Shrinking the SanJian PLJ-6LED counter display.

[nomadradio]

So here's the problem to be solved. The SanJian PLJ-6LED frequency displays are incredibly useful, and do just what they claim. Just one problem. They're too big to fit behind the window in a Tram D201 or a Siltronix VFO.

Solved the Siltronix problem by replacing the entire faceplate with smoked plexiglass. The big digits look nice in that setup.

Can't do that with the Tram.

Found that I can buy 3-digit muxed LED displays like the ones used in the PLJ-6 display that are small enough. But they won't line up with the holes in the pc board.

So here's the fix. A piggyback board with the smaller digits. The labor to remove the original displays from the counter isn't that big a deal. Designed a prototype batch of the adapter board and found some compatible digits on Chinabay.

Works a treat, as they say down under.

Just have to remember to trim the leads of the new digits so they don't bump against the pins on the driver chip when it's all smooshed together.

Next step is to remove the VFO dial and put this in the window of the D201 that's getting the scorched-earth rebuild done this week.

I'll update the thread when that gets done.

73

 

[Low_Boy]

Nomad that looks great.

 

[Robb]

I have one of these old VFOs hooked to a SBE Console II.
But this is next-level stuff, Nomad
Made of cooool . . .

 

[nomadradio]

Got one mounted in a D201A. Removed the plastic dial from the VFO tuning shaft and replaced the window with smoked plex.

Still need to put a black mask around the digits. Not a real "beauty shot", just a first look now that we got it installed today.

So far, so good.

73

 

[TM86]

Got one mounted in a D201A. Removed the plastic dial from the VFO tuning shaft and replaced the window with smoked plex.

Still need to put a black mask around the digits. Not a real "beauty shot", just a first look now that we got it installed today.

So far, so good.

73

I never really wanted a D201A, until now.