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PowerBook 1400 LCD replaced with New Old Slightly Different Stock

Posted by: AEChadwick on 2023-02-09 20:52:08

I am an idiot with LCDs, but this actually worked so i thought i would share.

I obtained a PowerBook 1400c, hoping to harvest the active matrix LCD, but the screen was busted. The LCD pulled from the 1400c was a SHARP LQ11S42. I have not seen a list of the LCD screens used in the different 1400 models; and this was the first time i’d paused to notice the model number.

With the insight of a post listing 500-series LCD Model numbers, i recently found a NOS replacement for a 540c LCD. i figured it was worth searching for a replacement LQ11S42.

However, I could not find a source for the "SHARP LQ11S42"--just a few generic LCD-supplier-sites with "call for an estimate", or prices like "$245 + shipping, 0 in stock" and other fake-outs.

An eBay vendor from which i previously found spare parts randomly had a few SHARP LQ11S46--a couple digits off? Superficially, the LQ11S46 stats were identical: 11.3", SVGA, 800x600; and it appeared to have the same connector on the back. Best of all, it was only $17, cheaper than eggs and more entertaining.

The LQ11S46 arrived today and i swapped over the cables from the broken 1400c. I attached it to my G3-upgraded 1400cs/133. (only the backlight cable connector was different, quick surgery.)

It works perfectly and looks great.

Was the LQ11S46 also used in the 1400 series? I don't know what it might be doing differently, but for now I finally have a PowerBook 1400c/G3.

Posted by: LaPorta on 2023-02-09 21:05:56

It may have been. I forget that number, but I also sourced some replacement LCDs for my 1400 that are sharp, but are a different revision that have only one capacitor instead of two on the back.

Posted by: Paralel on 2023-02-09 22:28:43

I'm glad it worked out. A panel from around the same time period with the same apparent specs and connector should work, but sometimes the smallest differences end up causing trouble, it's a crapshoot. I'm not too surprised that the grafted connector worked since they are both two pin, and backlight connections are usually fairly simple. Strange that they chose a 3 pin connector and just left the middle one blank.

Posted by: aladds on 2023-02-10 00:45:56

Do the 1400cs and 1400c have the same cable/connector at the screen end? This would be really cool as a cheap upgrade path!

Posted by: AEChadwick on 2023-02-10 00:48:20

the parts have different numbers in the tech manual, so i expect those are not interchangeable.

i used this LCD and the cable from a 1400c to upgrade a 1400cs--so the motherboards are fine with the change.

Posted by: greystash on 2023-02-10 02:31:39

Do the 1400cs and 1400c have the same cable/connector at the screen end? This would be really cool as a cheap upgrade path!

From memory the display cable connects at a different location under the bezel. I tried years ago to put an LCD from a 1400c into a 1400cs but it wouldn't work because of the connector position. I don't think I had a 1400c at the time so maybe if I had the longer display cable it would have worked.

Posted by: LaPorta on 2023-02-10 07:02:24

I know for a fact that they are not interchangable. That being said, if you are able to source a 1400c LCD to logic board cable as well, that should work just fine.

Posted by: Snial on 2023-02-10 11:54:53

Do the 1400cs and 1400c have the same cable/connector at the screen end? This would be really cool as a cheap upgrade path!

So, I've managed to note that you're talking about cable/connectors at the screen end. As it happens I bought a 1400cs from Ebay last November / December. I spent a bit of time swapping out the HD (after backing it up), then replacing it with an IDE to SD adapter (it's a little bit slower than the HD should be, but is very quiet). Then I bought a non-working PB1400c/133 from Ebay with a 16MB RAM expansion. I thought it had an internal CD, but it didn't (just another battery in the other slot), but the RAM worked (CPU didn't). I removed the PB1400c's screen and replaced my PB1400cs's screen, which has worked very well since!

The LHS cable braiding is frayed on the PB1400c's screen, so I plan to fold the screen only occasionally. But in theory, obviously the cable signals are compatible.

Posted by: AEChadwick on 2023-02-10 21:41:37

Well there’s the difference: the lower mounting tabs are about a centimeter off.

Doesn't matter much on the left; on the right, i fixed it with a dremel.

(The bezel is tight enough, the screen stays in place just fine without the lower mounts.)

Posted by: MacUp72 on 2023-02-20 03:03:35

I wonder what displays of other Powerbooks actually are compatible for the 11,3" 1400..from the 5300c?..no they are 10"

Posted by: jeremywork on 2023-02-20 03:54:21

IIRC the cs bezel is slightly different than the c bezel too. They’ll swap just fine, but will obscure the very top or bottom row of pixels.

Posted by: CircuitBored on 2023-02-20 04:02:27

IIRC the cs bezel is slightly different than the c bezel too. They’ll swap just fine, but will obscure the very top or bottom row of pixels.

Correct but it is not just a single pixel line that is obscured. You can also see the metal lower lip of the display (when putting a c screen into a cs chassis). I found it to be far too visually "off" to be happy with it so I just used the entire c display assembly on the cs body in the end.

Posted by: MacUp72 on 2023-02-20 04:07:02

..well if you are lucky to get a complete c display anywhere in europe..😎

Posted by: AEChadwick on 2023-02-22 19:44:36

…

Posted by: 3lectr1cPPC on 2023-06-01 11:23:15

Strange that they chose a 3 pin connector and just left the middle one blank.

Sorry about the bump - realized why this likely is. It's probably to prevent against short circuits. Lots of high voltage going through there, and it's a lot less likely to short out in the event of damage to the connector if there's a pin of separation between them.

Posted by: Daniël on 2024-11-02 15:32:43

Slight bump, but I impulse bought this LCD panel without realizing the 1400cs uses a different display cable, thinking it looks like a drop-in replacement:

Fujitsu 11.5" 800x600 Laptop Matte LCD TFT Screen NA19017-C101 6H076 | eBay

Fujitsu Part Number: NA19017-C101 6H076. Screen Resolution: 800x600. Manufacturer: Fujitsu. Surface Type: Matte.

www.ebay.com

Bezel dimensions might be a tad off, but it does appear to have the right mounting hole locations.
No visible electrolytics either, nor any spaces they could hide as far as I can ascertain.

I might offer it for what I bought it for on the Trading Post, given with the increasing fragility of 90s PowerBooks, I'm not sure I want to keep mine in the long term anyways and probably won't pursue the display swap further.

Posted by: LaPorta on 2024-11-02 16:18:03

How much was it, might I ask? I often will buy otherwise junk 1400s with a good screen off eBay just to have spare screens.

Posted by: Daniël on 2024-11-02 16:30:50

How much was it, might I ask? I often will buy otherwise junk 1400s with a good screen off eBay just to have spare screens.

About $45, after shipping and taxes.