It's just a standard 16x2 lcd (HD44780). I bought the cheapest one I could find on ebay. Not sure how much current it draws, but the cz101 seems to be handling it just fine. Most LED backlit LCDs have a fairly low current draw and should work okay. Though, I have heard reports of some oddball displays that draw significantly more current than others, namely ones made by crystalfontz and possibly others that display bright, high contrast colored text on a black background, so it would probably be wise to avoid these these types of displays.
If you want to do this mod, you will have to file or cut the screw holes wider on the new lcd board in order to get it to fit on the mounting bracket. I used a dremel tool. Also, it's a pretty tight fit in there (at least it was on the cz101), so watch where you run your wires. The battery compartment leaves very little clearance behind the screen.
The LCD board in the cz101 has 14 pins. Most of the backlit screens sold on ebay have 16 pins. The extra 2 pins are for power and ground to the backlight. you simply need to jumper these 2 pins to the existing power and ground pins. On my cz101 the power wire was white and the ground wire is red, and they are either the first or the last 2 pins depending on which direction you are counting from. Aside from the 2 extra pins, all HD44780 LCD display boards should have the same pinout, so as long as you keep the wires in the same order, the worst you can do is hook it up backwards.
Here is an HD44780 pinout diagram for reference:
http://www.instructables.com/image/FMCPZRTG8LWOHW9/HD44780-pinout.jpg
Here is a picture I found on the internet that I used as a reference to make sure I didn't wire it up backwards:
http://a3.img.mobypicture.com/57e589270d80ba39b7c00a8db539c8d3_large.jpg
Note that this person added a trimmer to adjust the contrast of the screen. I didn't find the trimmer necessary and left it out.
There is also this helpful youtube video which shows how to disassemble the cz101 and get to the display board:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2ZSPSdKhQE
Everything else should be pretty straight forward. If you need any help, feel free to post your questions here and I'll try to answer as best I can.
--- In CZsynth@yahoogroups.com, "Dave" <daveogarf@...> wrote:
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> Hi, group!
>
> I think we'd all love to know the brand and model number of the backlit LCD display that you used, how you hooked up the backlight, how much more current it might draw, etc., if you'd be so kind.
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> This is something that the CZs have needed for a Long Time - and to see it actually accomplished is like dangling a carrot on a stick.
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> Even better would be if you could write up the procedure that you followed, complete with those wonderful illustrations, and post it in the "Files" section... again, if you'd be so kind.
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> THANKS for showing that this is possible, and for sharing the photos with the rest of us!
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> Dave
>