LCD/Buttons backlighting question...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Park City Utah
LCD/Buttons backlighting question...
Is it simply a colored film that makes the back lighting COLOR on stereo LCD's and buttons? I'd like to buy an Alpine head unit for my '92 Vette...inwhich everything is...orange. Alpines are Green. Could I buy some orange "film" somewhere, take the Alpine face apart and "make it orange"?
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Jul 17, 2011 at 12:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
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From: Park City Utah
The Alpine HU that I am interested (TDM-7534) in was made in ~1995. I don't believe that feature was available back then and definitely not on this model. Thanks for responding though. I WISH it would do that!
Anyone else know if there is a replaceable "film" or something in there?
Anyone else know if there is a replaceable "film" or something in there?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
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From: Park City Utah
Well I've taken it a step further. I bought a similar vintage (mid '90's) Alpine FACEPLATE to experiment with. Taking it apart, I've learned that the green color comes mostly from a sleeve that is slipped over each of the 4 miniature bulbs that are soldered to the printed circuit board -the bulbs that back light the face. The sleeves look exactly like the ones on the two larger bulbs, in this pic...
I am looking for orange versions of these "sleeves" but lacking the correct terminology, I am having a hard time locating any. Anyone know what these things are called? They slip on and off the bulb easily. Just need to get the right ones for my goals.
I am looking for orange versions of these "sleeves" but lacking the correct terminology, I am having a hard time locating any. Anyone know what these things are called? They slip on and off the bulb easily. Just need to get the right ones for my goals.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Nov 27, 2011 at 10:55 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Summerton SC
Tech Contributor
You say LCD - but you mean LED. BUT those bulbs are neither. LED's are usually a specified color per bulb. Some LED's are multicolor. Colored film will only add to the color of an original LED. These seem to be mini-bulbs, so clear away whatever is on them and paint them the color you want ...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Park City Utah
Thanks for replying. I think we may be misunderstanding each other due to my own lack of clarity above.
The digital display portion of the face plate (for the time/track/station, etc)...that is a Liquid Crystal Display and it's illuminated in green. I THINK that the illumination for the LCD is from florescent tubes...that must be green? At this point, I'm still unsure how to change the color of the LCD.
The backlighting, for the buttons is also green but they are plain miniature light bulbs that are clear -like the bulbs in the picture above, with a rubber-like sleeve that slips over them; like a tiny green condom...just like in the pic above. I am pretty sure they are conventional incandescent bulbs, because I can see what looks like a filament in them. I guess I could remove the sleeve and color the bulbs orange...but figured if I could get the terminology correct, I could just buy the replacement in an orange version.
The digital display portion of the face plate (for the time/track/station, etc)...that is a Liquid Crystal Display and it's illuminated in green. I THINK that the illumination for the LCD is from florescent tubes...that must be green? At this point, I'm still unsure how to change the color of the LCD.
The backlighting, for the buttons is also green but they are plain miniature light bulbs that are clear -like the bulbs in the picture above, with a rubber-like sleeve that slips over them; like a tiny green condom...just like in the pic above. I am pretty sure they are conventional incandescent bulbs, because I can see what looks like a filament in them. I guess I could remove the sleeve and color the bulbs orange...but figured if I could get the terminology correct, I could just buy the replacement in an orange version.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Richmond Texas
I bet that will be a tall order. I'm guessing Alpine had them manufactured just for them or manufactured them themselves. May I ask why go through so much trouble on a 15 year old HU when you can get a new one that can be orange other than keeping a stereo from the same era as the car?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Park City Utah
Good question. Because I LIKE it. It has features that you can't get in a modern HU;
Big buttons,
Sensible layout/easy to negotiate
Excellent sound quality
no gimmicks; it's function over form.
I can't find a modern HU that I can tolerate, that cost less than a grand.
I know it may not be EASY...but it can't be a whole lot different that any other illuminated LCD. The back light bulbs part will be easy, if I can get the proper terminology of those sleeves.
Big buttons,
Sensible layout/easy to negotiate
Excellent sound quality
no gimmicks; it's function over form.
I can't find a modern HU that I can tolerate, that cost less than a grand.
I know it may not be EASY...but it can't be a whole lot different that any other illuminated LCD. The back light bulbs part will be easy, if I can get the proper terminology of those sleeves.