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General Category => NC100, NC200, PCW, PDA600 - the rest of the Family! => Topic started by: logiker on 15:49, 23 March 19

Title: NC200 Display Error
Post by: logiker on 15:49, 23 March 19
Hi!


The display of my NC200 shows "empty lines" on the top.
I wanted to check the hardware of the display, but couldn't get through.
Can anyone help me to open this part of the machine?
Any disassembly instructions or manuals etc.?


Thank you


Logiker

ps:
The second pic shows, where the resistance seems to be.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: GUNHED on 16:32, 24 March 19
My NC200 has exactly the same problem. And couldn't fix it.


Maybe this can help...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w8n-8mga5E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w8n-8mga5E)

Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: logiker on 17:04, 24 March 19
Quote from: GUNHED on 16:32, 24 March 19
My NC200 has exactly the same problem. And couldn't fix it.


What did you try in order to fix it? Could you open the monitor part with the LCD display in it?
I assume there is some screws so I can't open it.
I just wonder if it's worth to go further or not.


I saw the video already. As far I went through it, he doesn't open the screen and I don't understand that much French, so it was of no help, unfortunately.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: GUNHED on 17:10, 24 March 19
Ich wollte die Kiste nicht kaputt machen, also hab ich noch nicht damit angefangen, aber eines Tages komm ich nicht darum herum.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: logiker on 17:22, 24 March 19
Ja, eine traurige Geschichte mit underen beiden NC200, in diesem Fall.
Vielleicht meldet sich ja noch wer.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: TynH on 17:57, 24 March 19
My money would be on the ribbon cable being the culprit.


Have look here for disassembly (better download before Google+ shutdown):


https://plus.google.com/photos/100438501927183409615/album/6092017202389272641?sqid=105970345075021822765&ssid=97b1b51a-0e61-40e3-a42d-a5af10d95810 (https://plus.google.com/photos/100438501927183409615/album/6092017202389272641?sqid=105970345075021822765&ssid=97b1b51a-0e61-40e3-a42d-a5af10d95810)


Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: GUNHED on 20:16, 24 March 19
Naja, wenn man am Bildschirm seitlich des Bildschirmrandes hindrückt, dann wirds kurzzeitig etwas besser.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: logiker on 20:19, 24 March 19
Quote from: TynH on 17:57, 24 March 19
My money would be on the ribbon cable being the culprit.
Have look here for disassembly (better download before Google+ shutdown):


Thanks 1000 times! That's what I needed and it confirms what I thought.
The screws are hidden below the "lable" thing.


Any hint how to get the lable off easily without destroying it?
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: robcfg on 20:21, 24 March 19
I use lighter fuel to separate the labels without damaging them.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: Bryce on 08:30, 25 March 19
It's usually the zebra strip (the part that connects the glass to the PCB) that fails when these type of failures happen. This is relatively easy to fix if you can get to it. I don't think I've ever tried to open the screen of my NC200, so I have no hints on getting in there.


Bryce.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: logiker on 12:48, 25 March 19
Thanks for the info Bryce.
I fear a bit, that the LCD display is already kinda too old as the brightness has to be set to very low so I can see anything at all.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: Bryce on 13:37, 25 March 19
That's usually happens when the capacitors are starting to fail. If you like you can send it to me and I'll re-cap it and fix the zebra strip.

Bryce.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: logiker on 13:56, 25 March 19
Quote from: Bryce on 13:37, 25 March 19
If you like you can send it to me and I'll re-cap it and fix the zebra strip.


That would be awsom! I'll pm you.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: Bryce on 17:10, 30 March 19
@logiker (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2522) : Ok, so here's how it looks... Unfortunately, the NC200 doesn't use zebra stripes, it uses a crap method that was attempted in the 90's and is no longer used because it was so unreliable (Red boxes are the vertical connections). On top of that, the horizontal connection is on a PCB that's soldered into place (Blue box with connections on the other side).

So the options are: Leave it as it is and live with the stripes or do an "All or nothing repair". This means removing that PCB on the right, giving it the hot-air treatment, soldering it all back up and hope for the best. This could work, but it could also result in even more stripes across the screen. I've seen more skilled people than myself mess this up, so I'll leave it up to you...

Bryce.

Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: Bryce on 20:38, 30 March 19
Soo... Unfortunately the problem turned out to be cracks in the flat cable, not bad solder joints. Unfortunately this is something that can't be fixed without a new screen (the flat cable is bonded to the LCD glass) :(

Bryce.
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: Bryce on 11:31, 31 March 19
For completion, here's a picture of the problem under the microscope. For anyone else who encounters this problem, it's not repairable. The cracked traces are carbon-silver, the same stuff used to make keyboard membranes, not copper. They are glued to the PCB and in some cases the glue has just weakened and can be re-glued (heat with a hair-drier and push the contacts). However, in the NC200 there is enough relative movement for them to crack and nothing is going to repair this. You can see the crack running between the two red arrows, this is the wider band that is missing from the top of the display. Unfortunate.


Bryce.

Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: logiker on 13:50, 31 March 19
Although it's really sad news, I think this information might help many people who own or are interested into a NC200.
Thank you Bryce!


Logiker
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: Gryzor on 12:15, 01 April 19
Ooh I've seen this type of connector before (LCD game I think?) and I remember automatically classifying it under "never in a million years". So, when do these cracks appear? Is it age or something else?
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: Bryce on 12:20, 01 April 19
Forget the NC200, what just happened to the Forum? Or am I accessing it via a mirror site :D

Bryce.


Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: Gryzor on 12:25, 01 April 19
I think your ribbon connector must be connected upside down?
Title: Re: NC200 Display Error
Post by: Bryce on 12:26, 01 April 19
But back to the NC200: It's a mixture of a very questionable and fragile design, paired with the fact that plastics loose their elastomers over time and turn brittle.

Bryce.
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