Display ribbon cable alternatives

You can do that, but it is a VERY hard job to pull off. I have started one and didn’t finish it yet.

I would commend you if you get it done! Keep us informed on your project. If cables break, it is very frustrating because you cannot do anything about that.

Feb 16, 2019 • 11:10

I know it won’t be easy. I’m not afraid to try. I’ve still got some very thin wire left over from when I did a GC video HDMI mod on my GameCube using a Pluto IIx development board. I have a steady hand, and my trusty Hakko 888d with several tips so I’ll let you know how it went when I’m done. I’ll have to attempt it while the kids are in bed. Nothing is worse than trying to do detailed work while the three of them are fighting over a toy.

Feb 16, 2019 • 11:37

I bet it wouldn’t be too hard to find an appropriate flat ribbon cable replacement of the appropriate pitch. There may, likewise, be a corresponding locking connector that could be soldered onto the LED board as well.

Just a thought.

Feb 16, 2019 • 13:33

I had thought of that. I’m not sure what is meant by “pitch” and a lot of the ribbon cables from inside old computers that initially popped into my head would be too large to be of much help. By using the blue 30 AWG wire I have on hand, I think I can make it work without waiting for shipping. If there were replacement cables that would be ideal. The solution I have in mind would make soldered connections to the connectors pins and should be entirely reversible should a replacement cable ever reach production. I think I can even tie the wires into a ribbon config using some thread. It would be tedious, but the result might be worth it. I’ll just keep telling myself that at least I’m not attempting to make sure replica of the ROM modules used in the Apollo guidance computer. Lol. I may eventually opt for zn actual ribbon, but I’m not even 100% sure there isn’t some other issue with the display.

Could you explain pitch to me?

Feb 16, 2019 • 13:54

Pitch is the with of the cable, what you call AWG

Feb 17, 2019 • 04:17

It took about 6 hours but I got the one display rewired. The other ribbon cable broke in the process and no longer works. I had to desolder the ribbon cable connector to solder these wires.

Now the results.

I still have lines. I don’t think this one likes me.

I’m debating whether I should spend another 6 hours wiring up the other one in the hope that somehow it will magically make the lines disappear.

Another thought might be capacitor replacement, as I accidentally touched the side of an electrolytic capacitor while soldering.

I’m not really sure where to go from here.

This reply was modified 5 years, 9 months ago by SpectreVR.

Feb 17, 2019 • 05:21

Tanooki

It couldn’t hurt to try, Console5 sells a cap kit for the VB that’s ready to go.

Feb 18, 2019 • 17:34

Left eye is now wired up, but won’t turn on :-\

Feb 18, 2019 • 22:58

mips5000

Just happened to come on and see this – I did the same around when I joined PlanetVB… took me weeks and many retries, but this one in the picture below works like a soldered VB now. I probably had it right the first time I did it, but I made the mistake of using plumbing flux.. it may have kept giving me shorts.

Attachments:

img_2145-1.jpg

Feb 19, 2019 • 10:43

You know, it may simply be easiest and provide the best longevity to simply have new ribbon cables made – one end with fingers that connect into the motherboard’s connector, and the other end that terminates in pitch-perfect castellated holes for soldering onto the LED board.

That would eliminate the most frustrating and difficult issues of the VB displays, improve the console’s lifespan, and be a great deal easier for the average solder monkey to manage. Also, flex cables are comparatively cheap to make.

Do I smell interest?

Feb 19, 2019 • 11:24

Long term this will be essential as I’m seeing signs in every VB ribbon cable I’ve looked at of the copper in the ribbon starting to corrode. First the glue goes bad, then the copper and everyone discovers that the solder fix permenantly fixes one problem, but doesn’t do anything to prevent the inevitable.

Feb 20, 2019 • 16:02

Splain

RetroDan wrote:
You know, it may simply be easiest and provide the best longevity to simply have new ribbon cables made – one end with fingers that connect into the motherboard’s connector, and the other end that terminates in pitch-perfect castellated holes for soldering onto the LED board.

That would eliminate the most frustrating and difficult issues of the VB displays, improve the console’s lifespan, and be a great deal easier for the average solder monkey to manage. Also, flex cables are comparatively cheap to make.

Do I smell interest?

If you know how to design flex cables/PCBs and have them printed, then yes, you are smelling interest from me. 😀 If not, then I may start learning it myself. I have at least one LED board with no cable, that can be used for testing.

Ideally, they would also have a tab attached like the stock cables, to allow easy insertion/removal from the VB (and they also seem to help thicken the cable at that end for a good firm seating)

Feb 20, 2019 • 22:19

If there will be reliable replacement cables available for not more than €10 each, I will be all over this!
I think €10 is pretty expensive, just to set a max price, because even with replacement cables, it doesn’t guarantee a fixed display if there are one or more dead LEDs on the board itself. Hope something like this will come to fruition!

Feb 20, 2019 • 22:34

Splain wrote:
If you know how to design flex cables/PCBs and have them printed, then yes, you are smelling interest from me. 😀 If not, then I may start learning it myself. I have at least one LED board with no cable, that can be used for testing.

Ideally, they would also have a tab attached like the stock cables, to allow easy insertion/removal from the VB (and they also seem to help thicken the cable at that end for a good firm seating)

I’ve designed PCBs before – not flex cables – but I can’t imagine that it would be impossible for me to make the transition.

I can’t imagine the cables would be expensive, though. I’ll get to some designing and whack up a prototype, but I’d like to be able to order 100 (50 sets) at least, for cost reasons. I have no data to back it up, but I can’t imagine it would cost more than $20-$25 for a set.

Feb 21, 2019 • 11:50

RetroDan wrote:

Splain wrote:
If you know how to design flex cables/PCBs and have them printed, then yes, you are smelling interest from me. 😀 If not, then I may start learning it myself. I have at least one LED board with no cable, that can be used for testing.

Ideally, they would also have a tab attached like the stock cables, to allow easy insertion/removal from the VB (and they also seem to help thicken the cable at that end for a good firm seating)

I’ve designed PCBs before – not flex cables – but I can’t imagine that it would be impossible for me to make the transition.

I can’t imagine the cables would be expensive, though. I’ll get to some designing and whack up a prototype, but I’d like to be able to order 100 (50 sets) at least, for cost reasons. I have no data to back it up, but I can’t imagine it would cost more than $20-$25 for a set.

I think $20-$25 is pretty expensive, I would have thought they would be dirt cheap, just the start up would be an issue. If you can get the costs to limit to $12 a set I would order 10 sets straight away.

Feb 21, 2019 • 22:33

TheForce81 wrote:

I think $20-$25 is pretty expensive, I would have thought they would be dirt cheap, just the start up would be an issue. If you can get the costs to limit to $12 a set I would order 10 sets straight away.

To be fair, I’m just estimating. As I said, “I have no data to back it up”. I’m just throwing babies at the wall to see what sticks.

Feb 24, 2019 • 04:22

First Iteration of what I am dubbing the VirtualCable:

Attachments:

virtualcable.png

Feb 24, 2019 • 21:50

Looks good to me, if you can supply them at a very reasonable price, it will be a very nice addition to repairing displays!! Still won’t be too easy to install, align and all that, but skilled people should have no issue doing that.

Feb 24, 2019 • 23:52

TheForce81 wrote:
Looks good to me, if you can supply them at a very reasonable price, it will be a very nice addition to repairing displays!! Still won’t be too easy to install, align and all that, but skilled people should have no issue doing that.

Actually, I’m on my third revision right now of this cable design. I’m used to using Proteus, but it’s not quite capable of some of the design options I want, so I’m having to learn EAGLE. Nothing like a project to force new knowledge into your brain-hole.

I dub it ‘brainal’.

Feb 25, 2019 • 03:59