Luz Adentro
Finally got around to replacing the CCFL on my honey (Compaq Presario 1720 US) today. A venture into the world of soldering indeed. Received the new lamp from lcdpart.com a few days ago, very well packaged, $20 with shipping. Unplugged computer and removed battery. Removed adhesive tabs covering screw sockets, unscrewed front cover and LCD panel from the LCD backing. Removed reflective tape from bottom of LCD only – that’s where the old CCFL is. Detached the ribbon cable. Unscrewed and removed long thin metal casement for the lamp from under a metal plate. Desoldered (very clumsily at that) old lamp, soldered new one into place. Managed to make the tip of the wire running along the underside of the lamp casement snap after soldering it, giving myself a huge scare. Carefully exposed more of this wire by scratching away at the plastic with swiss army knife. Soldered again. Snipped the long wire leads of the new CCFL after soldering, making sure to cover them with the rubber caps as before. Screwed everything back in. Reconnected ribbon cable. Popped in the battery. Pressed power.
……
Success!!!
After “warming upâ€, the LCD does appear to be much brighter than before.
Pictures:
LCD panel removed from backing, guts and CCFL exposed
Comparing old and new CCFL’s