Rewiring an LCD monitor

Mr NoTV

Hi gang.
Unsure if this is the right area to ask this...
I have an HP L1502 LCD monitor I want to mess with, the cable got cut after the 15pin d-sub connector was mangled. It's old and well out of warranty - I have others that are of better quality that are used daily. This is the toy.
I have 2 queries.
1. do any of you know if the wiring layout is universal between monitors, can I just take a cable from a CRT and slap it on?
2. is RGB universal? can I take just the RGB wires and put them onto a scart and use it as a monitor for video etc?

I'm sure the thing will work after my experiments. If not - hey, I've learned a thing or two.

and the disclaimer - I'll take what comes and if I stuff it up, it'll be my worry. I'm messing with the girlfriends blessin'.

Ishindar

messing around is fun . Q1. answer = yes, Q2 i dont quite get what u are saying

partyatmygaff

Yes to Q1

Q2 however will not work, since to put it simple, if splicing up a cable and turning a d sub into a scart would work why do people need VGA boxes to play PS2 games etc on their monitors,
The signal needs to be converted


Besides, it would be far far far too much hassle

Mr NoTV

Thanks guys.
I've never had PS2 or anything like that so never thought of adapters or other people's connectivity.
Since posting, I found a service manual online but alas, no wiring diags. It does state there are RGB wires but clearly the other thinner wires are for control of some sort.
Thank God for LCD screens, you'd never get me messing inside a CRT.
Have they really become so cheap that we can tweak and play with a 'who cares' attitude? :

zilog_jones

VGA D-SUB connections are standard, but the colouring of the wires may not be. Unless you find out which wire does what you're gonna have to do a lot of trial and error. Some may be labeled on the PCB inside the monitor, I dunno.

RGB SCART is only designed for video with composite sync, a horizontal frequency of around 15kHz and a vertical frequency of 50 or 60 Hz, i.e. standard resolutions used by PAL and NTSC.

The analogue RGB output from a PC graphics card has separate horizontal and vertical sync signals, and *usually* only outputs horizontal frequencies of 30kHz+. With some graphics cards either by driver modifications, custom resolutions etc. you may be able to output SDTV compliant frequencies but you're still going to have to make the sync composite somehow. It can be done, but requires either building your own circuit or buying expensive stuff.

Mr NoTV

Beautifully put Zilog_Jones, I thank you. Trial and error I can do and will have to do as there are no indications on the pcb... but expensive stuff and brainwork? Not my thing these days. I'll play along with an inexpensive video card and tweak away with wires over the small hours.

Snowbat

zilog_jones wrote: »

It can be done, but requires either building your own circuit or buying expensive stuff.

http://www.nexusuk.org/projects/vga2scart/ has some details on this and a link to a DIY circuit.

charlesD

If you do any work on a CRT, make sure you discharge the monitor first. They have more than enough juice to kill you, even if they have been unplugged for some time.

Newer LCD monitors are usually built with capacitors that automatically discharge after a few minutes, but personally I think it is better to air on the side of caution and discharge the monitor manually.

Mr NoTV

Thanks for the tips and links - I intend to experiment for a while now - what seemed a simple idea could now be fun, fruitful and challenging. To think most would put it into recycling or scrap it forever as it's beyond economic repair ... they are missing out!