Scanner backlight, anyones die yet?

[xpawel15x]

Just wondering if anyone's scanner backlight has died from too much use..? What scanner and how many years of use?

 

[n1das]

Just wondering if anyone's scanner backlight has died from too much use..? What scanner and how many years of use?

On most modern scanners, the backlighting is done using LEDs. I say "modern" because some older scanners were backlit by a miniature incandescant (plain old filament) bulb and others by an electro-luminescant (EL) panel.

The incandescants eventually burn out and EL panels gradually lose their brightness over time. EL panels also require a HV power supply to operate and those can fail too. An EL panel is easy to recognize from its uniform aqua blue-green glow behind the entire display. My old RS PRO-2004 homebase scanner is backlit with an EL panel and its light output has dropped off over the years but it still works. The backlighting on all of my recent handheld scanners is done with LEDs.

An LED will lose some brightness over its 100,000 hour (11.4 years) rated life but normally not enough to worry about. An LED will easily last over 100,000 hours or more provide it hasn't been over-stressed electrically.

IOW, no need to worry about it provided the backlighting is done with LEDs.

Good luck.