reuse old tv lcd screen supplier

Over the years I have collected quite a few laptops (among many other things…). I usually pick them up when my friends and relatives get a new laptop and they throw away the old ones. Most of these laptops are not working and/or very old (i.e. around 15 years old, sometimes even more). I collect them because, even though they are not usable any more as laptops, I can sometimes fix them up just so much that they can be converted to a digital picture frame, or I remove some parts of it and make use of those in some way, like use a laptop touchpad on a PC.

Since I was running out of space to store these laptops, a few weeks ago I decided to remove the usable parts from some of the very old laptops that were beyond hope, and recycle what’s left of them.

The shiniest part you can salvage from an old/broken laptop is arguably the LCD panel. Most of the time the LCD panel of an old laptop has no problem at all (if there is a problem with the display of a laptop it’s mostly not the LCD panel itself but the inverter).

After a short research on the subject on the internet it became clear that, although theoretically it seems like an easy job to find matching pieces, there are many variations of the above circuits and it’s easy to get the wrong ones. To make matters worse, you usually have one shot: you either get the right components for the first try, or the LCD panel gives you negative feedback in the form of smoke signals…

Most on-line retailers have no idea what driver and inverter a particular LCD panel requires. They expect you to know what exactly you are looking for. (Which is probably right, from a technical point of view, but they lose a lot of business by not being able to help non-LCD-specialist customers.) Since I know next to nothing about LCD panels I was looking for a retailer who could provide me with a kit specific to my LCD panel based on the model number of my LCD panel (which is always clearly printed on the back of the LCD panel).

After just a few e-mails I was ready to order not one but two kits for two of my LCD panels to give them a try. I have many more LCDs to salvage this way and if this method works out I will order more kits from the same seller, for sure, won’t bother experimenting with other sellers.

Each LCD panel requires a specific set of driver and inverter modules. These modules look a bit differently for each, however, once you have the right kit for your LCD panel in your hands, figuring them out is pretty straightforward.

Inverter: this produces the high voltage needed for the LCD backlight. You are not supposed to touch it while in use. It comes in protective plastic, so it’s really difficult to get electrocuted…

The pictures following come mixed from the two LCD panels I got – the steps for both (and probably most LCD panels) are identical though, and only the used kits are different.

Once there is only one pair of (usually red and white) cable sticking out of the LCD panel’s side and nothing else, it is probably ready to receive the new inverter and driver boards.

First attach the connector from the driver board. Pin #1 is marked on both the connector and the receptacle, but neither is very visible, so you have to be alert. Orientation of the connector is critical. Attaching the connector the wrong way almost certainly guarantees to kill the LCD panel. The receptacle may break as well, if a connector is forced into it the wrong way.

Once everything checks out, connect a supported video source and a power supply to the driver board. It is recommended to use a high quality power supply of 12V DC with a minimum of 4A rating to get the screen going. The same seller sells suitable power supplies, but I happened to have a couple of 12V 15A power supplies which I could use to test these setups.

These cheap driver / inverter board combos are a great way to give your old LCD screens a new life. They come in many flavours allowing you to use a wide range of resolutions, screen sizes, and video sources.

Hooking up all the cables and boards from such a kit takes a few minutes only and doesn’t really require any specialized skills (apart from being very careful with the delicate parts that break easily). Not even soldering is required.

Learning how to use old LED TV panels is one way to show kindness to your wallet and the earth. Reuse is arguably the best way to recycle old or broken screens.

Old electronics have functional parts that you can reuse. The same goes for broken electronics, barring fire or a run-in with a crusher. So, don’t write off the entirety of your TV on account of a cracked screen. Creative types can reuse the TV to create furniture or an art piece. Of course, they would need help or knowhow to take the screen apart.

The LED TV panel also lends itself to reuse. Old and intact panels can make versatile displays that connect to all sorts of input devices. Then there are TVs with broken screens. If the glass part of the panel has a crack on it, you can repurpose the backlight system to make a lightbox.

LCD/LED panels have several components, most of which sit in layers. Some layers emit light, others focus the light while the rest diffuse (spread) said light. There are also layers that block certain polarities of light and layers that act as color filters. Here is a broad-strokes arrangement of the different layers; from the back panel to the glass that covers the screen: A reflector sheet sits directly on the acrylic base that makes up the bottom of the LED panel. Its job is to catch stray light from the backlight and reflect it towards the front of the screen

The topmost polarizer layer allows horizontal light to come through the TV screen and straight to your eyeballs. Its job is to improve the color and definition of the images that come through the liquid crystal layer.

It’s usually layers five, six, and seven that sustain damage when your screen breaks. They happen to be the topmost layers of an LED panel. Keep this small note at your fingertips. You’ll need it in a few seconds.

Let’s say you have a TV with some cracks on it. Chances are that the topmost layers of your TV no longer work, but the rest do. These functional lower layers produce, distribute and focus light over the surface of your LED panel. They’re the ideal light source for artificial yet natural-looking daylight.

To speed up this DIY project, get yourself a couple of LED strips and a 12V DC power source. An old TV or laptop adapter will work. Next, take the following steps: First, disassemble your old or broken TV. It will take time and you’ll be taking out a lot of screws

With the chassis off, you should be looking at a panel with some TV guts on it. Strip the panel by detaching the logic board, the power supply, and any other electronics.

If you take a closer look at the base, you’ll find the backlight source. It will likely be an LED strip if it’s an edge-lit TV. For a direct backlit TV, you’ll have multiple strips spread out across the base. The backlight for old LCD screens may be a row of small fluorescent bulbs.

Start by replacing the native backlight with your light source. You’ll first need to remove the LED strip or CCFL system on the internal chassis. Next, place your own LED strip in the exact location of the old backlight source. For a direct-array panel, lay multiple strips across the base and connect them in parallel.

If your old LED panel is intact, you can upgrade it by changing its logic board. Installing a new logic board can increase the type and number of input ports on the TV. The new board could give an old TV the capability to play media from input sources like USB drives and streaming sticks.

The upgrade process happens to be similar, if slightly simpler than the process of creating a lightbox. This time around, you would get to retain all the different layers of the LCD/LED screen.

Maybe you’re into photography and you could use a light source that simulates daylight. Or you may want to add new ports and new features to your ancient but high-quality LED screen. In both scenarios, knowing how to use old LED TV panels can come in handy. Learn how, using this guide as a start.

When televisions were first invented, they were an expensive status symbol. Such is the case with almost any new technology. Even as recent as a generation or two ago, you wouldn"t expect to find more than a single TV in the average home, proudly displayed in the living room where the family could gather around and watch programming together. Recent data suggests that today, there"s an average of 2.3 television sets per household (via Nielsen).

All of which is to say, buying a new television has become an increasingly common affair. With large, feature-rich sets as affordable as they have become, you might be considering an upgrade. If so, you"re likely to find yourself with a spare flat screen on your hands, and nothing to do with it.

Recycling your old tech can be a hassle — but a necessary one, considering the toxic materials they house — and it"s always better to give something a second life if you can. After all, if you paid for it, you might as well get as much utility out of your old set as possible. Just because a television was designed for a specific use doesn"t mean that"s all it can do. With a little creativity, or at least the ability to follow directions, there"s a place in your life for that old flat-screen TV.

These days, there"s not a whole lot of difference between modern (and even not-so-modern) flat-screen TVs and computer monitors. For all intents and purposes, they"re more or less the same thing, just intended for different primary uses. The biggest difference you"re likely to find between your TV and a dedicated computer monitor is the inputs. Your TV likely has some additional RCA ports you probably won"t need.

With just a few minutes and, potentially, an accessory or two, you can hook up your old TV to your computer, and upgrade your existing monitor to something larger, or add it as a second display. If you"re lucky, you already have everything you"ll need to get started. Provided your computer uses HDMI outputs, simply connecting your TV with an HDMI cable and powering it on should do the trick. Some computers, however, utilize a display port instead of HDMI. They look pretty similar, but the shapes are different. No matter how hard you try to cram an HDMI cable in the port, it won"t fit. If that"s the case, you"ll need a simple HDMI adapter to convert the signal.

If your computer happens to use DVI, even with an adapter, you"ll pick up video but not audio, and you"ll need a separate set of cables to send the audio signal (via Gadget Review). Once you"re connected, make sure your TV is switched to the correct input, and you"re off to the races.

It"s much more affordable to make one yourself, especially if you already have a TV just waiting to be integrated. Two Way Mirrors has a comprehensive guide on how to make your own mirror TV, with plenty of different options depending on the materials you have on hand, your budget, and your woodworking skills, but the basic premise is relatively simple.

The main component, aside from the television, is a semi-transparent reflective material. Simply slapping your TV behind your existing bathroom mirror won"t achieve the effect we"re looking for. You want a two-way mirror that will let light come through from behind. Mirror film applied to glass could do the trick. It"s affordable, but it won"t look as nice, and likely won"t stand up over time.

The technology here is pretty minimal, as the mirror does most of the work. When the TV is off, it will look like an ordinary mirror. When the TV is on, you"ll be able to see the picture through it. From there, it"s just a matter of figuring out what information you want displayed. Hooking up a Chromecast is a simple solution, or you can use a Raspberry Pi to customize your display.

If you"re willing to almost completely disassemble your TV, you can transform it into an impressive daylight light source that looks, at first glance, as if you"re peering at a distant sky from a considerable distance.

The secret ingredients are the layers of technology inside your television, which transform the backlight into a well-distributed light panel. The first thing you"re going to need is a screwdriver to dismantle the television. Removing the screws at the back should give you access to the interior. Once inside, you"ll want to get rid of any internal gadgetry you can pry loose. Be careful while you"re doing this to avoid electric shock from any components which may be holding a residual charge. It might even be a good idea to let the TV sit for a while after it has been unplugged. Once you"ve removed everything, you"ll be left with just the display panel.

Just because your TV was intended for viewing movies and television shows, doesn"t mean you can"t use it to display just about whatever you want. If you"re going to toss it out anyway, you might as well transform it into an effective dashboard for displaying any important information you might need at hand.

The process of transforming your old flat screen into a digital dashboard can be as simple or as involved as you want. For an example of a more complicated dashboard, but one which looks pretty cool, check out this tutorial from Thomas Sanladerer.

You can mount the TV however you like, either in landscape or portrait orientation. It can work either way, but tipping it 90 degrees makes for a particularly affecting viewing experience, and may work better with viewing some applications. The real brains of the operation is a Raspberry Pi, which does all the heavy lifting of grabbing your data, and sending it to the TV screen. Connecting your Pi to your TV is as simple as taping or mounting it to the back, and running a cable. Before that, however, you"re going to have to install some software. Luckily, the Raspberry Pi community has done most of the work for you, and you can find a suitable guide here.

If you"ve done everything correctly, the Raspberry Pi can pull information from your calendar, notifications, weather, and more, and display it right on the screen.

Countless science fiction movies and series have promised phones or video displays that are transparent, allowing the user to see the world beyond them, through the screen. We"re not sure how practical a transparent display actually is, but it is certainly cool.

YouTubers Evan and Katelyn did the hard work of figuring out how to make a transparent display happen by stripping down the components of an old TV. You can watch the entire process, but we"ll break down the basics. Fair warning: This project requires even more breakdown than the daylight panel, and there"s a considerable risk something will break in the process. You were going to throw the TV away anyway, so it"s worth a shot. Right?

In this case, the TV works by having a light layer that passes through a liquid crystal display to color it. As before, there are also filters that diffract the light and provide anti-glare. You"ll dismantle your television, careful not to ruin any of the electronics so that you can reassemble your modified display when you"re done. The goal is to isolate the display without any of the housing, so you can see through it to the world beyond. Doing just that, and putting it into a new frame sandwiched between protective glass, will do the job. But as you"ll see in the video, soaking the anti-glare filter with wet paper towels and removing it will improve the picture.

This works on a similar principle as the above-mentioned transparent display. Your screen wants to provide a picture, but needs something to tell it what to display. When powered off, you see an opaque black screen, but that"s due, at least in part, to the casing behind the display.

When the backing is removed, even without the anti-glare filter removed, your screen is partially transparent. When it receives a signal, that transparency can be replaced with an image. In theory, that means you can control, to some degree, the amount of light passing through it and reaching your eye.

Artem Litvinovich at RibbonFarm used the inherent characteristics of an LCD screen to create electronically controlled curtains to cover a window. Much like some of the other projects on this list, the process involves stripping your TV down, and isolating the LCD panel. From there, you"ll have to identify which pins control the transparency and opacity of the screen (via Hackaday).

Depending on how old your TV is, you might be upgrading to finally take advantage of the smart features modern television has to offer when connected to the web. Your old flat screen doesn"t even have to be that old to have missed the smart TV wave: The first modern smart TVs only came out in 2007 (via Smarter Home Guide).

Moving your old set into another room (or even the garage or bathroom, we won"t judge you) means having your entertainment wherever you go. All you need is a way to make it as smart as your new TV. There are a couple of ways to pull this off, depending on how much disposable income you have leftover after your new purchase, and what you might already have lying around (via Gadgets360).

If you"ve got an old game console or laptop you"re no longer using, stringing those up to the TV with an HDMI cable can give you access to online content with nearly limitless features. Otherwise, there are a number of small dongles including Google"s Chromecast, Apple TV, and Roku which serve the same purpose by connecting to the internet, and delivering streaming content to your TV. All you need is the appropriate USB or HDMI input for the device you choose.

So far, we"ve discussed a number of creative ways to breathe new life into an aging TV set, but sometimes the best thing you can do is go back to basics. Your old TV might best serve you by acting as a dedicated gaming station for video games that are even older.

Instead of taking up space in a landfill, it could act as your own personal portal to every video game universe from the Atari to the Nintendo 64, and beyond. Once again, for this build, we"ll be relying on the seemingly endless capabilities of a Raspberry Pi. Running RetroPie on your system can transform your TV, or any display connected to the Raspberry Pi, into the ultimate retro game emulator, allowing you to play your own library of game ROMs.

This guide from Make Use Of walks you through how to mount your Raspberry Pi inside your old TV"s shell, and while that"s objectively more streamlined, it isn"t wholly necessary to achieve the desired effect. Placing your Pi nearby and attached with an HDMI cord is just as good, and will leave you continued access to the components in the event you ever need to get your hands on them again. Easy, elegant, effective. Happy gaming.

TVs have been part of our lives for decades. But now and then, they break or need an upgrade. When a TV breaks beyond repair, it is only natural to replace it as soon as possible. But what to do with the old, broken TV? Putting it in a trash bin is not an option; it is even illegal in most places. Some TVs, mainly the ones with LCD screens, are hazardous to the environment. You must dispose of the old TV properly, and there are several ways to do it.

It doesn’t matter if the TV you’re trying to get rid of has a broken screen, dead pixels, fried circuit boards, or a dead motherboard. You can always do something with it, and some people would even want to buy it. So, here’s everything you can do with a broken TV that you can’t fix.

Sometimes even new TV sets break down, and the manufacturers would gladly replace them when still under warranty. Just note that cracked screens or visible dents and scratches will often disqualify your device for a warranty claim.

Some TV manufacturers will offer to repair your broken TV; if this is not possible, they will give you a new one. Most companies issue a one-year warranty, so check the date you purchased your TV.

If the manufacturer accepts your warranty claim and issues a new device, you should consider buying an extended warranty for your new TV. It will last you up to three years, but it will also have a more comprehensive coverage than the initial manufacturer warranty.

You can cover the costs of getting a new TV by selling your broken TV for cash. Then, think of buying a new smart TV with a Wi-Fi receiver that you can turn into an entertainment center.

But let’s be honest, selling old TVs is not as easy as it used to be. Especially the old, cathode-ray tube (CRT) ones. Even recycling these oldies is difficult as many recycling centers will not accept them. Those that would ask for a fee so they take it from your hands. But all this doesn’t mean it is impossible to sell old TVs. Many people still find a use for them. They either use them for parts or simply create something new and useful with DIY projects. You know what they say: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. So here are some places where you can try selling your old broken device.

Craigslist will allow you to sell your old broken tv locally and skip all the delivery expenses. If you are unsure what price to put for your listing, just check other ads for similar models.

Don’t forget to write an informative description of the TV you are selling. Include the brand, model, type of the screen, and any possible breaks and damages it might have. This way you will be contacted only by those buyers who want your tv.

eBay has over 180 million prospective shoppers, and it is a great place where you can find someone interested in buying a broken tv. eBay operates across the country, and you should expect delivery costs that will cut your earnings. You can avoid this by opting for local pick-up only.

Unlike Amazon, it is free to sell used items on eBay, but keep in mind you will have to pay a fee once your TV gets sold. Consider adding the fee into the initial asking price. That way, you won’t lose much of your earnings.

Facebook Marketplace is Facebook’s platform for selling and buying used and new stuff. You can find anything there, from pet equipment, real estate, and used electronics. It is easy to find people near you who need a broken TV for parts or their next art project.

Repair shops usually buy broken TVs that they can refurbish and resell. However, they also need replacement parts; for this purpose, they sometimes buy old TVs that can’t be fixed. Anything from a power board, capacitor, or t-con board, to the power supply and inverter can be reused.

Don’t know how to find a nearby TV repair shop? Just ask Google or an alternative search engine. If you type something like “TV repair shop near me” you will get some good results.

If you are not looking to sell your broken TV, and want to get rid of it, consider recycling. Depending on your location, throwing an electric appliance in regular trash might be illegal, and recycling might even be your only option. If you don’t know where to look for the companies that would take your old tv, here is a short list.

You should be aware that some landfills will ask you for a fee when you bring them your TV. Others might take it for free. If paying is a problem for you, don’t worry, there are other recycling options.

The Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company has a very insightful website that will tell you where to find the nearest pickup point. They have many such locations across the country, but they don’t always operate at the same hours. The best you can do is give a local MRM Recycling point a call and ask when is the best time to bring your old TV.

MRM has a partnership with many electronic brands such as Toshiba, Vizio, TCL, and Polaroid, and it is this partnership that allows you to recycle your old TVs. In addition, their mail-back program and collaboration with UPS help you to drop off your TV at your local UPS office for free.

Learn all about different Samsung recycling programs on their website. The website will also show you the nearest place where you can take your used TV. But be careful as their programs are reserved only for Samsung TVs.

You can also mail back your Samsung TV by using Samsung’s recycling partners that are near you. The TV needs to weigh up to 50 pounds to benefit from this program. Also, the fees will differ depending on the recycling partner near you.

This one is for all the creatives out there. The broken TVs you can’t repair are excellent material for various art projects or tech gadgets that you might find useful. But remember that some TV components are hazardous for the environment and your health, and learn how to handle them safely.

This tip is for all photographers, videographers, and artists who need a powerful light source for their studios. Use your old LCD screen to make a powerful, daylight-emitting panel! All you need for this project is LED lighting strips, gaffer tape, the LCD screen, a screwdriver, and an optional new metal frame. To make the panel, replace the old CCFL bulbs that backlight the screen with new LED lights.

Have pet fish? How about making them a new, stylish home from your old TV? This simple DIY project will let you keep your old TV in your living room, but with a new purpose. This project is perfect for older Cathode TVs as they are bulkier and can serve as a vessel.

Simply cut the power source, remove the backplate and take out all electronics. Send off the old screen, and put an aquarium inside the TV box. Decorate it with typical water plants, stones, and a fish castle, or be more creative and make a modern apartment for your pet fish.

This DIY project can be as simple as buying some IKEA furniture legs and screwing them onto your old TV, preferably flat screen, to make a new coffee table. A broken screen can even give an artistic vibe to this whole project. So be creative and use the flat screen of your old LCD or LED TV to create a futuristic table.

What did you do with your old TV? Let us know in the comments below! Also, check out all the cool things you can do with old RAM if you have some old RAM sticks lying around.

Who can say ‘no’ to a free TV, even if it’s broken? This was the situation [Andrew Menadue] ended up in last year when he was offered an LG 39LE4900 LCD TV. As [Andrew] describes in the blog post along with videos (see first part embedded after the break), this particular television had been taken to a television repair shop previously after the HDMI inputs stopped working, but due to a lack of replacement parts the owner had to make due with the analog inputs still working. That is, until those stopped working as well.

The nice thing about these TVs is that they are very modular inside, as [Andrew] also discovered to his delight. In addition to the LG controller board, an inverter board and the power supply board, this TV also contained a TCON PCB. After some initial unsuccessful swapping of the parts with EBay replacements, nothing was (surprisingly) working, but it did turn out that the TCON and inverter boards are made and sold by AUO (major Taiwanese display manufacturer), along with the display itself.

In the end it turned out that the AUO boards and screen were fine, and after sourcing a board to convert VGA input to the LVDS signal accepted by the TCON board, the whole display worked. Naturally using a board with HDMI inputs would be nice, but it does show how a ‘broken’ TV can be turned into a really nice, big monitor without all too much effort if it’s just the controller board that went on the fritz.

@Al Williams – I wonder how fast the opaque/transparent transition rate can be. I envisioned modulating a light beam with this (VLC or Visual Light Communications). However, I wanted to do so with a a high-wattage spotlight like a 18-million Candlepower Q-Beam Spotlight. Of course you could simply put a high-power TRIAC in line to the Q-Beam’s bulb and just drive (gate 12vdc) it directly with audio, Morse Code, or PCM (Pulse code modulation) digital data. But that would fatigue the bulb with too many off/on transitions.This method could put in front of the beam by a few feet to reduce overheating the LCD glass. The low-voltage AC signal could be applied to the glass causing it to interrupt the beam of light without damaging the spotlight’s bulb. You could use a low-power TRIAC (TRIAC’s are meant for gating low–to-moderate-voltage AC. You can also gate DC with a TRIAC. SCR’s latch and need to be reset. TRIAC’s don’t. But both can handle higher wattage).

HDMI capability is essential for me to get the best quality out of a raspberry pi. The high cost you mentioned is much less than the cost of a larger screen for the portable breadboard capable raspberry pi laptop/breadboard lab I"ve been planning. Thank you for your post. BTW , I dont usually use Ali Express so the link you provided are very useful.0

I order the LCVD chord whatever to use my mondor for by gateway laptop the LCD V chord day they sent me is huge I"m gonna try counting the pins inside it of each one Could you help me and what do I need to do

Can you use the monitor controller card from the laptop I got the screen out if? I am just learning electronics so I am just experimenting with different ideas. Thank you for a great instructable.

I"ve seen this project a while ago and now that i found an unused laptop screen I got more into it, so I wanted to know if any of the controller boards that you shared would work with any screen model, or do i have to search for a compatible one?

-If you crack LCD screens and find the liquid crystal leakage, don’t panic. Just remember that the liquid crystal materials might not be more toxic than your detergents for stove or washroom. Just wash your hands with soup throughout. Never try to play with it or even worse to taste it. The liquid of the cracked computer screen will not evaporate, no emissions worries.

-Any electronics has environment impact and can’t be used landfills. If you want to get rid of old LCD monitors or LCD TVs, give them to electronic collection stations. Let’s the professionals to handle them. They will extract some precious metals/parts and make them into something useful or at least not hazard. FYI, liquid crystal materials are retrievable.

Don"t want to trash your old clunky TV, but it"s taking up too much space? Upcycle it into a monitor and save yourself some bucks, turn it into a bar, or transform it into a cool-looking "80s themed clock and get an instant conversation starter. Check out these ideas and more on repurposing old TVs below.

Note that most old TVs feature cathode-ray tubes with a charge strong enough to injure you severely and sometimes fatally. So make sure you discharge your old TV first before you gut it and if you have no idea how to do so, have an electronics expert help you out.

Want to boost the audio quality of your podcast, audio productions, or YouTube vlogs, but can"t afford to splurge on an audio visualizer? Transform an old TV into one, and save some cash while simultaneously putting that "70s TV to good use. And because it only involves simulating an oscilloscope, this DIY idea doesn"t require years of experience with electronics (you only need to be careful of cathode-ray tubes that may contain charge).

Besides an analog TV (preferably black and white), you"ll also need a music player with a headphone jack, electrical tape, male-to-male stereo cable, electrical tape, solder, solder flux and a soldering iron, and a screwdriver to disassemble the TV as illustrated in the guide on Instructables.

Analog TV technology might be outdated, but it still has a cool retro vibe going on, and the best way to experience this and put that old TV to practical use is by transforming it into an "80s themed clock. Once complete, your cool clock will display the time in retro-themed melting digits and in four different color themes you"ll love. The best part? It"ll be an "80s themed clock with a web-based setup!

Other than a CRT-based TV, you"ll also need a micro USB cable, an Adafruit HUZZAH32 Feather, RCA terminal block, and jumper wires to complete the setup shown in the demo above. Check out the step-by-step guide on Instructables to complete this project.

Ambilight TVs are all the rage nowadays. They add a beautiful, colorful and immersive edge to TV watching by making even a tiny screen appear bigger while reducing glare. But they are pretty expensive too. Luckily, you don"t have to blow your budget on one as you can always equip a standard TV model with an LED array to achieve the same effect.

You will need a power source, either 5V or 12V, 5A step-down converter, Banana Pi M3 or Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, and an LED strip (use WS2811 if using a 12V power source, or WS2812B if using 5V). Glue the LED strip to the back of the TV and note the direction as you’ll need to make six connections, as shown in the step-by-step guide on Instructables. Next, prepare the Banana Pi or Raspberry Pi, wire everything together, set up the software, and connect an app to control Kodi remotely.

If your old TV is already broken, put its still-functional components to good use. In this case, to be precise, retrieve its CCFL backlight to make a light panel. Unscrew the backplate and carefully remove the internal parts until the old screen is exposed.

Modern monitors are excellent, but imagine gaming away on that clunky "70s wood-grain TV that made your childhood more interesting. When you"re done with this DIY project, you"ll be able to do that and have a cool-looking retro monitor to amp up your media center.

It"s pretty straightforward, too. All you need to do is take out the old TV"s CRT tube and circuits, and replace them with a modern, appropriately sized monitor, as illustrated in the YouTube tutorial above. Consider reusing the old TV"s circuits to cut costs even further if they"re still functional. Check out the Instructables guide to easily complete this project.

Disassemble the tube to obtain the old TV’s screen, sand it off, attach it to the case, and put together the rest of the aquarium, as explained the step-by-step guide on Awesomeness Projects.

As with most DIY ideas to upcycle an old TV, start by discharging the TV using a quality insulated screwdriver, or if available, a discharge cable. Next, empty the insides of the TV, and fit the walls and the floor with 6mm thick composite wood. Replace the original backplate, and your bar will be ready for use. Feel free to add lighting or printed stickers for that extra oomph.

Whether you"re bored and looking for something to keep yourself busy or you have a hand-me-down "80s TV and looking to put it to good use, any of the DIY ideas above is an excellent way to restore old technology. Try one out, or use them for inspiration for your own TV upcycling project.

Breaking your beloved computer monitor is a tragic situation to find yourself in. While you may not be able to enjoy your PC like you used to, you don’t have to mourn the loss of your screen: you can upcycle it. But how can you turn a broken computer monitor into something new? Let’s take a look at some of the best projects from around the web to help you to achieve this goal.

While it doesn’t look like it, the pixel panel inside your monitor is semi-transparent. This makes it possible for the backlight to shine through it, in turn making it possible for images to be displayed on the screen. Of course, though, you can take advantage of the transparent nature of your broken monitor’s panel when it comes to turning it into something new.

Building your own transparent LCD screen, as in this Instructables guide, takes patience and a broken monitor with a working panel. That makes this king of project great for those with monitors that have broken speakers, backlights, or other components that aren"t needed for it.

This LCD computer side panel guide shows you how to create a transparent LCD side panel for a computer case, but there are loads of other ways to use a see-through monitor. You could attach your monitor to a fish tank, using the lights inside as the backlight (as long as it doesn’t upset the fish). Alternatively, you could also attach a monitor like this to the inside of a window to use natural light as the backlight.

LCD, LED, and other types of monitors contain semi-transparent sheets called diffusers. Diffusers spread the light created by backlights to make sure that it covers the display evenly, much like the diffuser panels used by photographers.

Smart mirrors have been the subject of much excitement around the web in recent years. Like something out of the pages of a sci-fi novel, smart mirrors offer a glimpse of the future, turning a usually boring household item into something more. You can use your smart mirror to check the weather, catch up on news, and even shop for your next outfit, all while staring your beautiful self in the face.

Like the first idea we covered, your old monitor needs to be in relatively good condition to work as a smart mirror. You can choose from mirrors small and large, as long as you are able to remove the backing of the mirror your choose and expose the clear glass it is made from.

Raspberry Pis are perfect for powering smart mirrors. These mini-computers are powerful enough to perform basic tasks, while also being affordable. You can check out some of the best LCD smart mirror projects around the web with our handy guide.

Wireless speakers are great, giving you the power to take music whenever you go. Of course, though, who wants to buy new speakers when they have an old or broken monitor with great speakers built-in? This video shows you how to turn your old monitor or TV speakers into a wireless Bluetooth speaker with a soldering iron, some batteries, and a Bluetooth module.

If you finished school more than a decade ago, you probably remember old-fashioned overhead projectors. Having made way for modern digital projectors, old overheads are very cheap to buy online and can make a great DIY project for those with an old monitor.

Overhead projectors work by shining light through a semi-transparent sheet and reflecting it through a lens and set of mirrors. Anything on the sheet will appear on the wall the projector is pointing at. By turning your monitor into a transparent LCD, like in the first project we looked at, you can make a static overhead projector into something much more.

Recycling the broken tech in your home is one of the best ways to have a positive impact on the environment. With more than 60 million tons of e-waste being shipped across the world each year, it always makes sense to embrace DIY projects that reuse old gadgets. Your broken monitor is the perfect place to start, but you can apply this to other objects, too.

My LCD screen was having 40Pin LVDS cable connector so I ordered the same and directly connected screen with board. (Note pin # 1 should match which is denoted by arrow or dot or digit 1)

Electronics, such as televisions, computers, and computer monitors, contain toxic substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium, lithium, brominated flame retardants, phosphorous coatings, and PVC plastics. When thrown away these devices can release their toxics, posing a threat to human health and the environment. Because of the threat posed by these toxics, it is illegal to throw away cathode ray tubes and LCD screens in Maine. Electronics also contain high quality plastics, copper, aluminum, and small amounts of silver, gold, and other precious metals. Mining and processing these the materials is energy intensive and environmentally detrimental. By recycling your old devices, you can prevent the release of toxic substances and ensure valuable materials are recovered.

Households, K-12 schools, small NGOs and businesses: Maine households, elementary and secondary schools, businesses with 100 or fewer employees, and 501(c)3 nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees can recycle much of their e-waste at little to no cost through Maine"s product stewardship program – scroll down for more information.

Electronics leaving large businesses often have value in the reuse market, in which case businesses can direct their material to a company performing asset management – check with your electronics recycler to find out if they offer this service. Universal Waste Management Companies (PDF) can also ensure electronics from large businesses are handled and recycled in accordance with all regulatory requirements. For more information on the handling of electronics by Universal Waste Management Companies, contact the Hazardous Waste staff at (207)287-7688.

Under Maine’s product stewardship program for e-waste, manufacturers pay for the recycling of televisions, portable DVD players, game consoles, computer monitors, laptops, tablets, e-readers, 3D printers, desktop and portable printers, digital picture frames, and other visual display devices with screens of at least 4 inches measured diagonally and one or more circuit boards. Cell phones are not included in this program but may be recycled at the retail locations of cell service providers. Electronic accessories are not covered by the program but are often accepted at sites that accept the covered devices listed above.

Municipalities ensure that their residents have a collection site or event that will take these "covered electronic devices" for recycling. Some collection sites charge a small fee to help cover their costs of operation. Households, elementary and secondary schools, and small businesses and non-profits are responsible for bringing their e-waste to a collection site or event.

give IT. get IT. (previously PCs for MAINE and eWaste Alternatives) is a nonprofit that reuses computers to help people achieve their employment and educational goals. give IT. get IT. can accept all kinds of working or waste electronics from businesses or households. (off-site)

The term "electronics" includes more than just televisions, cell phones and computer products. The term also includes DVD players, VCRs, video cameras, digital cameras, gaming consoles, stereos, answering machines, photocopiers, scanners, printers and the list goes on. According to a study by the Consumer Electronics Association, Americans own nearly 3 billion electronic products, or an average of 24 electronic products per household.

With a constant supply of newer, faster electronic products on the market, older models are continually replaced. As a result, electronics have become one of the fastest growing waste streams. Electronic waste has become an issue of national importance, not only because of the amount produced, but also because of the various toxic materials and heavy metals located inside these items. Electronics can contain lead, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel, zinc, copper, silver, gold and brominates flame retardants. If crushed or improperly disposed, the toxic materials inside the electronics can seep out and contaminate our soil, water and air, potentially harming both people and the environment.

If you have an outdated computer or two in your basement or old cell phones packed away in a box, you"re not alone. While most electronics from residences can legally be discarded with household trash, the department recommends reusing, donating or recycling it.

Maybe it"s old. Maybe it stopped working. Maybe you just want a bigger TV. Regardless of the reason, take some time away from drooling over your new TV prospects and spare a moment for your old one. That trusty TV that gave you seven great seasons of Game of Thrones (and one other) and countless movies, and showed your favorite teams winning, or not winning, the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup or some variation of all three. Are you just planning on throwing out your old TV? Actually, don"t.

Fortunately, many of the options for getting rid of an old TV don"t cost you anything, other than perhaps a little bit of your time. Here"s what to do. For more, check out whether

No matter what you intend to do with your TV, make sure you log out of all your streaming accounts. Then go one step further and do a factory reset, which you can find buried in the user menu. Obviously having somebody

First of all, you need local pickup for a TV. No matter how well you pack a TV, even if you have the original box, it"s probably not going to survive the trip. Modern TVs are far too fragile. Now the seller has to deal with a broken TV and you have to give the buyer their money back.

And that"s if you can sell it. Used TVs depreciate quickly, in part because new TVs are getting cheaper and cheaper. That TV you spent $2,000 on? Maybe you can get $200. Check out the "Is your TV worth anything?" section at the bottom.

There"s also Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers or another drop-off secondhand retailer. You"ll need to bring the TV to one of their locations. Check their website to see if they"ll accept your TV"s type and size. For instance, they probably won"t take an old

Some cities and local jurisdictions offer TV recycling, either drop-off at a recycling center or as part of your regular curbside pickup. Contact your local government to find out details.

There are a number of organizations that will help recycle your electronics, including TVs. Check out the EPA"s page for more info. MRM Recycling also has a page to help you locate options in your area.

Most people remember what they paid for a TV and assume it"s still worth something years after they bought it. This just isn"t true. TVs have gotten so inexpensive there just isn"t much of a market for used televisions these days, especially if the TV wasn"t that expensive to begin with.

Now, there are exceptions to these rules. You might be able to find a collector for your 500-pound RCA console TV. Maybe an archeology major is doing a project on early flat-panel TVs and finds your mint Fujitsu a prime candidate for their dissertation.

As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000 mile road trips, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures.

When you replace your flat screen monitor with a new version, you have to figure out what to do with your old one. While it might seem tempting to just toss it in the dumpster, the chemicals and components inside the monitor are hazardous for the environment. Better to reuse or recycle instead.

E-Waste Issues Compared to the old, bulky CRT monitors of yesteryear, which contained pounds of lead, flat LCD screen monitors may seem downright eco-friendly. But the backlights in monitors manufactured before 2009 used mercury, a hazardous chemical to burn or let loose in the environment. The mercury-containing backlights were replaced in 2010 with LED lights, which aren"t toxic, but still need recycling to help companies recover some of the valuable materials inside.

What Not to Do Throwing your old monitor into the trash isn"t just wasteful and possibly dangerous, it may be illegal in your area. States and counties are cracking down on the dangerous materials released when this electronic waste, or e-waste, is tossed into landfills. Setting that old monitor out on the curb on trash day could earn you a fine.

Recycle For those monitors that have gone belly up and popped their last pixel, a recycling center is the path for you. Not every recycling center can handle e-waste, so call around to find one properly set up for old computer equipment. Search for “computer recycling” or “e-waste recycling” and your city online to find local places to take your old monitor. Some retailers and manufacturers take back old equipment for proper recycling, such as Best Buy and Dell, so check them out. In most cases you"ll have to pay a fee when you turn over your monitor, so shop around to find the best deal.