Meade Autostar 497 Handbox LCD Display Replacement Repair 1602

Hello, this is a instructable for people that own Meade`s Autostar 497 handset with a defective LCD display.

for the ones that wonder the original display of this telescope controller (HDG1602P-1) is really hard to get as a consumer and i just wanted to have a cheap and easy fix.

Looking on the internet i found a solution on weasner.com but that involved really fine soldering and i wanted to do it in a way that more or less anybody can do it if they dare a little of really basic soldering.

1PCS DIY FPC/FFC Adapter Board 1.0mm Connector 4P $2,-

Flat flexible cable FFC FPC LCD cable AWM 20624 80C 60V VW-1 FFC-1.0MM $3,-

LCD1602 1602 module green screen 16x2 Character LCD Display Module.1602 5V (any colour) $3,-

thin insulated wire, soldering iron, and solder with internal flux. basic cheap and nothing fancy

(i got all the above at aliexpress)

before you carry on to the next step check the picture if your handset is compatible with this instructable there are 2 models from before 2001 and after.

FPC/FFC Adapter Board 1.0mm (to connect the flatcable to the lcd)

14P Flat flexible cable FFC FPC 1.0mm (flatcable to connect to the FPC/FFC and the Meade Autostar handset)

LCD1602 display in any colour with 16pins

thin insulated electrical wire

When everything arrived we finally can get started.

Remove the screws and carefully split the body appart taking the back off, release the flatcable by sliding the latch and remove the cable from the connector.

Remove the board from the case by lifting it out, now remove the old lcd display and white defuser behind the display. also carefully push out the front plastic window from the back side (some heat will help)

Okay now connecting things is pretty straight forward you have to solder 14 wires between the fpc adapter board and the display(see images), solder wire 2 to 3, and wire 3 to 2, all other wires go to the corresponding number for example 1 on 1, 4 on 4, 5 on 5 etc.

The display itself also needs power on pin 15 and 16 you can get that from the autostar 497 mainboard and make sure you run the cable through the hole! (See images)

check that you wired everything correctly and do a test before you proceed it should light up and display text.

(to make placing the display easier solder the wires on the backside of the display under a angle)

alright time to put this puppy together.

there should be enough space to house the adapter and cables, the biggest trick is placing the display and trying to get it flush without cutting into the plastic. in a past step i mentioned soldering the wires under a angle towards the opening really gave me a good result

I hot glued the display in place and ran the cables through the opening.

carefully plug the flatcable in the connector and slide the latch back into place locking the cable.

okay now try and put the case back together and place the screws back.

Nice all done!

(in the settings you can adjust contrast of the display)