Foreword: This cheap LCD monitor hack was written and submitted for a Hack Magazine, which I never saw in 2006, so I have no idea if it got published or not. This solution is for when you need a no thrills LCD monitor for a standard analog Video signal, Audio Speakers also come as a bonus, for under $25. Here we go:
When a portable LCD display is needed for a cool project, but cash is in short supply try searching eBay for “Portable DVD Player As-Is”. Dozens of listings will appear and as you read the descriptions look for “Not reading CDs”, which would mean that the LCD is fine. It is not widely known that most Portable DVD players have an Audio/Video Input mode, effectively changing them into small Monitors when needed. Do not bid more than $15 because these players show up everyday and are worthless to consumers. Always check the shipping rates, $12 should be way more then enough to cover the shipping anywhere in continental US. Always read the descriptions and ask questions about the LCD, don’t just buy blindly.
Once the player arrives carefully disassemble it. Do not pull hard and try do the hinge corners last because those contain the LCD data cable and it is very fragile. If the player does not want to come apart check underneath all the stickers for more case screws. With the player disassembled discard everything except for the top lid with the LCD and the main circuit board. Next lay the LCD on a piece of cloth to protect the screen and use some double sided tape attach the main board to the back of the lid. The corner with the LCD data cable connector should be next to the LCD ribbon on the lid. Connect the LCD to the main circuit board as the final step. Next connect a power supply while observing the polarity. Turn on the power and make sure everything works. The DVD player screen should be at a default Insert CD or CD Open message. Try switching the Input selector switch to ON and plugging in a video source through the Video In jack. As a word of caution do not short circuit any components on the exposed main circuit board, only work with the Audio/Video-In connectors. The video signal is also polarized meaning that Ground and VCC will not display correctly if swapped around. Once the Video and Audio points are mapped out, solder your desired wires and hot glue all connections on the main circuit board for security. Congratulations your first cheap LCD is ready for a variety of fun projects!
Have Fun!
Can you make those images clickable?
Done. –CM
hello,
is it possible to connect a computer to this? through the VGA out?
thanks!
No VGA connections, but if your video card has S-Video out or Component Video, then yes.
I have an unknown brand of Portable DVD player, and it has output, instead of input composite line.
Is it possible to change the output to the input?
Or it doesn’t matter?
Well if it doesn’t have an input then you cant really do much. Its a specific feature. There may be a spot on the board where the connector is supposed to go, but I wouldn’t spend too much time on it.
Just look on eBay and once you find one at a reasonable price, look up the manual for that model and see if it lists Input as a feature.
I have s-video in and RCA in on my portable DVD player. I have no problem getting a game system to display on it but when hooked up to my computer it displays nothing. I tried both RCA and s-video from my computer and still nothing. do you have a sugestion?
by the way I have not took my DVD player apart yet-will that make a change in the fact that I can’t see any video from my computer?
You probably just don’t have your video card configured to output the analog signal. Try looking through the settings, there should be a Clone desktop option. Or try restarting with DVD plugged in.
I don’t see any options you described. nview desktop manager?
It’s a cheap card but I remember that I had it hooked up to a tv before and it worked. Could it be the DVD player just can’t recieve it?
It must be a setting. When I plug in a game system with the yellow RCA it shows up color. What do you think?
2 things no color and wrong resolution. this is pissing me off
woops it’s good. it helps me to do the project in my school
Can i attach the LCD data ribbon to any portable dvd player screen or just the 1 it came with ?
Thank you
It’s a cheap card but I remember that I had it hooked up to a tv before and it worked.
hi CM, realy good work u’r doing here. thanks.
i have been thinking of how to use the lcd screen of my portable dvd player as a monitor for a small laptop mainbord i am using for a musical project.
pls i need you to throw more light on the tutorial u presented here. explain the connections betwn the vga output from the pc to the p.dvd RGB input and the sync compartibility. thanks
fecs
Hey Fecs,
Well unless your laptop had a standard RCA Video out, using it as a DVD player LCD panel as a monitor will be impossible.
The VGA output has special timing and is pretty different from DVD player. You need special driver circuit boards to interpret all that. So once again its not possible.
Just get get a cheap LCD VGA Monitor and plug the laptop board into that I’m sure it has a VGA out. Thats the only way this is gonna work.
Good luck.
i have taken my dvd player appart and i knew from tje start it could not handle input but i was wondering if there was an adapter to put rca cables directly to the data ribbon
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My pdvdp has AV out my pdvdp came with a ywr cord but when tried plugging in my ps2, it didnt work. The sound comes but not vid, I never did any mods before or taken it apart yet, I was just wondering if im able to do this before I start anything.