if you think a wide lcd screen and blank black plastic looks awesome more power to ya. i love the satin silver/gunmetal looks and power/performance of my 325.00 top of the line for 04 deck. but that's just me.

 

Way to take an interesting thread off-topic

For alot of people, the stock HU is enough for them, can't we leave it at that?

Back to on-topic for those that care....

Looks good Mandos.

 

I fail to see where this was a hu comparison post. Upgrading the sound system is definitley a plan for me.. but I have had plenty of nice systems, and this one does the job better than many stock systems, so I will probably keep the head unit for now, as it is not top priority. Plus, maybe some just think it is fun, I love doing electronic work (obviously) so that is enough for me. If you dont like the HU... great... but you have no place in this thread with negative comments that are panifully off topic

 

I didn't plan to upgrade my head unit until navigation is necessary... I don't need navi right now but having the console and gauge in blue, the HU just looks out of place...

 

this gave me an idea...

 

Thanks! I just wish I could have gotten a write up done 2 months ago... I've just ran outta spare time.

VERY nice write up! Props right back at ya for taking the initiative to do it yourself and make the write up... You'll be cranking this mod out in an hour flat now!

~chris

 

Ordered 50 blue 0603 LEDs this week. Will post my results when finished. can't wait!!!

 

PROBLEM____My two leds for the LCD screen have blown....why would this happen...Blue_estel or itstdt are you lcd leds still working becuase mine lasted two days. should i just replace the leds or is there a bigger problem??

 

does your lcd leds have a resistor installed on one of the led legs? Without it you will over power the led and they will blow

 

thanks so much for the write-up. i did my led swap last night. i made all of the buttons white, and the lcd green to match my paint. a fun mod until i get a new HU.

 

Bump still Curious about this from others who have the conversion!!!!

 

I ordered 50 LEDs from ebay and they should be here soon. The LCD LEDs are a regular sized LED with legs. I believe you need a resistor in series with the LED to make it 12V friendly. If not they will burn out. I will post my results as soon as the LEDs arrive.

 

I've done 7 HU LED conversions and have never blown an LCD LED. make sure the resitors are on each side LED; 35 to 75 ohm. I've been using 50's with out any problems.

~chris

 

Can u take i pic so i can see how that works...im a little new to the whole resitor thing!!

 

Here is the big question, as I have not looked through all of this thread yet. Was there a resistor in line with the stock LED? If so, you should not need to add another one, as blue LEDs run a higher voltage than amber for comparable output and size. If you are replacing the stock resistor with another size, then we can calculate a safe resistor value from the rating of the LED and the applied voltage. I would keep them to around 10mA tops through each LED. Again, I have not torn into mine yet to measure, but thought I would throw those thoughts out on the table.

 

im lost^^^^

 

Here is what I am basically describin:

LEDs are for most part a constant voltage device, meaning a 3V forward biased LED will drop 3V whether connected to a 12V source or a 3V source. The remaining voltage is dropped across the rest of the circuit. So to control the current through the LED, you add the correct resistance in line. So here is an example:

Lets say you have a 12V source and you wish to power one 3V led (the voltage is part of the LED ratings). So you connect a wire from the 12V + through a resistor, then to the anode (+ side) of the LED. Then from the cathode of the LED to ground. We know that 3V will be dropped across the LED, leaving 9V to be dropped across the resistor (and wiring, but this part is negligible). So, lets say your LED is rated at 20mA, but you want to be safe and run it at 10mA as long as it is bright enough. To calculate your resistor value:

I = V/R

So: .010 = 9V/R , which in this case yeilds 900 ohms (or the next closer value).

So if there are doubts as to the LCD LEDs blowing, then you can use a voltmeter and the above example to see why. A quick check is to power up the board with everything in place, and measure the voltage across the resistor inline with the LED in question (with the LED working of course). Then divide the measured voltage by the resistor value. This will tell you the amount of current driving the LED.

Hope this helps... rather than sounding confusing

 

I understand to a degree but i think seeing a pic of whats going on would be a bigger help....preferable a pic of what is going on with the HU LCD LEDs....thanks for the explaination though!

 

I have a problem these days when I try to solder some new LEDs in for the ones I damaged. The LCD LEDs have not been working becuz I didn't put in resistors (I don't know how much to put in) and the HU suddenly becomes dimmer than before when the LEDs for LCD don't work... engifineer, i think it is time for you to calculate wt resistors to use before i disassemble the HU again

 

Thank god someone did this! I was going to get around to this sooner or later (Later) I will post this in the tech section...