Strip Down Guide for BenQ 28" VA Monitor GC2870H

yep_DD

Hi guys,

just an update on the mirror. Finally the glas has arrived. I am very happy with the quality and the 50mm edge that has been painted black. There were a few stains on the backside which I had to clean manually.

Overall I am pretty satisfied with the results, but I have to change a few things:

What I am happy with:

quality of glass (polished and round edges)
Monitor appearance
aluminimum frame and design (even though it needs to be changed, see below)
sound quality
The quality of the double-sided tape (seems like this is minor, but it is so strong I have no doubt it will hold the glass)

What needs to be changed:

I changed the PIR Sensor to a radar sensor (RCWL-0516) which works flawlessly behind the glass
The wooden white background reflects too much sunlight during daytime so I have to get a black one
The Nielsen frame is 50mm too large. The reason behind that is that they measure the inner length but since I put the mirror on the outside it is 50mm longer. It does look okay, but I want the frame to be more inset. So if anyone wants a Nielsen frame for their project. I give mine away for free or a few € whatever you feel is appropriate it measures 95cmx75cm and can be shipped in small pieces and has the high quality double sided tape attached. I could have also gotten a bigger mirror, but obviously that is too expensive
the cheap capacitive Sensors from amazon don’t work well behind the glas so I am now getting these MT0.1N-NR. The datasheet looks promising, of course 10x more expensive…

A few impressions:

The package came very well shipped:

I initially fixed the monitor with duct tape to see if I was happy with the position, you can nicely see the 50mm painted edges:

First test:

I think the quality of the monitor at night is amazing:

Even from a steeper angle the backlight is barely visible:

MadScientist

Are you sure the touch sensor works behind the mirror? It’s pretty expensive and it would be a pity if it doesn’t. Touch-anything generally doesn’t work behind the mirror because of the metallic coating.

What mirror are you using and where did you get it from? I am still looking for a better alternative for mine. Not very happy with the transmission of only 8%.

yep_DD

@madscientist that is what I am afraid of as well, the metal coating sure does not help… but worst case I will put them on the aluminum frame below from the outside and a nice cover on top

I got the mirror from here: Glas-star.de

yep_DD

@madscientist you were right, it does not work well behind the mirror. I will keep the sensor anyway as the way it is designed it is easier to affix to my aluminum frame. I am now thinking of getting small black plexiglas casing to attach to the bottom part to control the mirror and make it look nice… let’s see.

So this could be the plan:

Plexiglas with Cutout letters
behind that translucent plexiglas
glue together
LED Strip on top of translucent glas to illuminate the cutout letters
enjoy?

yep_DD

I am just going to follow up on that, I found a different solution. I am using a HUE Dimmer Switch that is controlled via FHEM and it controls a python script running on MagicMirror to play my podcast and change the volume:

(I found that script somewhere on github and modified it a bit)

#!/usr/bin/python3 -u

host_name = '10.0.1.49' 
host_port = 8000

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import os
import subprocess
import signal
from subprocess import call
from time import sleep
from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, HTTPServer




class MyServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):

    def do_HEAD(self):
        self.send_response(200)
        self.send_header('Content-type', 'text/html')
        self.end_headers()

    def do_GET(self):
        global proc
        html = '''
           <html>
           <body style="width:960px; margin: 20px auto;">
           <h1>Magic Mirror Control</h1>
           <p>Current GPU temperature is {}</p>
           <p>Podcast: <a href="/play">Play</a> <a href="/stop">Stop</a></p>
           <p>Volume: <a href="/down">down</a> <a href="/up">up</a></p>
           <p>System: <a href="/shutdown">Shutdown</a> <a href="/restart">Restart</a></p>
           <div id="podcast-status"></div>
           <script>
               document.getElementById("podcast-status").innerHTML="{}";
           </script>
           </body>
           </html>
        '''
        temp = os.popen("/opt/vc/bin/vcgencmd measure_temp").read()
        self.do_HEAD()
        status = ''
        if self.path=='/':
            status='nothing'
        elif self.path=='/play':
            proc = subprocess.Popen(["omxplayer", "-o", "alsa:hw:ALSA", "--no-osd", "/tmp/video.mp4"], preexec_fn=os.setsid)
            status='Playing Podcast'
        elif self.path=='/stop':
            status='Stopping Podcast'
            os.killpg(os.getpgid(proc.pid), signal.SIGTERM)
        elif self.path=='/shutdown':
            status='Shutdown'
            subprocess.Popen(["sudo", "shutdown", "-h", "now"], preexec_fn=os.setsid)
        elif self.path=='/restart':
            status='Restart'
            subprocess.Popen(["sudo", "reboot"], preexec_fn=os.setsid)
        elif self.path=='/down':
            status='Volume down'
            subprocess.Popen(["amixer", "set", "Master", "12%-"], preexec_fn=os.setsid)
        elif self.path=='/up':
            status='Volume up'
            subprocess.Popen(["amixer", "set", "Master", "12%+"], preexec_fn=os.setsid)
        self.wfile.write(html.format(temp[5:], status).encode("utf-8"))


if __name__ == '__main__':
    http_server = HTTPServer((host_name, host_port), MyServer)
    print("Server Starts - %s:%s" % (host_name, host_port))

    try:
        http_server.serve_forever()
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        http_server.server_close()

Adrien

Hello,

Would it be possible to use a relay to power/unpower the screen ? On the sheet you show pin 3/4 power the backlight correct?

Thanks

MadScientist

@adrien check out this forum thread. cruunnerr explains different methods on how to turn on/off your screen. He helped me setting up my system which uses a relay and PIR-sensor to power on/off my LCD. I think that’s what you’re looking for.

Adrien

Well i’m not sure, i don’t use the magic mirror OS but home made application. I use a pir sensor, i would like to have instant poweron/poweroff without any OSD message on screen. So My question was if i cut the pin 3 or 4 on the backlight connector will it work ? To be clear when the PIR detect someone the relay connect the PIN (3 or 4) after few seconds relay disconnect the PIN (3 or 4)

MadScientist

@adrien That should still be possible with the script method described in 5.1. Instead of the power lines for the controller board of the LCD you use the cables that lead to your backlight.

I don’t know what LCD you have. Some have an extra inverter or LED driver board. You can take the cables from there. Some have a 40 pin LVDS cable (instead of 30 pin), so you have to check the datasheet which wires are for the backlight. I’d take the VCC wire for the backlight, snip it and connect both lose ends to the relay. That should work.

Keep in mind that with this method the LCD is always on, only the backlight is off.

Adrien

Thanks for your help. I use the same model :BenQGC2870H. I would like to combine a solution where i have a minimum power consumption and fast without osd message boot.