Vintage Synth Repair

Hi All,
All this talk of buying expensive and dubious replacement backlight 
foils for the
obsolescent Optrex displays is missing the point.
This old Technology is a dead end, dating from when LED backlight 
technology was
inadequate to light such a large (for its time) display.

I have been using a really nice LED backlit display from RS-Components 
for the
Korg 01/WFD and K2000, it's part no. 532-7271  Displaytech 240X64 
Graphics display panel.
It is a white charactered display with a blue backlight, high contrast 
and perfectly fits all
mounting holes on both of the above machines and the extra thickness of 
the LED glass
is no problem. The new display is a vast improvement on the original, 
much better to read
than the original and no fading backlight.

The only downsides are the synth's Hi Voltage backlight inverter has to 
be removed along with its
drive circuitry, and a 39 Ohm resistor put in line between 5V and the 
original inverter positive.
It works a treat and doesn't take long. You can use the original 
connector for the backlight.
The other thing is that the display cable has to be transferred from the 
old Optrex to the new
Displaytech, it's fiddly and takes a little time, but you only do it once.

The other benefit, no more display whine, and the new display's contrast 
is a quantum leap over the
original. The display cost is about �40, and they are available in a 
range of Character and backlight colours
although my own view is the white on blue suits both the Korg and the 
Kurzweil the best.

I don't know yet if it will fit (thickness-wise as the mounting holes 
are the same) the Korg Wavestation or
the Yamaha SY77 as I haven't had any of these in here yet
I also found a lovely compatible display for the Emu SP12, which was 
very expensive for a 2X16 display,
it came from Farnell and cost �30, but was a perfect fit and a 68 Ohm 
resistor replaced the inverter.
White on blue again but definitely suited the SP12

Regards,
John.
>
> Ok, now you\u2019re talkin!
> What I do not understand is why sell a non working product to someone 
> if you know that is does not work
> and if he didn\u2019t know that it does not work why not accept it back if 
> client is not satisfied?
> If he does this he surely would not get long term customers. And also 
> eventually after time he would get no respect and satisfaction at all 
> and gain nothing from his work.
> One thing I know for sure is when you make an order and deal with a 
> reliable respectful company and make a claim, they always send replies 
> and try to sort the matter out. But I will not stop here as luckily I 
> have good reliable relations with The British Embassy whom they will 
> enquire about his advertising on the net as he should fall in-line as 
> stipulated by the law.
> If backlight4you are same, then I do not want them; in fact I will 
> enquire and ask about this in advance.
> I do not want to take the risk of breaking an LCD as also it would be 
> a pity
> just for the carelessness of someone else.
> I like to work professionally as best I could; I think that leads 
> coming out from the side as original is the way to go.
> You guys know how that proverb goes... O
> nce bitten, twice shy.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> \ufeff
>
> i had 6 from him and had no problems
> but i think you might be right
> as all backlights have now been removed from there site for synths
> i reckin he made some for himself and had a few spare
> and you must off had the last of them
> i also use a guy from china and his displays are the same size and the 
> cables come out at the side and not the middle like the glow safe
> but you have to trim them to fit the 01w
> as for backlight4you there terminals also come out the middle and you 
> have to solder wires to then so that you can solder wires to the terminals
> but all connections are done out side of the glass
> or buy your own sheet if you have plenty todo then make them up your 
> self that way you can put the wires whre you want them
> itseasy todo
> i just used the glow safe ones as it was already done for me
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* No�lBuhagiar <mailto:laser@...>
>     *To:* vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
>     <mailto:vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com>
>     *Cc:* korg01w-list@yahoogroups.com
>     <mailto:korg01w-list@yahoogroups.com>
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, May 15, 2012 2:15 PM
>     *Subject:* [vintagesynthrepair] LCD BACKLIGHTS WARNING!!!
>
>     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 \u2018film-type\u2019 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\u2019t 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!
>     ----------------------------------------------------------
>     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 \u2013 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\u2019m 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\u2019s 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\u2019s what forums are for, right?
>     Cheers and good work and health to you all.
>     --------------------
>
>     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 Forr� <mailto:dan.for@...>
>         *To:* vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
>         <mailto: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
>
> 
>
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