Skip to content
Portable Monitor fr...
 
Notifications
Clear all

Portable Monitor from old laptop

10 Posts
4 Users
3 Reactions
1,939 Views
(@dyimike)
Posts: 9
Active Member
Topic starter
 

I really like the show and decided to build a portable monitor from an old laptop that I had.  The show

was very clear as to how to build it and it went very well.  The part that I changed is to use the entire laptop screen assembly less stuff like the camera and other components no longer needed.  I found it efficient to attach the hinges to a nice piece of trim left over from a home project.  Other parts of the old laptop were fashioned into hinge covers and a panel for the LCD control panel.  Works great except that the old LCD resolution isn’t as sharp as my Mac’s screen.

IMG 9456
IMG 9457
IMG 9455

Take a look. 

   

 
Posted : 26/05/2023 7:28 pm
marcdraco reacted
marcdraco
(@marcdraco)
Posts: 701
Moderator at Large
 

SWEET! I love those builds, it's a shame it can be a bit hit and miss with the panel drivers. I'm 2 for 3 right now which isn't bad. Neither of them look anywhere near as polished as that though!


Take everything I say with a pinch of salt, I might be wrong and it's a very *expensive* way to learn!

 
Posted : 27/05/2023 11:00 pm
(@fredbot)
Posts: 3
Active Member
 

Looks great. Really neat/professional. How did you make the surround for the on/off/up/down/menu buttons? The metal cover for the controller board is also really nice. I can't see the lvds wiring though, did you drill through the old laptop screen back to run the wiring from the controller to the display?

 
Posted : 29/05/2023 4:44 pm
(@dyimike)
Posts: 9
Active Member
Topic starter
 

Thanks.  I really wanted to reuse as much of the old laptop as possible. I wanted to have a sturdy, sleek case that was very portable.  I decided to house the LCD panel in original case, since it was designed for it, including the hinges rather than to go the extra effort to build a case.  I cut a slot in the bottom of the case for video ribbon cable to connect to the panel. The covers for the hinges and switches were cut from the plastic trim keyboard from the laptop.  The ribbon cable passes under the screen to the keyboard on the front.  I thought about shortening the cables, but tucked under cover instead. The keyboard is fastened to the wood base with brass standoffs and screws like the control board on the back of the screen.  BTW, I installed the hard drive and optical drive in inexpensive

IMG 9462
IMG 9461

enclosures and use them with my Mac.

 
Posted : 01/06/2023 4:30 pm
(@dyimike)
Posts: 9
Active Member
Topic starter
 

Hi.  I liked how the orginal project came out and it is really useful.  However it was too heavy with the wood base.  So I took it apart and built a new base using 1” aluminum tube.  I also moved the key pad from the front to the rear since it’s. not use that much.  What do you think?

 

IMG 9496
IMG 9501
IMG 9500
 
Posted : 13/06/2023 10:34 pm
(@dyimike)
Posts: 9
Active Member
Topic starter
 

I have had a lot of fun doing this project and it has been very useful.  I have been bothered by having to carry a 12v power supply for the monitor along with my other gear.  So I came across an inexpensive and quick solution.  I bought a usb c PD trigger board module PD/Qc decoy board fast charge usb type c to 12v. adapter on eBay which was just a few dollars.   I put a barrel connector on it which plugs into the video control board’s female connection allowing me to power the monitor using a variety of power sources like the power adapter for my MacBook, a power cell, or the usb c port on my MacBook itself.  All these devices must allow power delivery (PD).  Check it out.  

On a different note, I am in the process of refining the monitor stand so it’s lighter and less bulky.  

 
Posted : 10/03/2024 8:50 pm
(@emceejuan)
Posts: 2
New Member
 

@dyimike Hi Mike, I'd like to look into this solution but I'm a beginner haha. Is it possible you could upload a photo of your solution? I think I get the general imagery, but I'd like to see it before I start making purchases. Also, did you need some kind of protection component to prevent over delivering charge? Or is the trigger board sufficient?

 
Posted : 09/08/2024 8:45 pm
(@dyimike)
Posts: 9
Active Member
Topic starter
 

@emceejuan Hi, I just bought a trigger board with a shell to cover the circuit board and a female usb c connection.  The video controller board I used on the monitor has a barrel connector so I wired a male barrel connector to connect the trigger board to the power connection.  Hope this helps.  See the photo.

IMG 0181
 
Posted : 02/09/2024 2:16 pm
EmCeeJuan and marcdraco reacted
marcdraco
(@marcdraco)
Posts: 701
Moderator at Large
 

Great pic Mike! That's the way to do it!


Take everything I say with a pinch of salt, I might be wrong and it's a very *expensive* way to learn!

 
Posted : 02/09/2024 3:21 pm
(@emceejuan)
Posts: 2
New Member
 

@dyimike Hi Mike! Thanks for the detailed photo, it looks really sleek, just as I was hoping. Actually shell is a good idea to make it look nicer and probably keeps it quite robust. Again, I really appreciate the help, newbies like me really need it!

 
Posted : 02/09/2024 6:00 pm