E-mu Emulator Sampler User Forum for the EIII EII EI and EIII XP

I replaced the LCD with a VFD, inspired by others on this forum.

It was very easy. Details follow (do at your own risk. worked on my EII but I cannot say it will work on all, if for some odd reason there are slight variations).

1/Remove LCD back light inverter (the black cube just above LCD)
2/Swap IC25 on the main CPU PCB (74HC04) with 74LS04 - very common part
3/Remove LCD and LCD ribbon cable
4/Connect up VCD in it's place (pin out is identical. 14 wires).
5/Screw in place.

The correct VFD is CU16025-UW2J

But I could only get CU16025-UW6J.
http://uk.farnell.com/noritake-itron/cu16025-uw6j/vfd-module-2x16-5mm/dp/1495416?Ntt=CU16025-UW6J
The PCB mounting holes are in a slightly different place. So I only used the top right hole (viewed from front),
I will secure the other side with hot glue.

I had to use a dremel to make the display hole in the PCB a little wide, because the glass on the VFD is wide. Easy to do.

Observe 14 way connection cable. You need to twist round 180 degrees. just observe correct pin order. It's written on the VFD PCB.

You will also need a VFD filter. I have one of these on back order
http://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/BLU204/BLU204-ND/2651886


So in summary,
no special mod's are needed.
Just swap IC25 for 74LS04, and  some slight physical mod'ing to get the VFD glass to fit


Maybe no cutting is needed if I use the correct VFD. I will try and find the correct one for my other EIIs

Photos follow soon

You need a 2mm spacer between the Emu PCB and the VFD PCB because the VFD glass is thick.

I just used one of the plastic washers that no longer needed after I removed the LCD

see pix that will follow

pix

pix

Really cool.