HP 15C LCD Replacement

[GreyUser]

For the sake of completeness, please allow me to add the following:

One important tip when doing this work: wear a pair of latex gloves. It prevents skin oil from transferring to contacts and zebra connectors. No cleaning, other than maybe canned air to keep the loose dirt off things is required when working this way.

As the OP experienced, the replacement is easier if the replacement lcd is from the same vintage/design as the target machine. That is if your target machine has two identical tinned battery connectors, look for the same in a replacement 12C. If the target has a coil spring on the left and a gold pc protrusion connection on the right, look for the same in a replacement.

The procedure outlined above is for the original design Voyagers that are wrapped in what HP called the black diaper. It was anti-static protection for the sensitive cmos electronics. It was later determined that it wasn’t necessary with HBM (human body model) testing and was eliminated when the product was redesigned to reduce the assembly costs. What is important for anti-static protection are the two small coil springs that connect the front aluminum keyboard surround with the aluminum plate of the back cover.

The difference between the two lcd’s is the height of the zebra connectors, the design of the metal frame that secures the lcd to the supporting structure (plastic or pc board) and most importantly, if the display is mounted to a plastic carrier for easier installation during manufacturing.

While the actual lcd’s are identical, the chances for success are greatly increased when parts match, especially when this is your first attempt. Why is this? The answer quickly becomes obvious trying to remove a lcd from a plastic carrier to be used on the earlier design unit. The double sided tape is quite tenacious and it’s unnerving prying on a glass lcd...

When the replacement part matches the defective part, do not, and I repeat, do not remove the zebra connector strips and further, do not remove the lcd from the metal frame. Remove the replacement by using fine point tweezers or a very small diameter straight blade screwdriver by lifting the bent tabs on one side just far enough so they stop mid point on the plastic frame or pc board.

Repeat with the opposite side.

Now, with all the tabs half way removed, completely pop off one side. Then repeat with the opposite side. If the zebras are stuck, slowly peel the display off by holding the metal frame and lifting from either end. The early model with the flex pc tend to stick often but they are easy to peel. The later design can be problematic to remove if stuck due to the plastic locating pin on the black plastic backing plate that the lcd is double sided taped to.

Once the donor lcd is off, it can immediately be transferred to the recipient. The zebras do not need to be cleaned if you don’t touch them. You can clean the gold contacts if there is a chance you touched them without gloves on.

Just reverse the removal process. Place the display in place. Don’t flip it, the glass to glass seal goes on the right side. Start one side one half way, repeat. Then seat one side and then the other.

Reassemble and test.