TDS3000 Backlight replacement

• TDS3000 Backlight replacement
  Posted by matth on 24 Apr, 2024 04:34
• I have been reading various threads about backlight replacements for my TDS3000 scope. 
  
  I am tossing up between replacing the CCFL with LED, however I do hear that there will be an impact on the colours due to the colour temp of the LEDs.  The CCFLs are hard to get.  I can get some from Plazmo.com but with shipping they are getting expensive and international shipping has no guarantee they will arrive intact).  Aliexpress tubes are an unknown (no specs).
  
  So I am leaning to replacing the CCFL with LEDs but I am not sure what LED strips will fit.  The CCFL tubes are 2.6mm but most retrofit LED strips are 4mm so looking for advice from people who have done this mod as to whether a 4mm LED strip will fit in the CCFL tracks in these scopes.
  
  Also keen for others' mileage.
  
  M
• #1 Reply
  Posted by MarkL on 24 Apr, 2024 14:42
• Perhaps you've read these already:
  
    https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-tds3xxx-replacing-backlight-power-supply-fan-etc-(photos)/msg5056963/#msg5056963
  
    https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/tds3000-series-ccfl-upgrade-to-led/msg3853634/#msg3853634
  
    https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/led-strips-to-replace-cfl-tubes-in-tds3000-series-scopes/msg3622656/#msg3622656
  
  If you still want to consider a CCFL replacement:
  
    https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tek-tds-3054b-vs-tds-744a/msg539810/#msg539810
  
  The bare tubes are still available from ccflwarehouse.com and you'll have to solder them in the old CCFL slide-in modules (qty 2).  This is what I opted to do and I think was the simplest path.  The color rendering on the replacement tubes is ok, but not as good as the original tubes.  The replacements are more blue-ish, but at least the brightness is back to new.
  
• #2 Reply
  Posted by JusTideaFIX on 24 Aug, 2024 15:35
• A 4mm wide strip will not fit into its own metal holder. The most advantageous solution is to use 3 mm wide strips. Color distortion is not a big problem. The colors are initially of low quality due to outdated technology and poor choice of oscilloscope interface colors by the developers of the device themselves.
  After replacing with LEDs, you will get a color correction effect similar to the images below (It is necessary to adjust the current on the LEDs to a safe value). But the screen itself will not allow you to make the image perfect. Viewing angles will remain just as bad.
  Personally, I like the picture after correction better.
  I used a cheap "Universal LED Backlight Strip Light Kit. CCFL Screen To LED" from China from Aliexpress.

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• #3 Reply
  Posted by IM3 on 27 Oct, 2024 16:54
• Quote from: JusTideaFIX on 24 Aug, 2024 15:35

  A 4mm wide strip will not fit into its own metal holder. The most advantageous solution is to use 3 mm wide strips. Color distortion is not a big problem. The colors are initially of low quality due to outdated technology and poor choice of oscilloscope interface colors by the developers of the device themselves.
  After replacing with LEDs, you will get a color correction effect similar to the images below (It is necessary to adjust the current on the LEDs to a safe value). But the screen itself will not allow you to make the image perfect. Viewing angles will remain just as bad.
  Personally, I like the picture after correction better.
  I used a cheap "Universal LED Backlight Strip Light Kit. CCFL Screen To LED" from China from Aliexpress.
  

  
  Can you cut those LED strips to the right length needed ?
• #4 Reply
  Posted by picburner on 28 Oct, 2024 05:05
• Usually you can break the strip every 3 LEDs.