How to make a relaxing "false window" light panel (using old laptop screens)
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- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- In this video we're going to be recycling some broken laptop screens to make a fake window light for some cosy evening illumination!
FAQ:
LED_EN (the 'on button') is sometimes called EN, ENA, BL_ON, LEDON, BL_EN, or ENAB
PWM may also be PWM_1
VLED (12v) may also be called VCCS, or LED_VCCS. If you can't find it try and find the fuse instead and solder to that.
If you can't find a pad it may be because it's referenced with a number instead (R110 for example), with its full name given in a key somewhere else on the PCB (sometimes framed by a white box).
If any of you find some other names for the above pads please let me know and I'll add them to the list!
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![Is 100 Watts Enough to Create Fake Daylight? [Intellytech X 100]](/img/n.gif)
The end result looked pretty damn good! Thumbs up!
+GreatScott! Heh funny seeing you here. :)
+vgamesx1 You don't really get youtube don't you?
Thanks very much! :)
ps Why? because I simply wasn't expecting a youtuber I like to watch another youtuber that I also like..?
Dude don't be an arse..
vgamesx1 Nah, I meant that you didn't knew that similar category youtubers usually comment on each other's channels to advertise. it's pretty common to notice if you have no life and are on youtube 24x7 :(
I know I know... you have been bathed in praise often enough but seriously, I just cannot stop myself from joining the club. Your videos are cheerful and explain practically everything we need to know without unnecessary details or becoming too technical. This project sounds like amazing fun, thanks for sharing!
One year ago I broke two panels trying to do this. Yesterday I was able to complete this project successfully!
hey would you be able to tell me the model number of the screen you got to work with this please ?
@@staror890 I took the panel from a Dell Inspiron 15R (5520). But the actual model or part number of the screen I really don’t know. I had to throw it away because I needed the LED strip for another project.
i probably had the same monitor as you. how did you find the ground?
@@oshapermadi usually ground is a big copper square. Also there are some pads labeled “GND” or “Ground”
just broke 2 panels I guess I have to wait a year
Some hospitals have panels like this with window frames and curtains for rooms with no windows. The light slowly brightens in the morning and dims in the evening. Studies show that patients recover faster from surgery and have shorter stays than in windowless rooms without the devices.
I made one with a picture of a beach printed on transparency film. Since I worked in a photo lab, I was able to print it myself during a lunch break. The effect was very good.
Cool
why do you have half a million subs
This sounds like a nice way to modify the original - just the added cost of printing on transparency film.
@@poncho2431 yeah why tf
I was thinking of just that (transparency printing) as a way to change up the colors a bit, or putting in color changing LEDs to change a scene.
These could also be used for food or product photography.
That's what I am going to do!
He he! yes.
Need more LED in my diet.
That's exactly what I thought!
It wasn't very tasty, but it did work well for product photography.
And also for viewing negatives.
The amount of broken laptop screens I've chucked away over the last 2 years must be close to around 50 - 60 !
Got 10 broken laptops sat in cupboard and gonna use these screens for drop lighting on my media centre wall :D
I did this and it worked like a charm. Got it done and running in just over an hour. Got my sub!
What resistor did you use?
Are u using one adapter or four different adapter for each plz tell
Did you use cool or warm colour LEDs?
@@lukewilkinson3778 I just used the laptops leds
@@moinkhan10 im confused too
A TIP FOR ANYONE TRYING THIS: After soldering and testing for functionality, put GOBS of hot glue over the connections (and about an inch leading up to them) to secure the wires and prevent the tiny, delicate copper pads from being irreparably ripped from the surface of the circuit board. IF this disaster does strike, you may be able to use the next nearest (even smaller) pads "downstream" from the correct ones. Ask me how I know...
Could you share your results?
Ya I was doing this and ripped a pad off luckily there was a fuse to connect to
@@antonfilimonov9131 Sorry, I didn't notice your comment sooner. I don't think I'll be making a video of the results but, basically, I followed the instructions in this video.
I honestly can't remember if I used my multimeter to find the next copper pad, or if I just prodded around a powered wire to random pads (because: what's the worst that could happen if it's already trashed lol) then just soldered to a working pad and added lots of hot glue.
I wired in a switch, connected it to an old 13.5V power brick (can't remember where I salvaged it from) and used some thin, stainless steel fishing leader wire to hang the screen from a nail that was already randomly sticking out of the wall above and to the side of my work desk in my rental apartment. I turned the screen vertically to hang in "portrait mode" and with the stainless wire I made a loop joining the two top corners and a loop joining the two bottom corners of the screen, such that the top edge leans away from the wall and projects its light downwards somewhere around a 45° angle.
It's not the most elegant, nor the brightest light fixture, but it does help illuminate my desk without taking up space on it. I hope your project worked/works out. Cheers.
@@crackedthieves I'm glad to hear you got it back up and running.
Do I need to use a different resistor for one panel? I dont want to burn the backlight.
Now i never need to leave my room!
This is actually excellent to fake sun in places that don't get a lot of sunlight in winter, would help with SAD I imagine!! Love this so much!
your previous lichting video gave us a really nice idea for a lichting problem in our new house. We have a limited budget but your solution is perfect for this. It looks great, is budget and environment friendly. And even more important to us, it gives a natural feeling to the lichting. Thanks a lot!
Thank you for this tutorial. I own three 15.6 led panels, I decided to pair two of them to do this.
FYI (board tags in order) :
- AU Optronics : LED_EN, LED_PWM and V_LED
- LG : LED_EN, PWM and VLED
Hi, there is a TK component on pads near VLED on my LG panel, do you happen to know whether I should solder there or find and empty pad? There is really nothing empty near the word VLED
I'm in the process of building one like this (actually I've already build it but I want to frame it like a fake window) and my observations are as follows:
-LEDs are very cold white, much cooler than overcast sky or flash LED in phones to the point that I'm thinking about adding some warming filter to fix that
-Every manufacturer uses different nomenclature, in Samsung pad marked as "VLED" next to LED tape was a wrong one and only soldering directly to the fuse (next to the laptop connector marked VBL) resolved issue. VBL (Samsung), VLED (LG) and VBLP (AU) were correct ones. Enable and PWM are usually next to each other.
-Align all screens in same direction if you keep diffusor layers. Otherwise you may end up with one "window" getting darker and other going brighter and vice versa when changing angle of view
-Some screens look bad without diffusors, you may see LEDs on edge or strange patterns on back plastic part
-Some of those diffusing layers collect fingerprints like crazy, messing up fresnel lens effect. I guess that in a long run there shall be some clear plastic screen in front of the screen.
-Those screens tend to operate from around 6V and well over 12V too. I'm currently running them at 15V with no issues. They auto adjust current, so brightness stays the same.
-They are bright, but not super bright. 4x 15.6 inch draw around 10W total (around 1A at 10V) but give slightly less light than 5W corn LED bulb.
Did you use identical panels? Is the color temp the same between the four?
Yes, an unnaturally cold white
Cheers!
My panels doesn't have a VLED contact point, it just says VLED next to the fuse shown in the video, where do I solder it? I don't know how to "solder it to the fuse directly"
The Fuse will usually be marked TX or something and usually looks brighter/different compared to the active and passive SMD components
Oh my God you have the best ideas ever! You know that feeling you get when you immediately want to purchase something after seeing a really good advert for it, even though you'd never heard of it before and don't necessarily need it? That's the feeling I get when I see these videos, that I NEED to build it! Never stop making these awesome videos!
Holy F. Do you really experience that feeling from advertising? Turn in your man card, child, and turn decision making over to someone in your life with those skills. Hmmm... sounds uber critical, but you will thank me in the long run. 🤔🤷♂️👍
@@sp10sn you seem unhappy
@@JohnFelipo unhappy to watch failure happen, I suppose. Maybe even 5 years after the fact 🤔 Hope you have been enjoying your consumer programming in the meantime. Well spotted 🤔👍
This is very clever, low cost and simple. I think a larger floor standing light perhaps 2 panels wide and 4 panels long would look very elegant. Very inventive, thank you,
These DIY projects are never getting old 🥳👍
Hi Matt I have been watching your videos now for a year, and every time I watch one of your videos they bring a smile to my face and lighten up my day. They are so cool and tend to be more interesting than any youtuber out there. Keep posting and keep being the coolest youtuber.
Thanks for the great benefit of recycling broken screens into great works of art.
Pulled a 55" Samsung TV from the dumpster. Screen and plastic frame was smashed but other internals were still good. Man, this thing is bright! 😎 Not sure what I'm going to do with it but just had to try after watching your channel.
nice!
How did you get it to light up?
I used the internal power supply with everything else other than the led unplugged, just as a test. I eventually removed all the LEDs and boards, hot glued a long strip of RGB lights that change with music and made it into a large hanging color changing disco light!
@@htdcntrctr9458 noice
This is a high level channel: clear and stylish explanations, together with full effectiveness. Thums up
I finally got my hands on 5 displays and so far one of them is working!
Keep up the good work!
I have a dark room and I've been dreaming of such thing! You're such a smart man. One of those videos when I wish I could klik thumbs up multiple times:D
Really glad I came across this project, I have access to a great number of cracked screens so I might very well give it a go. In theory you could even build a large frame to house it all and make it that extra bit sturdy.
I feel so great watching videos on this channel. There's a lot to be learned about electronics, and you present it rather amiably as well! :)
Cool - I've been wanting an LED light tracing box - with this I bet I can make my own!
You could make a DIY Softbox with those!
-
+BadHumorTV That was my first though. They actually seem ideal for it.
+JuriePie I know, but you could make it fit in a real or custom softbox and use it on a tripod.
+BadHumorTV He actually did that in an older video
+BadHumorTV
Its not enough light for that. Okay, maybe for video it is. but not for photo-use.
This is a pretty neat tutorial! Bookmarked for future use & will probably be on the lookout for cheap cracked/smashed/faulty screens, because at the end of the day, I'm not too fussed about the LCD part, just the backlight :)
so many possibilities, what a great build thank you
I always wanted to try this. You definitely made this to look simple :)
This would work well for studio lighting too!
WOW . . that looks really good and natural . .
This is my new favorite channel. Absolutely awesome project. Thank you for sharing.
Really clever! Kinda makes me want to turn my old 32" "HDTV monitor" in to a faux skylight until I can install a real one. It's got old cathode tubes, I think.
The downside is that you're now pumping blue light totally unchecked (no longer filtered by the screen) in to your room and over the past few years we've come to understand that coloured light produced from blue light (primary colour for producing white in LEDs right now) isn't particularly good for the eyes or sleep hormones.
Such a COOl idea! Can't wait to engineer this thing a bit further even with a wooden frame to make it really look a regular window.
are you done?
I was thinking the exact thing. : )
Earthgal im done. i used one screen as a lamp above my table. check out my ig @rish_kenobi
All of your videos are very good and informative. Never knew we can make a window lamp from broken screen. I got one broken monitor screen. I will try with that one. Thanks for upload.
What a fantastic idea and look. Just what i need for my dark unit. Im not at all sure i could make it, zero experience, but, wow, it looks sp great.
Nice modification. Although when i try to relax, i usually turn off any displays in front of me, instead of turning 4 of them on.
DIY Perks: I know that this is a super old video at this point. But I've just pulled down a damaged laptop screen and giving it a go. My pads are as follows: VLEDIN, LED_EN, and PWM_LED. Just in case you want to update the description still!
VLEDin won't power up the led panel u should use instead LEDin
@@christm45 I don't see ledin
Could you share your results?
I love your channel mate, I'm so happy I decided to go back and watch all of your videos!
After watching the video I decided I am ready to have a try. After burning out the second screen I discovered it doesn't work without the actual knowledge. It was very tempting on the video I have to admit. But it is false to believe that it is anything but a universal solution with some soldering skills anyone can or could do. Just for reference the screen I have tried was two LP141WX3 (TL)(N1) without any pads labeled as suggested. I have spent too much time on this already and my bench looks like a recycling centre. I am amazed by your skills but pls do not try to suggest it is working without actually understanding how to read data sheets and circuit drawings. I can build a quadcopter from scratch after learning it for three years and my first build and the last shows a huge difference and my understanding has developed to an advanced/expert level. Learning does not work without the sweat (and the failures). Keep up the good work Matt, I think for now I will stay with my RC where I can make things actually fly. LOL
This is simply genius. Also I love the way you explain things and your sweet voice. I haven't built this yet and I already feel relaxed.
LCD layers are transparent?
Oh man, imagine making a smart window or something like that using the LCD layers placed up against the glass. Displaying the time, news, perhaps using it as a computer monitor...
Next project?
[noise of Chinese workers running to they workplaces to make the cheapest one] :)
Now seriously :). A LCD screen let light pass when they show white color, and block it to show black, so if some special app is designed with white background and black text, for example, they could in theory show the time. Maybe the other polarising layers from behind should be kept too maybe
they are still hard to see without a backlight. What you are thinking about is magic mirror, a famous DIY advanced project.
I have yet to see a window blind implementation of it where a window is replaced with an LCD layer , when you want some privacy the LCD displays a dark brown or dark blue scren so that the window is harder to see through.
Can't we use sunlight as a backlight :D :D
czcams.com/video/DS2gupWJ9Vo/video.html
Slot machines are already doing this.
I damaged four screens before I could correctly solder without destroying pads, but I finally got it! Thanks for the vid. Hope to see more.
I made one. That light's actually really nice and motivating! Thanks for the tutorial.
how do you wire the 4 wires? Im lost... in serial or 4 powersupply? The video is missing that tiny part where it shows how to for a newbby like me.
If the LCD is broken in the right way, leaving them in could also look pretty cool.
Obviously, but interesting.
+TMTGAU Modern art basically.
It's all trash but this trash would look rad.
Exactly, it would be less about light and more about a cool thing to hang in your house.
It would be awesome if you mande an updated version of this :0
I'm obsessed with your videos mate!
I loved this project. And I also loved your honesty. I've subscribed, hoping to learn a lot of ways to recycle old electronics items in my house
You could add a wooden frame around it to make it look like a real window :D
+iooi Maybe cut a hole in it and a hole in the wall behind it for ultra realistic
+iooi ... Sarcasm...
erekllama
Ikr
+Manny Calavera and hang a thin white curtain, which would defuse the light with a natural look
+Manny Calavera Brilliant
The VLED may also be called and VCC. Your welcome :)
I was given a broken LCD/LED monitor. I removed the cracked LCD panel, the board that drives it, the speakers, buttons, connecting cables, and the outer diffusion layer. The LED-driver circuit was on the same board as the start-up circuit. I burnt out the start-up circuit that makes it switch itself off (because there no input connected to it), using a 12v DC adapter. Now it lights up by default using the LED strip and driver circuit already in it and stays lit. It also runs on a 12v DC power supply input. No extra parts were needed and I didn't have to do any soldering. To finish it off I just put a switch on the power cable. It is really bright, and does look very similar to daylight, lighting up the whole room. I imagine that if it was on the ceiling inside a campervan it would be quite indistinguishable from a skylight.
WOW! That looks amazing!
these videos are soothing and you're very polite haha
i wish i was tech savvy to make this, this would help so much when i'm painting
if you're a painter then you should have a steady-enough hand to handle simple soldering. Every step of this project is documented, so you can just copy what Matt is doing. You don't need to be tech savvy to imitate.
so brilliant, I really enjoyed watching this video. thanks very much.
Love the work, presentation details and relaxing voice.. thumbs up and keep up the good work!
Just built one myself, works perfectly as a softbox replacement for video production and live streaming!
is it good enough as a light source for my study?
@@RishabhMutha yes
Could you share your results?
@@antonfilimonov9131 Worked great, but never made a decent frame/mount for it so it didn't get too much use. Also as a video light, the CRI isn't great, so the colors looked a bit off
_"Hey buy this 400$ lightbox for your professional videos and ..."_
Lol nope gotta take a few spare old broken laptop monitors! :D
light balance may be (more than) a bit off.
light balance may be (more than) a bit off.
+Shreyas Rao just fit a gel into it behind the diffusion layer to fix that.
Wow, that was impressive. Thanks for sharing.
Incredible How-To video. Thanks!
If MacGyver had a sidekick, it would have been you for sure man. I want to know how you learned this stuff!!!! AAHH. Home made VR Headset anytime soon? Thanks for posting this. Very inspirational your videos are.
I Think the same when the video almost end and he is sit int he floor. =)
Okay, so I really admire this project and want to do it myself. I burned through like 4 panels (which are tougher to come by then expceted, and I live in a big city), the golden contacts on the boards either rip off too easily, or are tough to to get the solder to stick (even a proffessinal at work has had his difficaulties). Takind the panels apart is not too easy as well, putting them back togehter a bit tricky aswell. The video makes it look quite simple. Dont want to hate, as said I really like this vid and the project but be prepared to encounter some problems =)
Make Sure to put hot glues on the connections after soldering them so they won't ripp off
Interesting stuff. Thanks for the inspiration and the tutorials.
A good thought indeed, though haven't tried yet but it feels great...Wonderful idea
I had this Innolux screen from a bit more recent lenovo laptop, and LED_EN as well as PWN voltage had to be 3.3V and allowed 5V max. So the version of 6V was already too much. I had to calculate a voltage divider to create 3.3V, which required 500 and 200 ohm resistors. There was also an extra power supply marked VCCS, which needed 3.3V as well, but unlike the others its limit was only 3.6V max. And finally, the PWN point was nowhere to be found. I had to connect the PWM voltage wire straight to the pin at the flat cable connector. So some screens are bit more complex these days.
Thanks for this! I didn't need to connect to VCCS but your resistor values got my screen to stop blinking. (For anyone else's reference, I'd say it was 3 or 4 blinks per second)
You're lucky to have such good soldering points on the pcb, mine where like a third as big and the copper came right of the board when I tried to solder them :/
Too high of a temperature is typically what causes pads to come off of PCBs. Check the melting temperature of your solder and don't go too far above it. Modern lead free solder has a higher melting temperature so I like to use Leaded, I find it's just generally easier to use entirely.
if that happens you can try scraping off the coating where the pad was till you hit copper and resolder.
I love this .Found another hobby to pursue
i really like this DIY project , thanks mate
Ok I did this bought 4x 5k iMacs and took the screens off thx I love it
Would be really great if you actually could do this full-time!
Very Informative. Thank You for taking the time to make this video.
I love this! Great work!!
Idea is really awesome, I wonder how I'd be more difficult if I'd want to regulate intesity of brightness...
Just find yourself a dimming-curcuit and hook it up to the PWM contact.
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Remind me to Windows 10 default Hero wallpaper
Windows XD? Did this come before or after XP?
Nah. Linux be in here faking windows theme for free
Perks’ like a big brother we never had.
my best creative youtuber ever
You can also use these panels for grow lights.
Thanks for the info - I've actually been looking into making a compact DIY light table for tracing drawings :)
This is amazing! I definitely want to try this :)
Thank you very much very well explained and useful, love your videos !!
Hope someone still reads this:
I wonder how the whole thing should be connected to the power if i only want to use one single screen. Should i still use an 12v/1.5A adapter and the two 180 Ohm resistors? Sorry I'm kind of new to this hobby. I'm also wondering if it would be possible to connect the resistors directly to the adapter, since i could get my hands on one without plug-ending. Thanks in advance!
Uli yes, the voltage has to be the same. He connected the four panels parallel so the voltage is not changing.
@@5h4rk1337 maybe you can help me i know i need 2 180 ohm resistors but what about wattage and everything else?
@@5h4rk1337 so the wiring is parallel to lit all of the panel?
The 12V will stay the same, since you only have a single screen 1.5A are not necessary, as he said the LEDs are very efficient. The screen I had only required 275mA per its datasheet. However more doesn't hurt, so if you have a 12V/1.5A adapter, it should be fine. Regarding the two resistors, they build a voltage divider to get 6V from the 12V supply. Here it is important, that they have the same value to split the 12V in half. So yes 180 Ohm are fine, but another value would also be ok, as long as both are the same. I used 130 Ohm for mine, because I had them lying around. You can connect the resistors directly to the adapter, but you will have your wire fixed to the screen. Soldering some kind of plug in between makes the whole thing more easy to use. If you connect them directly, make sure that the adapter is fully discharged before soldering.
@@ProMoonLight well this is very help full
It would of been more helpful before I spent 15 dollars on one with 2 amps for my one screen so what you are saying is that a 1 amp 12 volt power supply will work for only one screen if so I am very confused with how this works
The VLED (12v) pad, was named as VBL to my screen. Also you can use a multivoltage power supply (from 1,5v to 12v), to have an easy way to regulate the brightness of the panel.
thanks for your comment! i cant do it without it! :))))
Fantastic........all those years i have been throwing screens away i could have made the most amazing Saturday night fever dance floor!!!
What a great video!! It's one reason I never throw away broken laptops, as I know one day I will be able to salvage something from them to use again. Laptop screen can be converted to make 'light boxes' for viewing negatives, or for artist as a tracing aid. either way, a small A5 one is 20 quid, going up to nearly 70 quid for an A4 size.
i have one more idea to use these lights as a three point lighting for video production.
thought the same
cool :D
+anurag mehta These are very useful for my closeup shots I use a similar DIY solution.
+X-BASS :)
You look like the guy that I would trust in representing the human race to an advanced civilization...or the first android...
MikeyWuzHear true that!
he looks like chris martin
yeah he's got android face
lol, yeah, base that on APPEARANCE. smh
Not the brightest LED in the panel are you? lol..
Btw: "representing the human race to an advanced civilization"
Do you mean presenting the human race to an advanced civilization or represent the human race?
Pick one.
That looks brutally convincing.
my goodness! i've thrown away soo many laptop parts I'm legit kicking myself!!! this would be a game changer in my house 😅 great video XD !
Brilliant!
As an extension to this project, how hard would it be to add a PWM controller to the light so that the light would become dimmable?
Four years later I have the same question
so theres only the one power adapter running all four screens? and you just run the four wires off it to each of the screens?
Seriously, this is awesome. Just subbed!
Clever. A knowledgeable host and very well presented :)
Are you thinking of uploading a new video anytime soon? Dying for a new project to be blown away by.
Very soon yeah - had some stuff that I've had to do the past month which has meant that I haven't been able to work on any videos, but now that it's all done expect some good ones! :)
Got myself a screen! In passing I visited a pc repair shop in leicester and asked if they have any broken screens. He then just gave me one for FREE. Now all i need is a power supply and the resistors. PS. the solder contacts are tiny!
Can I power just one with the powersupply or would I need different resistors if I'm using just 1 screen.
@@solidu5s he wired them together in parallel so you need the same power supply and resistor that he used i am trying to figure out what resistor i need tho
This is pretty amazing.
Increíble vídeo, saludos desde Panamá
Just a heads up for anyone looking to actually try this, any type of LED/LCD screen emits massive amounts of blue-spectrum light that usually gets filtered before actually being displayed into your eyes (usually a polarization filter in front of the screen or back light inside the monitor itself).
Removing this filter, and using the screens as described in this video can cause unbelievably severe headaches that last much longer than a usual migraine, and can persist if the screen are used long-term. Check the spectrum of light being emitted from any monitor before removing any filters, and be safe :)
hell crap XD i was just going to try this out, never thought of the blue light and its filters though. Thanks for the tip ! u just saved lots of wasted hard work for me xd
If you check out the video again, you'll notice that he does recommend leaving the filters on the LED, although the reason he gives is that it gives a nice 3D shadow effect. Leave the filters on and you should be fine.
If you leave the filters then you won't have the problem you are describing. Furthermore if you are paranoid you can always buy filters for screens and mount them in there.
0:50 I have one laptop exactly like that and guess what, I just removed the lcd screen! xD
Mine is also same but I'm watching in it
THANK YOU BRO IT WORK
I AM FINDING THIS FROM LONG TIME
I LIKE THESE . GOOD JOB