2x20 VFD only 17.50 @ BGMicro

johnmacd · Post by **johnmacd** » April 10th, 2006, 9:51 pm

I've been looking for an inexpensive VFD in the US and really havent found any. BGMicro just got some back in stock. I didnt want to post until I got it and wired it all up and made sure it was compatible. Well, it works and looks great in my HTPC case!

http://www.bgmicro.com/prodinfo.asp?sid ... fd&stype=3

I hope this help someone.

pealy · Post by **pealy** » April 24th, 2006, 11:12 am

Hi - I remember seeing these and deciding they were too good to be true.

Was it easy to connect up? I'm only familiar with HD44780 types, could it be used as a drop-in replacement?

johnmacd · Post by **johnmacd** » April 25th, 2006, 9:04 pm

I found it was very easy to hook up. Once you open up the metal case that it was in and remove the circuit board, it pulls right out. On the VFD itself where you would solder wires-they have female sockets that plug right into pins on the connecting board. I didnt have any pins laying around, so I unsoldered them from the connecting board and reused them. That was a little tough. But if you have connecting pins or decide to just wire it to the female connectors, you can have the VFD out of the metal case in about 2 minutes.

As far as it being a drop-in replacement-I would say it works fine with LCD Smartie.
I picked up 2 of them since they were so cheap.

FormatC: · Post by **FormatC:** » June 17th, 2006, 12:42 am

I desoldered those female pins and soldered on a 2 X 7 Header so I can use a cable from another VFD (Another Noritake U1J 2 X24) and my text is displayed on the far end of the display I have smartie set at a 2 X 20Display also could this cable be wired wrong? and whats the correct wiring for an HD44780 VFD Thanks

Heres a Picture of what I mean this is supposed to be the clock
http://www.sendmefile.com/00401477

johnmacd · Post by **johnmacd** » June 17th, 2006, 3:07 am

I would check your wiring. I followed the instuctions here: http://www.icehw.net/article.php?id=99 and it works fine. I bought 2 of them, and they both work fine. What pins do you have everything hooked up to?

FormatC: · Post by **FormatC:** » June 17th, 2006, 3:52 am

I followed the guide at VFD World for a 2 X 24 CU24025ECPB-U1J Noritake VFD

Here is a Image of the guide I followed

http://www.sendmefile.com/00401559

johnmacd · Post by **johnmacd** » June 17th, 2006, 4:25 am

At first glance it looks like the only thing you did differently was connect pin 5 on the VFD to parallel pin 14. But after looking at your picture and the actual spec sheet :http://www.bgmicro.com/pdf/com1192a.pdf I see that you are using the pin out for a different VFD than I got from bgmicro. Is that where you got it?

The most noticeable difference between the 2 is that your 2 rows are the opposite of what I have. I pulled my VFD and looking from the FRONT of the unit pin 1 is on the bottom right. Looking from the back of the unit , pin 1 in on the bottom left. On your diagram it says "back of VFD" and has pin 1 on the bottom right. I believe if you use that diagram but wire it as if it the diagram said "front of VFD" you will be fine. Here is a picture of the back of my VFD.

FormatC: · Post by **FormatC:** » June 17th, 2006, 4:47 am

Yes I ordered The BG Micro VFD it's a Noritake CU20025ECPB-U1J Do you have the same model? Because BG Micro Said the VFD's Were Model CU20025ECPB-W1J I'm kinda dispointed that it's not the newer model like they said it was. I guess I have to buy more supplys to make a new cable Thanks for all of the help through

johnmacd · Post by **johnmacd** » June 17th, 2006, 4:33 pm

FormatC: wrote:Yes I ordered The BG Micro VFD it's a Noritake CU20025ECPB-U1J Do you have the same model? Because BG Micro Said the VFD's Were Model CU20025ECPB-W1J I'm kinda dispointed that it's not the newer model like they said it was. I guess I have to buy more supplys to make a new cable Thanks for all of the help through

Looks like the one I have is a Noritake CU20025ECPB-U1J. Good luck.

alejo · Post by **alejo** » July 7th, 2006, 11:20 pm

I have a seetron backpack, and ordered this VFD from bgmicro. It should work woth LCDsmartie, right?

_X7JAY7X_ · Post by **_X7JAY7X_** » July 8th, 2006, 5:28 am

Basic functions should work with the test driver. The custom characters will not.

If you have some knowledge of electronics I would build a backpack. There are several different plans on this site now.

J

kronchev · Post by **kronchev** » July 12th, 2006, 1:23 am

Ohh they were back and I missed it? I literally hooked mine up today on a whim, had to write a driver since I refuse to use that bastard Dan_Dude's ripoff program, and while I'm good friends with both SpecialK and Curtisbeef, I dont feel like calling them up asking if they had any source still around

(those were the two who really brought these LCDs to modding light, if you're wondering)

I had to write a test driver because the one listed, well, just plain doesn't work. It was written for a 2x40 so that is probably the reason

THIS WORKS FOR THE 2x20s THAT WERE AROUND 4 YEARS AGO.

I cannot 100% say this works with the new ones. This is serial of course...

[Test Driver]
Init=21,14
Fini=21
GotoLine1=27,0
GotoLine2=27,20

alejo: you don't need a backpack. These wire parallel OR serial.

alejo · Post by **alejo** » July 16th, 2006, 12:22 am

Actually, I think these VFDs are a little different. Does your's have 20 pins on the back? These have 14 pins and came in a terminal that processed tickets or some such.

I was kinda dissapointed because the VFD has a piece of smoky plastic cemented to it. It doesn't look bad, only where you can see the adhesive. It looked OK when I powered it up in its terminal, just not as bright and clear like a VFD normally is.

I think I'm just going slap it in a project box and hook it up to my parallel port. I'll save the backpack for something else. I think making my own backpack is beyond my skill right now. What trips me up are the diagrams. I can't really read them. Maybe I should take an electronics course.

2x20 VFD only 17.50 @ BGMicro

2x20 VFD only 17.50 @ BGMicro

I'm having Trouble with mine :(