PSOne Screen back-lighting ideas

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:23 am

So, here's a few questions...

1. Why does everybody use only like... 3 LEDs when it's usually not bright enough? Why not like, 8 or so?

2. Has anyone ever used a pot to adjust the LED's brightness?

3. Has anyone ever tried using an electroluminescent panel to back-light the screen? If so, what were the results, and where can I find a white one of the correct size?

Metroid fan · Post by **Metroid fan** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:48 am

Why 8? 4 is usually enough for most peoples preferred brightness and if you use three you can just use the brightness mod.

Post by **marshallh** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:38 am

Three leds and the brightness mod look just fine. It's still plenty bright. However, you have to use the LEDs that Ben buys from Digikey - there are quite a few white leds out there that just won't cut it.

If you've seen one in person, I think you'll agree just 3 leds are sufficient.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:16 am

i got LEDS of digikey yesterday, and the only ones i could find in 3mm were only 1100 mcd...

i got them anyways.

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:22 am

i agree with Electric Rain on #1, i used 6 ultra-bright LEDs. it looks fantastic, even better than the original backlight viwed from a portablized angle (not directly at the screen, from a downward angle). i didn't consider a panel because LEDs are cheaper and work just fine. the best place to get very bright LEDs (like 10,000 mcd) in mass quantities for cheap prices is ebay.

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:33 pm

Meh, I don't want to use the brightness mod because it lowers sharpness. And it may damage the screen over time. Call me paranoid, but $30 isn't pocket change for me.

Post by **marshallh** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:39 pm

My PSone LCD has had the brightness mod applied for over a year now, with no side effects. It barely reduces the contrast, and doesn't affect the sharpness at all.

Why don't you experiment on your own screen instead of debating with us.

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:20 pm

Again, $30 isn't pocket change to me... I don't have a screen yet.

I'm not trying to debate anything, I want that to be clear. There has been one too many misunderstandings between me and a one mod or another... I was just wondering if anyone had tried any of these things themselves.

By the way, is your PM box full again?

Post by **Triton** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:27 pm

about the EL panel isnt that what the psone screen uses already?

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 3:02 pm

No, it comes installed with a CCFL, or "Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp". EL panels take much less power, are much thinner, and produce literally no heat because they're a capacitive load, not a resistive load.

littlemal · Post by **littlemal** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:13 pm

For the LEDs brightness, Is there a minimum or maximum brightess that you should get the LEDs at and if so, will having it too bright hurt your screen (or your eyes?). Also, will having brighter LEDs take more amperage????

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:43 pm

too bright and your screen will get washed out.

and generally the brighter they are the more power they use

1000mcd is too low, 20000mcd is probably too high. but im not the expert on that.

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:44 pm

Well, depending on which LEDs you get, you can power I think 3 in series. A fourth would require starting a new circuit and burning off the excess volts with a resistor anyway, so you could add two more without any more mA being drawn.

Weebl · Post by **Weebl** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:45 pm

I have 8000 mcd ones and they're wonderful. Don't just look at the millicandella rating, though. The viewing angle also affects how the light is perceived. Use this calculator to determine the lumens outputted by the LED's.