Screen flickering or completely turning off at different angles

[Helder]

It's likely a bad ribbon cable since you say at certain angles it stops working or it could be the ribbon connector might need a reflow in case one of the pins has an unseen broken connection. Do both connectors if possible also do a continuity test from controller test pads under the ribbon connector to the ones on the LCD board.

[sygyzy]

Let me test continuity. Do you have any tips on reflowing? I am afraid of bridging.

Here are some more observations - if I prop the screen up at the right angle and boot up like that, I can get a proper display and everything is fine. If I am wrong in the initial angle, I'll have no display and if i move it to the right angle, I will have a white screen displayed (no image, just white with backlight on). Once you get to this point, you can't go "correct it" by changing angles.

Also, when I press Y in Retropie, it adds a game to Favorites. But when I press Y again, it kicks me out to the command-line console, instead of removing from favorites. Does anyone have any idea what's going on here? I'll post this as a new issue.

[Helder]

If any one of the SPI screen wires has a broken connection during boot up or during operation this is what happens. I can send you another ribbon but try a reflow first, use flux to help reflow the pins.

[sygyzy]

Is the ribbon cable soldered on both ends (screen and board)? And thanks for the tips, I'll try to reflow soon.

[dryja123]

Is the ribbon cable soldered on both ends (screen and board)? And thanks for the tips, I'll try to reflow soon.

The ribbon will make a connection on both sides but you only need a solid connection on one side for it to work. I soldered up 3 of these screens last night and all you need to do is rest the iron for a quick second on one of the copper legs of the ribbon connector. The solder will flow up from the board and onto the leg of the ribbon.

[Helder]

Woah we are talking about different things here, I'm talking about the ribbon connecting the Controller and LCD not the LCD Ribbon itself since that wouldn't be moving.

Look Here for reference:

[dryja123]

Good save! I was thinking that you were talking about the physical lcd ribbon because I had one that had a poor connection.

[sygyzy]

Oh thank goodness to Helder for posting the image. I thought we were talking about the ribbon on the screen and screen board itself. I reflowed both pin connections to the best of my ability and am afraid I may have screwed something up. Nothing looks bridged under a magnifying glass but I get no image now and I can't seem to get continuity when using the test pads for the first 3-4 points. I am going to measure them all tomorrow and try again but I think that in opening up the project to fix my A button (which was successful), I inadvertently may have tweaked the ribbon connection and attempts to fix it may have just killed it.

I am going to try a few more tries to salvage it but this might be the end of the road for me.

[Helder]

Send it to me the whole build (Pcbs and Pi) and I'll fix it for a fee of course. If interested PM me.

[dryja123]

Good news!

20180111_194413.jpg (2.92 MiB) Viewed 4968 times

The culprit was a bad ribbon.