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Alpine car radio with removeable faceplate

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Jim

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Dec 2, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/2/97
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I have an Alpine 7513 car radio with removeable faceplate. All of the
faceplate functions work, but the LCD? display (the radio station
numbers) in the middle doesn't work.
It usually displays in a light blue color. Not really bright enough for
daylight, but O.K. at night.
Then the display went dark.
I cleaned the contacts.
No help.
But I shined my flashlight on it and I can read the display by
flashlight. I always thought that the display numbers themselves glowed.
Does this have an LED or other source of light that maybe went out?
The other lights on the buttons work.
I took the facepate apart and the other LED's are accessable, but the
LCD is in a metal box.
Is a replacement faceplate the answer? Or a new LED for the LCD?
Where can I get a replacement and how much do they typically run?
Thanks,
Jim


Stephane Bastien

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Dec 2, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/2/97
to Jim

I had a similar problem a while back. It was a transistor that powers the
backlights of the face plates that went dead. If yours is like mine (my radio
is a Pioneer), good luck finding the transistor. There was no way I could
have found it by following the traces. The circuit diagram was essential.

By the way, those displays are not illuminated themselves. They have some
kind of backlighting. It still works, that's why you can see it when flashing
a flashlight on it, but if that backlighting doesn't work, you just can't see
the numbers.

Sometimes, they will have LED's on the sides to flash some light on the
liquid crystal display.

Good luck!
Stephane

Sam Goldwasser

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Dec 3, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/3/97
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Burnt out light bulb :-).

--- sam : Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Lasers: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/3931/lasersam.htm
Usually latest (ASCII): http://www.pacwest.net/byron13/sammenu.htm

Data Plus

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Dec 8, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/8/97
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I've seen 3 basic types of backlighting for LCD panels.

The most common is with several (12v in cars) minilamps with a colored
translucent covering. I've been able to find them at Radio Shack though
the specific part# doesn't come to mind. Just take a look in their
catalog.

The second most common is with an LED. These are also cheap and
available at RS, unless they're the supersmall surface mount type. Then
you'll have to order them from an electronics supplier.

The third, which I've never seen in a car radio, is with an
electroluminicent panel. Cheap exact replacements (or close to) of
these are not as easy to obtain.

Of course you will most likely have to desolder and/or bend back the
tabs on the metal shield that holds the LCD in place. Be real careful
not to crack or damage the LCD or the result will likely be just as
disappointing as before the repair.

KuoH

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