Thread: How do i extend a laptop kbd ribbon cable to sunvisor?

I think you just may be over complicating the issue. Look into something like this.

http://www.dustins.org/articleQuery.asp?id=87

Its just a small USB KB i found laying around. The name is down near the bottom of the article google it and they will come.

-Dustin

Originally Posted by DustinR

I think you just may be over complicating the issue. Look into something like this.

http://www.dustins.org/articleQuery.asp?id=87

Its just a small USB KB i found laying around. The name is down near the bottom of the article google it and they will come.

-Dustin

I agree with Dustin, it'll be a lot easier to go with a mini usb keyboard, rather than hacking and busting your tail trying to get a ribbon lappy keyboard to work. In terms of cost - It will probably cost about the same price to get either working.

I have a mini EL usb kayboard. The electro luminescent is blue, and helps at night in the car. The EL can be toggled on and off. I think I may try to mount it in the sun visor.

Thanks for the link Dustin

flat flax cables are readily available from different online stores -
Be sure to know a.) how many connection points; b.) the distance btwn connection points; and c.) if you want the connection points to be on the same side of the ribbon or on opposite (flip side) end.
Also, you can find connectors (kind of like butt connectors) for these type of ribbons. I've used dozens of these to work w/ LCD's and their controller boards...

try these guys in their "flat flex cable" section:

http://www.molex.com/

Originally Posted by thedude_five

flat flax cables are readily available from different online stores -
Be sure to know a.) how many connection points; b.) the distance btwn connection points; and c.) if you want the connection points to be on the same side of the ribbon or on opposite (flip side) end.
Also, you can find connectors (kind of like butt connectors) for these type of ribbons. I've used dozens of these to work w/ LCD's and their controller boards...

try these guys in their "flat flex cable" section:

http://www.molex.com/

how long can you get them tho? Are they cheap for like 10 footers? as cheap as a usb cord?

you can get them pretty long but once you get past a couple of feet, you might want to take the suggestion of soldering the connection points to wires and doing it that way. I didn't know it would be that long...

As far as price, they're pretty darn cheap. I used it to remotely mount my lcd panel from the control board by about a foot and a half.