Super cheap 20x4 Green Backlit LCDs

Parts Archive
1

While looking for parts for my MB-6852 I stumbled upon Smithy’s wiki page:

http://www.midibox.o…u.php?id=Smithy

where he lists sources for his control surface parts. He noted that divineo.com had cheap LCDs (the link on the wiki pointed to a discontinued SKU, however) and I was blown away to find this:

http://www.divineo.com/magento/big-lcd-green.html

20x4 STN Gray. Positive. Transflective. Green Array LED Backlight. $0.94 ea

from Crystalfontz CFAH2004A-GGB-JP

Shipping to USA (well, at least California) was $6.99 for up to 2, $9.99 for up to 5. So for $14.69 you could get five 20x4 LCDs.

Now, from the looks of these, and since Crystalfontz has since discontinued them, I would guess they are not the highest quality. Probably wouldn’t necessarily want to use it for a finished project, but good for backups and or debugging purposes. Or, if you are on a super tight budget.

2

Thanks for the tip!

Note that discontinued doesn’t mean they’re not good quality… LCD manufacturers will often discontinue a model and replace it with an exactly identical model with perhaps a newer controller or different backlight.

3

Note that discontinued doesn’t mean they’re not good quality… LCD manufacturers will often discontinue a model and replace it with an exactly identical model with perhaps a newer controller or different backlight.

Good to know. I just ordered a pair of these. Once I get them and can fire them up I’ll update with my experience.

4

The Optrex displays from the bulk order a few years ago were excellent. They were only blowing them out because they weren’t lead-free.

5

Thanks for the tip woolsey, 5 displays for £16.22 ($25.69 US) shipped to the UK is an absolute bargain.

6

I hate it when MIDIboxers miss out on deals like this, so I put it in my status (so it will appear on the main forum page).

Good find, woolsey!

7

Great tip, thank you woolsey!

8

Ordered 6 pcs on Mar. 2. Received in Ontario, Canada (near Toronto) today.