.

sam

 

@orphanlr
Just make sure you put some form of heatsink/heatsinks if you are running it for more than a few minutes

 

I'm sorry, I must've misunderstood to begin with. I thought this was what you were doing from the start. I use a short-nap bath mat carpet; the rubber on the bottom and the nap on top keeps my boards from skittering all over while I work on 'em.

Good luck; and don't worry about not having an easy way to connect a battery. You shouldn't need it just to boot to BIOS to test a panel. Worst case scenario if you get one that has video noise, THEN worry about trying to plug in a battery to buffer the power. Remember, these laptops are designed to be able to hot-swap batteries - any time that is happening, it's running on AC only.

mnem
Bloop!