[taoh]

The backlight on my head unit died today so now it's nearly impossible to read the display. Anyone know about the circuitry on JVC head units? This one is a KD-S730 and it looks like the backlight is made of miniature incandescent bulbs.




I don't know how to find out voltage and amperage draw these bulbs are and I don't want to put in the wrong bulb and fry the circuit board. Anyone know where I might be able to find help if I can't find it here?

I was thinking of replacing those bulbs with LEDs but do LEDs also have different voltage and amperage draw?

[boost]

You can contact JVC's customer care or corporate centers and ask for a list of Authorized service centers in your area (or region).

Call through the lists and ask them and tell them your problems and ask for the correct bulb size. I have done this many times through Pioneer and Nokia and i dont think JVC is any different.

[Track-Star]

there should be some info about wut bulb it is in the manual

[taoh]

That's only if I have a service manual; how many people would JVC expect to take apart their head units and do their own service?

If I could find my multimeter, I could find out the supply voltage (most likely 12V) and figure out which resistor to bring the current down to where I will not blow the LED and I should be fine using that rather than an incandescent bulb. And I actually have enough space on that PCB to put a resistor and LED.

[panda]

that's a cute tiny bulb.

if you can retro fit LEDs onto the board, what color are you thinking of using?

[taoh]

I'm just going to use a white or yellow LED. Not likely that any other color will look any good on this old head unit.

[panda]

what was the original color?

[taoh]

It was never an LED to begin with....it used miniature incandescent light bulbs similar to something you would see in a Mag-lite solitaire.

So it's pretty much like a bright yellow/white light.

[Track-Star]

just google it, you will probably find it thru google

[taoh]

I found my multimeter, so I tested the connections and it's 10V on the circuit. Only problem I have left is how bright of an LED will I need....