Hi,
I did not read every post, but I didn't spot an answer to this. When a DMD is outgassing it draws more current hence puts a heavy load on the power supply components, which may in turn fry some components such as bridge rectifiers.
Does your product isolate this to the DMD saver board, so if anything gets damaged it would be that board and nothing else?
Or would it reduce the current enough to eliminate the problem altogether?
How would you know enough is enough and the DMD needs to be replaced with or without the board?

Thanks!
Phil

I'd have to go back and look into it, but I had to replace a bridge rectifier that was fried, and I believe on the path to the large DMD. I blew up a fuse on the power supply board when doing the screen test, when it's fully lit up as well.
I'd need to go back and look which fuse and which rectifier, but pretty sure it puts some stress on the power supply as well.

Well don't quote me on that just yet, I'll go back and look tonight...

But in the meantime, for the sake of discussion, how does this product extend the life of the DMD?
The outgassing is a result of a seal that's slowly leaking, correct? This will not stop this process, but the point of the DMD saver is to put less stress on the electronic components of the DMD itself, and the power supply as well (for sure in the case of "regular" DMDs, to be verified for large ones) is that right?

Oh, so the DMD saver helps on that end of things then.

I'm not finding much info about it - I'm interested, but I'd definitely like to know more before I get it...

Oh I didn't realize we had the inventor right here with us.
Ok, looking forward to more details!

Thanks
Phil

Thank you for your answer, your english is better than my german.
So, you are positive that an outgassing DMD does not put any stress on any components then? It's safe to play a game with an outgassing DMD until it's dead and gone?

And basically, what your product does is lower the voltage on a good DMD to the minimum needed and lower the refresh rate of each dot to increase their lifespan?
Now if my DMD is already outgassing, thus needing a higher voltage, can it be adjusted to feed a higher voltage to squeeze longer life out of it?

Well, many thanks for the explanations.
I haven't had the time to check, but I'll see if the display tests blow a fuse on my power supply. I would guess that if they do it would logically be the +5V.
In the meantime I'll look into getting my display repaired, and might spring for your product once it is.

Thank you for your answers.

So... in theory... one that has a 192x64 DMD that barely lights up anymore (only after a few minutes of heating up, say), could increase the voltage with the theoretical solution you outlined to light it back up, then once this theoretical solution has brought back the DMD to life to the expense of even faster aging.
Then put a DMD saver to lower the duty cycle and even things out, protecting the DMD.

Of course, this being theoretical, and not knowing exactly the state of the DMD, but say one that has been working with a dark corner until recently and now only lights up after being on 5 minutes... do you think enough life can be squeezed out of it to justify going through the work?

...Theoretically, of course...

4 192x64s left at Vishay for 663$ a pop + shipping.
Considering it's not high value machines that use them it's hard to justify the investment, also considering that there seems to be a couple replacement solutions already implemented (DMD extender) or on the verge of being potentially available (LED boards).

Well, thank you again for the detailed explanations.
I guess I'll just have to be on standby to see which replacement solution makes the most sense, I guess at the point I'm at I'll probably have to look into the DMD extender solution.

Cheers
Phil

So you guys had me doubting my misinformed diagnosis... Reseated all connectors to the dmd and reseated the fuse, and it lights right up and stays on.
I do have one corner that's a little darker, which shows signs of """ outgassing """, so I guess I'd be a good candidate for the dmd extender after all.

Mine's in the mail, I'll post an update here...