Is there an option to turn off the display in the MPC 2000XL

Hi everyone,

I just recently got a nice Blue MPC 2000XL. I am also a veteran S3000XL user (1997 bought it new from AKAI and it was damn expensive )

In the S3000XL there is an option to turn off the display, it gives the LCD a longer life this way.
I was wondering if this option exists in the MPC 2000XL. I want to take all the necessary precautions to keep the LCD from burning out in the future.
my operation system is 1.2
I looked through the manual and couldn't see anything about it.
Anybody here knows how to work this, if it is possible?

Thanks,
and keep on the good job all you AKAI lovers.

OL

No there's no option to turn off the display. But it should be possible to do a modification by simply build in a switch that will cut the power of the display backlight (cold cathode valve). I guess its better to break the circuit BEFORE the inverter cause on the outs of the inverter is 100V and this should not be switched
Do at your own risk!!! This is just a thought of me. I never saw this before. What I tried once was simply pull the plug of the lamp to see if the display is still readable. If you working in a good light it is readable without the backlight.

peace

hold down the shift button and turn the data wheel left or right.

I wonder why AKAI decided to cancel this function, It sure is useful for saving the LCD's life. Does any of the MPC models has this function at all, or was it just uniqe for the S3000XL?
Maybe it is a different kind of technology. If someone has tried to do this mod like peterpiper suggested in his message please share your knowledge. Any other suggestions on how to keep the LCD healthy are welcomed.

Turning off the backlight is not going to have any effect on the life of the screen.

The heat generated by the backlight alone is not really all that much,
and the backlight is completely seperate from the rest of the screen, both electrically and physically.

If you want to turn off the screen completely, the easiest way would be to open the machine and disconnect it.

This would be a pain cause you'd have to open it back up to reconnect.

Gotta be able to see yo....

What you could do is like Piper said, but take it a bit further.
Piper made the right call on switching pre inverted, so do that,
But also switch the + on the PCB for the screen.
You'd have to de-solder the + lead of the mylar ribbon and branch your switch there,
but this would be an easy task.

You'd have 2 switches. One for the backlight, and one for the LCD

Or you could get crafty and use a relay circuit to operate both at the same time,
but you'll have to build it to operate the two different voltages.
I think you're dealing with 12v and 5v independantly,
Though it's been a couple weeks since I was screwing with this and so I could be mistaken
(I am constantly workin on different stuff and get things confused after a while, too much goin on)
IF you were dealing with the same voltage, then you could just run a single switch........

As far as mounting them..... SMPTE comes to mind if you don't wanna drill the rear panel.
Very few people use this so it could be a good place to mount the switches.

Personally, I use SMPTE from time to time with vintage drum machines so I'd just drill the rear panel

Definitely a doable mod, and perhaps worth while

Just keep in mind that switching the screen on and off more than turning the machine on and off
will shorten the LCD life even further than just leaving it alone. Which might end up being the case

Though, you could built a 'soft start' circuit for the LCD.... been forever since I did this, though it's simple and cheap

SMC, Thanks for the detailed explanation, I learned a lot from reading your expertise knowledge.

The last line you wrote seems very interesting:

Though, you could built a 'soft start' circuit for the LCD.... been forever since I did this, though it's simple and cheap

Can you please explain in a simple way for a simple guy like myself, what is a 'soft start' circuit for the LCD please?

I am not skilled with technical work, so The best thing for me would be to buy it from someone who makes or sells these mods.
anybody got ideas on that?