Analogue-sequencer

> I thought i had survived the curse of the PLED but it looks like no to
> that :(

The PLED displays are no longer available at any of the suppliers I used -
according to one supplier, the makers of the display material used have
stopped producing it 'for financial reasons'.
Maybe that means they can make more money doing colour PLEDs for MP3
players, or maybe they had problems with high failure rates...

Anyway, much as I love the appearance of the PLED displays, they are not
that much nicer to look at than a good LCD to be worth the trouble.

I have been using Electronic Assembly white on blue LCD modules to replace
PLEDs that have failed in production units under warranty.
http://www.lcd-module.de/eng
Part number W162-BNLW

I have also looked at using Noritake LCD-compatible VFD displays, but these
are expensive (£30+), use a lot more current, and also have a gradual loss
of brightness over time.

Fitting an LCD module to a P3 requires 10mm M3 mounting screws and 5mm
spacers, since the LCD modules are thicker than the PLEDs.
The LCD backlight also needs R19 on the P3 mainboard to be fitted.
The EA modules I use need a 47R resistor there. Other makers modules may
vary.

On P3s with a serial number earlier than roughly #1040, the function key
switch board is too wide to allow the LCD to be fitted, so it needs a bit of
width removed with a file.
I'll put together an instruction page on this soon.

You can wire the ribbon cable directly to the contacts on the LCD module,
and put a plug on the other end.
I was thinking of getting some of the little PLED to IDC socket adaptor
boards made up, since it's a pain to remove and re-use the ones already on a
PLED module, and they didn't have connections for the backlight anyway.

> Also is there any
> need for heatsinks on the power transistors etc due to the increased
> current draw of a LCD?

No, it's well within the limits of the power supply.
Pre-production P3s used LCD modules in the first place.

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com