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I have a gauge to monitor my diff temp. It's a fairly big and cumbersome unit which I'd like to hide someplace. Here's a pic:
What I'd like to do is dismantle it and remove the LCD display only and install it on the front of my radio door. How would I extend the wiring of the display and make it live as far as 5 feet away from the main unit? Is it some kind of computer ribbon?
May be a ribbon or may be soldered directly to the PCB
In any case plan on about 1 connection per segment, per digit (plus power and ground). My guess is there will be about 25 to 30 solder connections you will have to make on each end of your extension.
You won't know for sure what you're gonna find in there until you open it up. There are at least a couple of different ways I've seen LCD screens attached. Like WLAURENT said, the ribbon cable is one thing you might find in there. I've also a flexible conductive material sandwiched between a couple of rubbery strip of that acts both as a conductor and as a piece that holds the LCD screen into place. The LCD screen functionality is also very sensitive to the placement of the flexible strip on it. If you find this inside your gauge unit, I think it will be a much tricker mod, since there will be no clear solder points near the LCD screen. You'd be better off keeping the rubbery piece next to the LCD screen and trying to isolate the LCD assembly at another point.
Dave, open her up and pray for ribbon cable, if it's ribbon you can buy a chunk someplace and just snap it on. I suspect it is that plastic crap though.
LCD gauge - extending the display
Oh well, I'll crack it open next chance I get and see what's in there.
