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TURN A DEAD TV INTO A WINDOW OF FAKE DAYLIGHT

A broken TV still holds a backlight that, stripped of its LCD and powered by 12 volt LED strips, throws light like a distant window.

by DIY Perks

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

HomeWorkshop

difficulty
●●●○○
time
a weekend
license
license not specified
repo
repo 0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

DIY Perks shows that the backlight in a broken TV or monitor contains diffusers, reflectors and a Fresnel lens layer that together make light appear to come from far behind the panel, so it fades less with distance and reads to the brain as daylight. He strips the set, removes the faulty LCD, keeps the optical layers and replaces the original LEDs with 12 volt LED strips. His whole hallway is lit by one false window made from a 30 inch monitor. The catch: every TV is built differently, so you work out your own panel rather than follow a parts list. Power boards can hold a charge if the set was unplugged recently, and older CCFL backlights contain mercury, so this is not a first electronics project. But with a dead TV and basic soldering skills, it is a genuinely clever upcycle.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —This is a video walkthrough, not a repository project. There are no CAD files, no circuit diagrams, no BOM, no code.
  • —The video shows the process on one 30 inch monitor. Your TV will have a different LED arrangement and voltage.
  • —The Fresnel sheet and diffuser stack come from the TV itself. He says they would be hard to build from separate parts.
  • —The original backlight voltage (76 volts in the video) varies by model. You replace it with 12 volt LED strips.
  • —No licence applies. This is a technique, not a released design.
  • —The video is from 2019.

Parts to buy

5 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • Broken TV or monitor with an intact backlight assemblyFind
  • 12 volt LED stripsFind
  • 12 volt power supplyFind
  • WireFind
  • Basic soldering suppliesFind

Can I build this?

Printnothing required
Buya broken TV or monitor with an intact backlight assembly, 12 volt LED strips, a 12 volt power supply, wire, basic soldering supplies
Toolsscrewdrivers, wire cutters, soldering iron, multimeter (to check voltages and avoid charged capacitors)
Skillsbasic electronics, soldering, and the confidence to dismantle mains-powered equipment safely. You need to identify and discharge capacitors.
Timea weekend — most of it spent carefully peeling layers and working out your specific TV's LED configuration
Cost$, the TV is salvage; you buy 12 volt LED strips and a 12 volt power supply.
SafetyTV power supplies can hold a charge after unplugging. Discharge capacitors before touching anything. Older CCFL backlights contain mercury; if you see thin tubes, not LEDs, treat them as hazardous waste. Broken LCD glass is sharp.

This build involves mains voltage — for adults comfortable with electrical work only.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Turning Smashed TVs into Realistic Artificial Daylight

The complete walkthrough: salvaging the TV, identifying the layers, replacing the LEDs, and mounting the final panel.

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Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Watch the video (There is no written guide. The video is the instruction manual.)
  2. 2.Find a broken TV or monitor(The screen can be smashed, but the backlight must be intact. Larger panels give better daylight illusion.)
  3. 3.Unplug it and stay clear of the power boards(If it was recently plugged in, capacitors can still hold a charge. Separate electronics, plastics and metals and take them to a recycling centre.)
  4. 4.Strip the TV and identify the layers(Keep the diffusion layers, the Fresnel sheet and the acrylic panel. The faulty LCD comes out.)
  5. 5.Measure the original LED voltage and replace with 12V strips(The video shows 76 volts (two strings of 23 LEDs in series). Yours will differ. Replace with 12 volt LED tape.)
  6. 6.Reassemble, power, and mount(Power it with 12 volts and mount it where a window would be.)

KNOWN ISSUES

  • Every TV has a different LED configuration and voltage. You cannot buy a kit or follow a parts list; you are reverse-engineering your specific panel.
  • The Fresnel layer is the key piece that creates the depth illusion. Handle the thin sheets carefully when you take the stack apart.
  • If the set was only recently unplugged, do not touch the back of the power boards: the capacitors can still hold a charge.
  • CCFL backlights (older sets with thin glass tubes) contain mercury. They can be run from a separate inverter board, but that is high voltage and he does not recommend it.

Can I use any broken TV?

He says that with only a few exceptions the vast majority of TVs and monitors can be turned into light panels, even smashed ones. Older ones with CCFL tubes are harder: the glass tubes contain mercury and need a high voltage inverter.

Which layers do I keep?

The diffusion sheets, the Fresnel layer and the acrylic panel with its diffusion pads. He says these layers are what make it work, and they would be hard to build from separate parts.

How bright is it compared to a real window?

In person in his hallway, he says it looks remarkably convincing, like real daylight on a cloudy day.

Do I need the exact same LED voltage?

No. His LEDs were wired as two series sets of 23, needing about 76 volts, more than common voltage boosters (about 50 volts) can supply, and splitting them up is fiddly. So he replaces them with 12 volt LED strips.

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The video shows a 30 inch monitor lighting a hallway like a cloudy day, and the whole illusion hinges on the Fresnel layer staying intact. Have you stripped a TV backlight before, and did the Fresnel survive?

CompareeTEAM11h ago

Practical notes from our verification: this is a technique, not a repository, so there are no files to download and no standard parts list. Every TV is built differently, so you will work out your own panel's layers and LED wiring. The Fresnel layer is what makes the light look distant, so handle it with care. If you have never worked inside mains powered electronics, this is not the project to learn on.

DIY Perks

DIY Perks is a YouTube maker channel known for ambitious builds that repurpose consumer electronics. The video starts with a broken TV he pulled out of a skip.

Star the project on GitHub

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  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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