Powering an EL backlight

[bob7]

Well, I was able to get an EL panel out of an old electronic organizer. I was planning to install it in my TI-84+SE, but I soon discovered that the darn thing runs off of 120v AC power. So this is my question, how on earth do you get 120 AC volts out of the two AAAs that organizer runs on? I've looked around the internet for EL power supplies, but they all seem to be giant boxes with big fat transformers in them, yet the organizer didn't have any transformer in it. So, whats its secret? And how do I duplicate this in my TI?

[DigiTan]

A lot of EL kits come with an inverter to generate the 120V+ from batteries. I've never used one personally, but they can be built small enough for wrist watches, etc.

[bob7]

Where do you get one that small, though?

[luby]

I'd say trace the circuits back to the batteries from the screen and see what it bumps into.

[bob7]

Yah, I tried that. Its not as simple as it sounds.

[DigiTan]

Digikey.com has something in that line, but for some reason their site is down -which is really weirding me out because they're a top international vendor. They're actually hard to find. You might have to google for a manufacturer and ask them who distributes for them.

[bob7]

The Digikey site is working fine for me, and it looks like they have exactly what I need here: http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T071/2038.pdf

[DigiTan]

Whoa! That's really weird. I can't load it, but when I go through VTunnel it works with no problem! Did I get IP banned? (Need warm white leds for my PC case)

Just be sure you have a datasheet and maybe product photo before you get it. Some inverters still come pretty big.

[luby]

Before you get too underway, to you think the Ti OS will accept the new screen?

[Taricorp]

It should, because you're not modifying the controller hardware at all. TIOS can't even tell where the power leads go.