T41-3 Part 3: EVE Display Module Distributors

I will start out with bad news! EVE4 display modules are more expensive than RA8875 modules.

Here is the module I have used in the T41-3 prototype:

https://www.crystalfontz.com/product/cfa800480e3050sn-800x480-5-inch-eve-tft

US$72.48 + $15 shipping.

So that isn’t cheap compared to the BuyDisplay modules we have been using. So what makes these modules expensive? I found the BT817 device on Digikey:

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/bridgetek-pte-ltd/BT817Q-R/13242741

US$6.03 in quantity. So the device itself is not outrageously expensive. Maybe the display itself is special? I don’t know. Anyhow, the modules I have found so far are expensive relative to the RA8875. I haven’t purchased a 5 inch RA8875 module in a while. What is the current price including duty?

What I purchased from Crystalfontz is this kit:

https://www.crystalfontz.com/product/cfa800480e3050snkit-800x480-5-inch-eve-tft-display

Here is a video showing how I am using the Crystalfontz kit to create the T41-3 prototype. What a hack!

So here is some other news about these modules which is not bad, maybe a little less friendly. The connector is not a standard ribbon cable like we use with the BuyDisplay modules. It is a flat FFC cable. The connectors which go on the PCB have 0.5mm pitch. We can probably solder that successfully.

It is probably possible to design a Main board which has connectors for both the RA8875 and BT817 in parallel. It looks like there is plenty of room on the T41-2 Main board to add a 20 pin FFC connector.

I ordered this adapter:

https://riverdi.com/product/break-out-board-20

That adapter board should make the prototype hack cable quite a bit shorter. I will also get a shorter FFC cable. The FFC cables are less than US$1. I’ve found them on Digikey. Also I’ve seen a few of the BT817 modules at Digikey, but I haven’t looked close enough to see if any of them are candidates for T41-3.

There are several other makers of EVE display modules. Here is the list from the Bridgetek site:

https://brtchip.com/reference-designs-and-partner-solutions/

Part 4 will be a little bit of information on display module radio frequency interference.

73 Greg KF5N