How to build a laptop LCD CCFL backlight tester cheaply and easily - Step by Step Instructions (HD)

FOR QUALIFIED LAPTOP TECHNICIANS ONLY: Here's a simple method you can use to build a tester to test a laptop's CCFL backlight tube or inverter board. It's very cheap and easy to make this tester, and easy to use.

With this tester, you can test the CCFL backlights on most laptops, as well as test the inverter/harness assembly. This is NOT intended to test LED backlights or any backlights in large devices (such as HDTVs). Build and use at your own risk.

In this video, I'll walk you through the step by step process to build both a laptop backlight tester and laptop inverter/harness tester. It should take you about 10-15 minutes (or less), though I go considerably slower in the video so you can follow the process easier.

Parts Needed (if you work in a tech shop, you probably have most of these):
- One CCFL/Neon "Case Mod Kit" (NOT an LED case mod kit)

- One inverter board (or output socket from one) - board does not need to be working

- One CCFL harness and plug (from any old laptop LCD, broken or otherwise)

- 12VDC Power supply (DC - not AC), 500mA to 1A

- Electrical tape or shrink tube (and heat gun or similar if you use shrink tube)

- Solder and soldering iron

- Multimeter or other voltage testing apparatus

- Knowledge of how to solder, how to work with electronics and wiring and laptops

- About 10-15 minutes of your time (if you do this sort of thing frequently, maybe about 5 minutes of your time)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Backlight
• Cold Cathode
• Laptop
• Computer
• tester
• technician
• backlight tester
• laptop screen tester
• inverter
• inverter tester
• inverter board
• build a backlight tester
• laptop backlight tester
• laptop repair

[fernandoamcastro]

very good , but sometimes .. the backligth , stay turn on and turn off , i thing thbecause is is not better form test the inverter , i m correct ?? because i have one problem now with a laptop that him turn on and turn off and i change the inverter and problem continuous.

[RobertMfromLI]

@fernandoamcastro The backlight tube is probably failing (for instance, leaking).

[Gabzor]

impressive video :) im trying to make one for our shop.. but i have no idea how to solder good :/

do the new led backlight screens still use the same concept?

[RobertMfromLI]

@Gabzor Hi, (1) you can make the soldering really easy (via a step I didnt include in the video): put liquid flux on the wires, gun tip *under* the wires, solder *on top* of the wires when the wiring is hot... dont touch the soldering tip with the solder... let it melt from how hot the wires are.

(2) New LED backlight screens are different, which is why these testers will not work with them. No inverter board, small driver circuit, different voltages.

[Kazahmish]

Great video.... my shop closed its doors about 6 months into its service... when ppl say location is key, they weren't kidding.. lol I have since stopped repairing computers, but I had never thought about laptops. this would be a great tool.. thanks for posting..

[RobertMfromLI]

@Kazahmish Any time! Wish it were more timely for you. And yeah, 13 years ago, I too learned all about the problems of location. :-/

[Gabzor]

@RobertMfromLI - thanks.. i sent you a pm.. but my work doesn't have a solder gun, actually we have some cheap iron.. :/ and thanks for the soldering tip, makes total sense as the solder would "flow" onto the wires..

any way to test the LED screens? do you use a multimeter or something?

[RobertMfromLI]

@proximajoe Probably 99% of manufacturers use the same connector on the CCFL side.

[proximajoe]

Would all manufacturers use the same connectors?

[RobertMfromLI]

@karnach3880 Hey Kent, that's part of the plan. We plan on boxing and selling completed units. Tough part is getting the inverter socket and inverter plug/harness. I either need to find a ton of inverter boards, or figure out who I can order those things from. (Well, I know where I can order the harness/plug end, but not the inverter socket).