** OT ** LCD Monitor Repair ** OT **

I bought a 24" widescreen a Soyo Topaz S LCD Monitor at the Shelby Hamfest Friday. I paid for the princely sum of $5 and when I got it home, it lit up once nicely, and then of course, the image totally failed.

So, I started taking it apart and found that the Caps all "looked" in good shape. The problem seemed to be where one of the flat cables plugged into one of the circuit boards on the back of the screen. It is the type of connector where the cable is held tight against the connector by a thin white wedge.

What I don't know is what that connector looks like on the back side, not wanting to pull the board off and actually see it with my own eyes, due to fear of going "too far." I put it all back together and now it works, but the image is very grainy and fuzzy. So, I am thinking that while the ribbon is now making better contact, it is still not a good connection.

So on the connector described above, has anyone seen one similar? The very top of the ribbon cable seems abraded away and I started to cut off a 1/4" and do the same, but then I started to think that there may be teeth under that that are supposed to bite in to the cable and the reason that the cable is stripped back is that it was pulled out of the connector! In that case, I would not want to try and strip the individual wires back as that would make the connection looser.

Anybody know what the hell I am babbling about this morning?

 

You crack me up.... For $5... Let's dig into it!

Can you post a picture of what you can see and maybe a pic of the ribbon end?

 

online photos

DIYguy: Fixing LCD monitor (soyo topaz s)

similar problem

Stupid LVDS ribbon cable! - Badcaps Forums


Is this the board?

 

Perhaps, but just look up the lcd part id with HWiNFO and then proceed to Panelook to find out its connector type. Chances are yours is this one; AUO M240UW01, but reports vary, so they might've used different lcd's in the same monitor series (quite common).

Anyway, assuming it's that AUO, it has a 2-channel, 8-bit LVDS connector. Knowing that, as well as noting the pin-count on the cable's pcb end and measuring its full length) you can then comfortably proceed to buy a new cable for the tremendous sum of, say, ~$3.50. Hopefully the input-connector on the lcd proper is still intact ... that'd be a trickier procedure.

Make sure which lcd yours actually is; the board posted by Shawn shows a low-profile connector to the board whereas the aforementioned AUO features a high-profile connector.

 

All good advice, and perhaps I can find a replacement cable like that. But, mine is not like the one that you posted, it is a flat ribbon cable, so I guess that I have the low profile model.

But, I am thinking that maybe I can just cut say 1/4" off this one and use it...?

 

Unlikely, usually these things have flattened endings soldered to the individual copper wires, so if you'd cut and strip these then the wire won't stay in place. But better verify this; if you look closely you should be able to see whether this is the case. Or post a picture.

 

Thanks guys, but this this thing has a flat ribbon cable, like a piece of film, not the SCSI type wired cables with molded plugs that apparently others have. It is like the one that is coming in at 12 O'clock on Shawn's posted image.

I crack myself up! I'm getting ready to travel in my job for 4 days or so, I will post a picture of the cable end when I get back! Thanks for any and all help!! : )

 

Mouser and Digikey have a great selection of flat cables. Once we get fotos, we can figure out the cable count and pitch.

 

The metal grounding tape is also pretty worn and I suspect that it may being making a bad ground. How much static and graininess that this may be putting on the picture is anyone's guess.

 

Here is the end of the 30 Pin cable. More Later!

 

Ah, right.

Yes, go right ahead; make a clean cut and scrape the plastic coating away on the ends. It's how they were made from the roll in the first place. If the remade cable-end didn't do the trick, there must've been more damage done. The connector itself, for instance.

 

This is the white plastic wedge that keeps the cable tight against the circuit board. I do not see any damage to this connector. If I just cut a quarter inch off the cable and start fresh, what is the best method to strip away the insulation on the ends to make uniform contact? I would think that just taking a razor and cutting away insulation will not leave a uniform surface to make consistent contact. I thought to take my Dremel with the wire brush attachment and just abate away the insulation on one end to try and make it uniform.

 

No dremel necessary, you're making too much of these simple things. A utility knife is fine; their proper contact is ensured when you push or click the moving part of the connector back in place (with some resistance). Seeing that picture, however ... certain the connector's in order? These are the two most common flat-ribbon types:

 

I would like to say that I made this sow's ear into a silk purse, but, didn't happen! From the look of tape and connections I would guess that I am not the first guy to take a shot at this! I think that I am going to give it one more try when I return from work in 4 days, but after that, I guess that I will just have to kiss the $5 goodbye! LoL, well at least I got my money's worth in amusement!

Thanks for all the help!

 

So... what was the ultimate outcome?

Or did you have a case of "mnem fatfingers" and break something so it couldn't be fixed (Been dere, dunnat SO many times) and just don't wanna talk about it?


mnem
*Shrek hands*

 

Don't know, it just ceased to work at all on the second attempt.

It is all piled carefully in the corner right now while I am waiting for my girlfriend to be out of town and then will give it one from try!