How To: Spektrum DX7 LCD Back Light Mod.

[sacko]

Cheers Rob, may do in a bit as I cant sleep

How risky do you think having the driver where I have placed mine is?

Cheers

[Rctintin]

Sorry,couldn't see on your photos where yours is mate. I would advise putting it next to the charge socket. I bent the legs down and against the underside of the inverter, and installed it with the legs facing the charge sck. Then when you put the back on the Tx, just move the inverter about a little and it will fit a charm.

Just a thought, if you dont fancy unsoldering the 3.3v reg, just cut the legs off, and solder wires to the PCB and fit the new one under the RF board connected to the wires, and tie wrapped to the Tx.

[sacko]

If you take the back off, there is a PCB on the top which is in the middle of the Tx (the board with the 33reg on it). I took off them 4 screws and put the driver under there.

I dont mind the soldering, i unsoldered the legs and it wouldnt come off so soldered them back on again...

[Rctintin]

Give it a good range check with the light on. There should be very little 'noise' as the wires are twisted.

You do get a little 'buzz' off the inverter when it is working, as with any transformer, but nothing to worry about IMO.

[sacko]

All worked fine today on the 600, only managed 2 tanks though due to the weather..

Hopefully will give it some more testing tomorrow, but cant see any problems as of yet.

[jamiem]

I had a good look at Paul's dx7 today, and the backlighting is perfect, very OEM looking. Quite tempted to do this myself now

[Rctintin]

I see a trend starting!!

Well done Paul, go for it Jamie

[sacko]

Changed the voltage reg today, what a difference in power consumption! Fully charged 18 month old ni-mh battery read at 11.1v, and after 3hours and 30minutes with the backlight left on, the DX7 is displaying 10.1v

[coptermanic]

This is developing into an excellent thread, well done you guys on a fantastic mod. Just wish I had the "necessary" to attempt it without making a complete horlicks of it, which i know I would.

[Brian Gifford]

Just read this excellent thread, and it's gone on my list of "things to do" - not till my Tx is 12 months old, tho, I'm a bit of a coward that way. I've also got the bearings for the gimbal mod, I'll do the whole lot in one go.

Thanks again, Rob, brilliant work!

[Tim Procter]

Well I can confirm Rob did my DX7SE and made an excellent job of it.

Thanks again Rob.

Have had over 30 hours flight time with the TX now using the backlight mod and everything works fine I am pleased to say.

[coptermanic]

Good to hear Tim.

[Rctintin]

Have had over 30 hours flight time with the TX now using the backlight mod and everything works fine I am pleased to say.

How have you found your battery life now Tim?

[Tim Procter]

How have you found your battery life now Tim?

No different because I turn the light off when flying..

Why waste battery life when your flying.

[Rctintin]

Even without the light on, your battery should be lasting alot longer because of the 3.3v switching voltage reg.

I charged my Tx battery last night for the first time in 2 months. I have had aprox 30 flights on the 450 and 500, and 50 flights on the MSR on one charge.