Vintage Synth Repair

sorry guys I also forgot to mention that these backlights are not easy to install at all
although they come with ready made wires protruding, the area where the connection is made is more to the center then the original Korg backlight that has 2 very thin ‘film-type’ wires coming out of the left side.
although the backlight itseft is thin and easy to push under the LCD, the connection where the wires are soldered isn’t and also worse then this the guy puts silicone adhesive that makes it more thick and if one is not extremely careful could break the LCD glass.
if you manage to push it in like I luckily did.. you will end up with a non-professional display with a slightly blackened LCD where the connection is made as this is touching/pushing with the glass.
so I am still looking from other sources that have the wires coming out from the side as in original korg factory ones
keep your eyes open everyone!
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my experience with Glowsafe is different:
out of 2 backlights sent 1 did not glow (so for me it was not safe like they say at all!)
have been trying to contact them and sent several emails to no avail – no replies!
however when I contacted them 1st time by email about sales I was answered immediately by a guy named Paul.
so at this point I’m stuck with a non-glowing backlight... but the Lord works in mysterious ways and so I leave my faith for the righteous to go forward in HIM.
so also... I do not recommend Glowsafe at all and be careful!!
this could be not a company at all but just a one man band freak trying to rip out money from decent people trying to make a living.
he could even be lurking somewhere around here.. so be warned fellas!
it’s a pity as I have several 01/WFDs coming all needing backlight replacement plus a general refit etc..
so guess now with whom I will make my order with:
http://www.backlight4you.com/index.php/cat/c130_EL-Replacements.html/XTCsid/49b0c430a5444dc2a95ac348a81949cf 

If any tech on this forum has alternative sources please be kind enough as to mention it here thanks
after all.. that’s what forums are for, right?
Cheers and good work and health to you all.
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[Attachment(s) from jammie included below]
 

they are the perfect fit for the 240x64 lcd displays they all use an equivelent lcd display size dont need to cut the efoil as they fit them all

they sell an invertor to fit it to

but e foils all work on the same low amp high frequency ac voltage 200-400 hz the high the frequency the brighter the display but also the higher the frequency the quicker burn out

they also work on dc 150v-200vdc but burn out a lot quicker with this vaultage

the invertors range from 5v to 200-400 ac voltage hz and 12v to 200-400 hz

it all depends where you are taking the voltage from

the tx16w uses both on its floppy drive so its easy for you to choose

also being in japan there is a chinese firm that does them aswell 

but those you will have to cut to size your self but come in variuos colours

glowsafe efoils are the standard whitish blue light

i used to cut my own but glowsafe are so cheap that it safe me the time effert in doing it as its already done for me but they only do the one colour thats the white blue light

with the manufacture of the vfd it will be exact same header so all you have to do is remove the ribbon header and fit new ribbon header

thats what i do with all the 40x2 vfd displays



noritake itron uk i use but they have a usa factory and one in japan 

noritake japan

for the tx16w its the 40x2 vfd display

pdf for it is added

just solder the same 14 connections no back light needed and no nasty whining noise from faild efoil

you buy direct from noritake good service fast delivery and the best display there is you can stand 3 meters away and still read what on the screen

unlike a lcd become total blank at a few paces

go onto there web site and 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Daniel Forró 
  To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2012 4:09 PM
  Subject: Re: [vintagesynthrepair] Korg X5 keys not working

    

  On May 12, 2012, at 10:12 PM, jammie wrote:





    optrex stop doing those displays becuase they were not rhos compliant

    they have equivelents same spec but use led back lights meaning they are about 7mm thicker some synths its not a problem but others it is

    but becuase yours is ccfl the led backlight versions are about the same size

    where are you based as optrex factory is in the usa

  I'm in Japan, but nowadays shouldn't be problem to order from USA. I tried to find modern substitution but they differs in some spec parameters so I'm not sure if it will work...



    just do the back light foils on most of those

    safeglow in uk £7 for the back light cheap as chips and they work great they come with long wires so it does not mater if the terminal are in a different place and as seeing the glue terminals are done at factor and you are soldering just the wires it does not distroy the backlight with soldering

    i have fitted them to my sy99 sy85 kurzweil k2000 kawai k5 and k5000

    01w t1 and t3ex korg wavestation ex akai s3200 x6

  That's good, where you got backlight foils? What about their size, color, voltage, frequency, which inverter could be used for it?



    im in talks with the manufacturer at the moment for getting them to make a vfd exact same size as the 240x64 and pcb fixing holes as its the most used display and they dont do an equivelent yet

  That would be good. Will it be compatible to most synthesizers with 240x64 displays? Will be cable connected, or user has to solder it?



    i have the schems for the tx16w ill see if i can find them for you and send you a pdf

  That would be very helpful. Try to ask me if you need some Service manual, I have huge collection...



    i would say the invertor is gone an easy fix is by a 5v to ac voltage invertor for back lights use the come in a small black plastic case with wire for efoil and wires to connect to a 5v supply just just fit a molex hard drive fitting and get a floppy drive extender cable

    that gives you another floppy drive power conector and a male power
    connector for hard drives this is what i used with the fz1 as the invertor on those is dc to dc and they burn out the efoil quicker

    becuase its an insulated product you can just leave it inside the case i taped mine to the side of the case

    they work well and are made for the newer efoils so they connect straight in

  Where I can buy such inverter and backlight foil?

    you can fit a 40x2 vfd in s900 /s950/roland d50/d550/jd800

    yamaha tx16w

    casio cz range 

    and lots of yam synth especially ones with out efoil circuits as the vfd uses neon lettering and does not require a backlight power conection

    also they dont require a angle voltage because they are good fromn any angle unlike the lcd modules

  Which model is it and where I can buy it?


  Thanks for answers. 

  Daniel Forro