Would this LCD work?

[wingman358]

Looks pretty sweet, ovride. Just one question: what's a PIC programmer?

[OvRiDe]

I would like to build the fast Serial Interface from the Hack-A-Day article. It requires that you program a PIC16F876 chip. I PIC programmer is basically a PROM (Programable Read Only Memory) chip flasher or burner. I have found several DIY programmer circuits but I don't think they support the 16F876 chip. The author of the article said he will sell programmed chips but I don't think he is state side, so I am in search of a local source. If I could get the serial interface built, I could probably use a USB to Serial Adapter and power the whole thing off of the USB port so it would be 1 single cable going to the unit.. As it stands now.. I will need 5V and a parallel cable. Unless anyone else has any ideas?

I did find a place that sell serial interface cards prebuild for 29 bucks .. which isnt too bad.. just plug and go.. It may be the route I end up going..

[wingman358]

Just got mine today, check it out:

This thing's a lot wider than I thought it was going to be...

[OvRiDe]

This thing's a lot wider than I thought it was going to be...

Same here.. It definately won't work on the front of a case, but you could maybe use it on the side. For me it doesnt matter because I will be using it on the desktop.

I got some supplies to hook it up, soldered the leads built a small bread board for the pots, etc etc.. Then I did a very stupid rookie mistake!! I wasn't paying attention and I hooked it up to the 12V side instead of the molex instead of the 5V. (Freakin idiot! Gaw) For some reason on this PS the 12V lead is RED and the 5V is ORANGE, and I should have gotten more light so I could tell the diff.. DOH!! Well I have another one so I can give it another shot, I figured I would wait until I calmed down so that I would blow up the second one..

Since this one was toast I dismantled it to see what the backlighting was like.. From what I can tell it will be VERY difficult to swap these.. There are 2 metal foil strips that are glued to the long edges of the diffuser glass. the LED's are distributed along those.. You pretty much have to destroy the screen to get them off..

Oh well .. Good luck with yours.. I would love to see your finished product..

TIP: I think if I can get about 8 of these:

Assembly might be alot simpler.. I have a post asking if anyone knows where I can get them.. plus it will be unpluggable..