DX3R Top Light MOD Finished
12-24-2008, 06:54 PM
#1
DX3R Top Light MOD Finished
Well I just finished my top light mod on my DX3R transmitter.
I started by researching possible light sources for the mod. I originally thought there would be enough room inside the transmitters case for a couple of LED's poking over the screen from the top. So I grabbed this: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18773
It is filled with a nice solar panel, 3 small NiMh watch batteries and two bright LED's I could use in the mod.
It arrived a couple of weeks later and I started by taking things apart.
Inside the DX3R I found out quickly that there was not enough room for the LED's to peek over the edge of the board to shine light on the top of the LCD and shining light from below would not work due to the opaque cover on the bottom of the LCD glass. However there was enough room to move the LCD down 2-3mm in order to give room for the light.
I stress this big time. This is not an easy mod. If you aren't comfortable with working closely with small electronics/circuit boards and voiding your warranty completely, than don't attempt this.
That being said, I set off to mod the case halves of the DX3R in order to accept the LCD exactly in the same place, only 2-3mm deeper in. There is a place already molded out, but it also required me to dremel plastic away and glue in a couple of plastic spacers, to get things right.
This gave me enough room to mount the LED's panel on one of the case halves with industrial hot glue. They shine right across the LCD from the top and illuminate the screen just right for night use.
I mounted the battery in the front section of the case and the solar panel on top battery compartment. I had to do this after screwing the halves back together due to the fact that it needed to be glued across both halves.
I purchased a separate push button switch to turn it on. It is small and has a red button. It only comes on while you are pressing on it, so it doesn't get left on. Mounting it was a bit tricky though.
All in all it was a worth while mod for me and turned out great. It works in total darkness now and can be trusted to be working for a long time due to the batteries, solar panel and small amount of use it will get.
I will post a couple of pictures soon.
I started by researching possible light sources for the mod. I originally thought there would be enough room inside the transmitters case for a couple of LED's poking over the screen from the top. So I grabbed this: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18773
It is filled with a nice solar panel, 3 small NiMh watch batteries and two bright LED's I could use in the mod.
It arrived a couple of weeks later and I started by taking things apart.
Inside the DX3R I found out quickly that there was not enough room for the LED's to peek over the edge of the board to shine light on the top of the LCD and shining light from below would not work due to the opaque cover on the bottom of the LCD glass. However there was enough room to move the LCD down 2-3mm in order to give room for the light.
I stress this big time. This is not an easy mod. If you aren't comfortable with working closely with small electronics/circuit boards and voiding your warranty completely, than don't attempt this.
That being said, I set off to mod the case halves of the DX3R in order to accept the LCD exactly in the same place, only 2-3mm deeper in. There is a place already molded out, but it also required me to dremel plastic away and glue in a couple of plastic spacers, to get things right.
This gave me enough room to mount the LED's panel on one of the case halves with industrial hot glue. They shine right across the LCD from the top and illuminate the screen just right for night use.
I mounted the battery in the front section of the case and the solar panel on top battery compartment. I had to do this after screwing the halves back together due to the fact that it needed to be glued across both halves.
I purchased a separate push button switch to turn it on. It is small and has a red button. It only comes on while you are pressing on it, so it doesn't get left on. Mounting it was a bit tricky though.
All in all it was a worth while mod for me and turned out great. It works in total darkness now and can be trusted to be working for a long time due to the batteries, solar panel and small amount of use it will get.
I will post a couple of pictures soon.
12-24-2008, 07:03 PM
#2
Also I wanted to add that I researched doing a BACK light mod, and couldn't be sure I could pull it off.
I found this tutorial for the method:http://www.compsys1.com/support/docs...ight_Guide.pdf
It works by using EL (Electro-Luminescent) tape installed behind the LCD and a small power inverter for converting battery power to AC power.
Trouble is that I couldn't be sure I could remove the layer behind the LCD glass needed, without removing the layer that would render my LCD useless.
If this could be done, It would be an even better way.
I couldn't even find the EL tape I needed either, so I stuck with the top light mod.
I can always put it all back to normal, but I will have a couple of holes in the case halves I would need to cover with decals/wraps.
I found this tutorial for the method:http://www.compsys1.com/support/docs...ight_Guide.pdf
It works by using EL (Electro-Luminescent) tape installed behind the LCD and a small power inverter for converting battery power to AC power.
Trouble is that I couldn't be sure I could remove the layer behind the LCD glass needed, without removing the layer that would render my LCD useless.
If this could be done, It would be an even better way.
I couldn't even find the EL tape I needed either, so I stuck with the top light mod.
I can always put it all back to normal, but I will have a couple of holes in the case halves I would need to cover with decals/wraps.
12-24-2008, 08:42 PM
#3
There is the little red push button switch on top. And on the battery compartment top, there is the solar panel to re-charge the separate battery that runs the LED's.
It even works good in both low and NO light.
Here it looks like the light over saturates the LCD area, but that is just a photographic illusion. It can be read perfectly with the light on, with the naked eye.
It even works good in both low and NO light.
Here it looks like the light over saturates the LCD area, but that is just a photographic illusion. It can be read perfectly with the light on, with the naked eye.
12-26-2008, 07:26 PM
#9
Thats pretty cool dude in particular the solar panel to power the light.
12-27-2008, 09:53 AM
#10
dang man! thats sweet!
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