Adding Backlight to LCD

An LCD screen consist of a light source and a matrix, filled with a material called “liquid crystal”. This chemical substance is normally transparent, but becomes dark when electricity is applied to it.  Obscuring specific points and leaving the others untouched is how the shapes are drawn.
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The issue

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Some low-end devices are equipped with very simple gray displays. Instead of a light source, they have a simple mirror on the back. The result? Easy to see on the day, but awful on the night. Time to fix that
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The solution

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Unplug the device and remove the screws

The LCD screen (I didn’t unpluged the AC cord but that’s only for taking the picture. Don’t take that risk yourself)

With extreme caution, pull the sticker (a.k.a. mirror) behind the screen. I recommend to use your nails first, then using pliers when certain safety distance is met. Even a small crack in the glass may wreck it. Also beware of the ribbon or the pins! Breaking that connections is very easy.

Transparent LCD screen!

Put a small bulb or LED behind the screen, hot glue is the best to fasten it. LED’s last much longer, but I like the warm color of  ordinary bulbs.

The diffuser distributes the light uniformly, and prevents you from watching the naked bulb right through the screen. Luckily, my LCD was mounted on a plastic piece, so I didn’t needed any diffuser. If that’s not your case, find a piece of plastic to do it (Your favorite color will do)

WARNING: DO NOT USE BIG, POWERFUL OR TOO HOT BULBS! they will melt everything inside, is a damn fire hazard.

So far, so good

Connect your new light to a decent power supply. Using a multimeter, find a place in the circuit to get the 3 or 6 volts (whatever your light needs). Obviously, the voltage must shut down when the device is turned off.

Re-assemble

Hell yeah!

The picture shows a music player hooked up to the FM radio

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