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Backlight LCD Kits
Guardian  
Posted : Thursday, 26 June 2014 9:38:41 PM(UTC)
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Hey guys

There are some Turnurgy backlight kits for Radio control Helicopter Transmitters on ebay.

Any ways is a bit fidley and it's not perfect but it's not bad either...

Guardian attached the following image(s):
atpro backlit.jpg
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sycotoad  
Posted : Friday, 27 June 2014 12:10:21 PM(UTC)
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Awesome stuff Guardian - Do you take orders?

What type of metal detectors can you do this to?

Any Idea of cost - I may get mine done if its not too expenxive

Your certainly a clever bugger ;)
Makro - Nokta - deteknix - GoldFinder
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Guardian  
Posted : Friday, 27 June 2014 11:07:39 PM(UTC)
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Hey ST

Cheers

They are pretty tricky but that depends on the machine - Soft power machines like the AT-PRO are more challenging as its harder to find a constant voltage. Much easier if you have a machine with the good old clicky switch.


The parts aren't all that expensive it's more just time to install them and if your LCD is big like the T2 then deciding what area to light up.

Sure we could work out something. I'll PM you.

Edited by user Friday, 27 June 2014 11:11:23 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified
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Iggyrulz  
Posted : Saturday, 28 June 2014 4:53:04 PM(UTC)
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Very professional job, I have been thinking along the lines of small glow sticks taped on around the edge of the screen, but your setup is way sweeter.
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Guardian  
Posted : Friday, 4 July 2014 1:22:51 AM(UTC)
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Yeah the kit would fit an f4, just the soft power to contend with.

I had tried a few other ideas but when the display is lit from the outside on the ATPRO the lcd becomes murky and hard to read.
One of the best ideas I had was just putting an led in hot glue - thing is that as you need to remove the silver backing on the lcd any inperfection or buble in the hot glue becomes obvious.

I was a bit rough on the first kit I modified and simply cut the white filters with a craft knife then used the bench grinder to shape the acrylic then cleaned the swarf off with the knife. then re-wrapped the edge in the silver tape I had removed earlier, if you don't replace the tape you get a lot of light blead.... that's not always a bad thing but as the facia of the ATPRO is all clear plastic I tried to keep it down, otherwise it glows like a x-mas tree.
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Guardian  
Posted : Friday, 4 July 2014 1:25:58 AM(UTC)
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Oh yes I also monkeyed up the front transfer which I now know I could have avoided, anyways Garrett sent me another one plus some o-rings for free! But they wouldn't send me a replacement coil socket which was the inital reason for opening up the ATP in the forst place, ohwell pretty sure I have it sorted now anyways!
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Mudwiggle  
Posted : Friday, 4 July 2014 8:48:34 AM(UTC)
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Here's my quick, no-surgery back....sorry, front light arrangement:

http://www.paydirt.co.nz/forums...-detector.aspx#post33187
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Guardian  
Posted : Saturday, 5 July 2014 11:29:13 PM(UTC)
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I did have a similar setup Mudwiggle. I used one of those cheap book lights with the bendable shaft and brought it over the top so pinpoint wasn't obscured.

Iggy that's not a bad idea either of course I like the idea of putting an led in a mini gluestick instead of using a glow stick *8^)
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Guardian  
Posted : Saturday, 5 July 2014 11:37:37 PM(UTC)
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Depending on peoples taste, on the machines like the f2/f4 with soft power there would be nothing wrong with mounting an on/off switch in the housing so you don't need to fiddle with the electronics..... I didn't as I wanted to keep the ATPRO water tight - I don't really trust supposed waterproof switches but to keep out rubbish not a bad idea for other installs.
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Erickd  
Posted : Tuesday, 9 September 2014 8:06:01 PM(UTC)
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Great idea but you would still need to see where you're digging so head torch works for both. .or am I missing something
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Guardian  
Posted : Tuesday, 9 September 2014 9:44:56 PM(UTC)
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It's more about keeping a low profile and not bringing yourself to the attention of drunken sluths.
Pinpointing with the detector, digging plug then using a pro-pointer or the like is usually enough light to find the target.
Also I find with the ATPRO the screen is somewhat milky and too much light makes it harder to read.
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sycotoad  
Posted : Friday, 12 September 2014 8:25:58 PM(UTC)
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I can certainly see a benefits of having a backlight on the AT Pro when water hunting as opposed to a headlight -

Ironically its now almost the norm that metal detectors in the upper price bracket do come with built in backlights -

This mod by Guardian is nothing short of amazing - I have seen it firsthand - It certainly makes the very small VDI on the AT Pro/Gold stand out & easily readable.

To think also that this can be done to other units which can have the light operating off a separate switch also is again a great mod & I will certainly be getting mine done in the future as I am blind as a bat .........

Makro - Nokta - deteknix - GoldFinder
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