Keithley 2000 / 2015 / 2016 / 2010 VFD to LED Display Conversion - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2025, 06:23:55 pm
content: We've just started our second VFD to LED display conversion project!This time it's for the Keithley 2000, 2015, 2016, and 2010 multimeters.It also appears that the display is only partially compatible with models like the 2700, 2701, and 2750, as they have slightly different annunciators.The original VFD used is part number DD-52. If you know of any other Keithley instruments that use this display, please drop a comment.Our goal is to have the new display ready byAugustSeptemberNovember 2025.Update: The same display is also used in the Keithley 6485 and 6487 Picoammeters.Pre-orders are now open, with shipping starting on November 14.https://hubequip.net/products/keithley-2000-2015-2016-2010-vfd-display-replacement-led-display-conversion-kit

author: picburner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2025, 06:39:51 pm
content: The Keithley 2001 uses a different display, the DD-51 which is dual row.You will have to do a later project for the K2001 and K2002

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2025, 07:14:18 pm
content: Quote from: picburner on June 18, 2025, 06:39:51 pmGood catch. I mixed it up with the 2010. Thanks

author: BennoG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2025, 07:46:46 pm
content: I was planning a oled conversion for my 2 units with dim display.But your solution will save me a lot of time so I will be following this post.Benno

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2025, 08:14:27 pm
content: Marked for when my 2700 needs a new display. Thanks for doing this work.

author: kloetpatra
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2025, 10:05:28 pm
content: nice, i hope there will be a color that comes close to the original vfd and not this cheap standard blue

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2025, 09:08:51 pm
content: Quote from: kloetpatra on June 18, 2025, 10:05:28 pmI think it'll be a nice surprise here.It looks like we've got a better color option now.Our supplier in China recently started offering new LEDs with a bluish-cyan hue that's much closer to the original VFD and a little better than the standard blue ones.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2025, 10:02:29 pm
content: Also following for purchase

author: AntoshC
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 20, 2025, 05:35:53 pm
content: I am also watching this for the Keithley 2001.Nice job!

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2025, 05:47:30 pm
content: Quote from: AntoshC on June 20, 2025, 05:35:53 pmThanks. Unfortunately, creating an LED replacement display for the Keithley 2001 isn't possible. It uses a dot-matrix style VFD with an integrated controller, making it extremely difficult to design a compatible LED-based alternative in terms of this LED display technology limitations.

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 11:13:22 pm
content: Is that the same dot-matrix VFD used for the 2410 source meter ?

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2025, 04:32:02 am
content: Quote from: artag on June 27, 2025, 11:13:22 pmYes, the Keithley 2410 uses the same display module as the 2001.

author: BennoG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2025, 06:39:06 am
content: yes but we are talking about the 2000 and that uses a completely different display.The 7001 uses the same display as the 2001 and 2400 only the pins are bent slightly different on the 2400 than the 7001.the 7001 are cheap on eaby. (attached picture top one is 2400 bottom one is 7001 still in its housing)Benno

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2025, 05:37:23 pm
content: for the VFD's with integrated driver ic's in them, you would need extensive debugging, data sniffing protocol decoding and create an MCU based interface board and add your oled or led solutionIF it is doable, and you need the place and ways to add it in the dmmalways easy to say i want one ... but doing so ... takes time and dedicationsome members here did miracles ... but they have their life too

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 04:23:09 am
content: Project update.We've selected the current-limiting resistors, and the display looks fantastic. Now it's time for some extended testing.What do you think of the LEDs color?

author: nidlaX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 05:39:32 am
content: Great choice of colors, better than the bright blue LEDs for the previous revision IMO.

author: the Chris
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 07:10:21 am
content: Looks great and is probably better readable for many.

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 09:56:07 am
content: Yep much easier for your eyes to focus on than pure blue. Now you're tempting me to grow my Keithley collection with one of these meters (won't need to worry as much about VFD issues)!

author: Qw3rtzuiop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 10:29:48 am
content: Quote from: dimmog on July 02, 2025, 04:23:09 amThe color looks great. The color of your 53131a LED display kept me from buying it.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 03:58:13 pm
content: yep nice color

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 03:59:27 pm
content: I also like the color

author: KhronX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2025, 11:22:20 am
content: Any idea about the ballpark cost of one of these?My 2015 has a few dimmer segments / characters "already"...

author: Rubo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2025, 03:39:56 pm
content: Just to make sure...Are you going to be offering the new color for 53131A/53132A/53181A also or only for the Keithley line?

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2025, 08:18:27 pm
content: Quote from: KhronX on July 03, 2025, 11:22:20 amThe pricing will stay the same as it was for our initial display.

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2025, 08:27:19 pm
content: Quote from: Rubo on July 03, 2025, 03:39:56 pmThese are brand new LEDs that weren't available when the 53131A LED project began.Honestly we need to sell the first batch of blue displays before we can offer the new color, assuming there's still demand.

author: KhronX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2025, 08:16:31 am
content: Quote from: dimmog on July 03, 2025, 08:18:27 pmYou could have possibly considered either typing out the actual number, or at least posting a link to wherever the "initial display" price was mentioned

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2025, 08:35:52 am
content: Quote from: dimmog on July 03, 2025, 08:27:19 pmI love the new color.But FYI, cyan LEDs have existed for many years now. I bought my first pack of them over 5 years ago, and I had known of their existence for years before that. One could make potentially even nicer displays using regular pure blue LEDs and adding phosphors to the encapsulation epoxy (in other words, make them the same way white LED displays are made, but with less phosphor, to skew it to baby blue). And of course white LED displays, filtered with a color gel, would have been another, very viable approach. Pure blue LED displays are awful.

author: Shimonu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2025, 01:34:43 pm
content: Where will these be available for purchase?

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 06:43:58 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on July 04, 2025, 08:35:52 amI meant LEDs in a form factor suitable for display production. Of course, this color has been around for a while.

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 06:46:21 pm
content: Quote from: Shimonu on July 04, 2025, 01:34:43 pmThey will be available onhubequip.netor ebay

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 06:57:51 pm
content: Are you going to offer the 53132A LED displays in different colors too?Thanks,Josh

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 07:19:12 pm
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on July 05, 2025, 06:57:51 pmhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/keithley-2000-2015-2016-2001-vfd-to-led-display-conversion/msg5966177/#msg5966177

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 07:51:49 pm
content: Quote from: dimmog on July 05, 2025, 07:19:12 pmThanks. I already ordered the blue one anyway. Too bad they don't have color switchable ones.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2025, 08:43:57 am
content: Quote from: dimmog on July 05, 2025, 06:43:58 pmMeaning what exactly? I would have figured that display manufacturers buy LEDs as bare dice from an LED foundry.And of course, as I said, making phosphor-converted light blue doesn’t require any special LEDs at all, just the same blue they use for white LED displays. That’s literally just a matter of using less phosphor in the epoxy (and ideally, tweaking the phosphor blend to get just the right hue).

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2025, 05:50:51 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on July 06, 2025, 08:43:57 amThat's not accurate. The display manufacturer uses standard off-the-shelf SMD LEDs that match the required package dimensions, color, and power specifications.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2025, 07:27:58 am
content: Quote from: dimmog on July 06, 2025, 05:50:51 pmOh, it’s not the kind where the display is potted in epoxy, like individual LED displays are? (Those have essentially a metal leadframe inside, with LED dice bonded directly on.)Of course, this doesn’t change the fact that the manufacturer could have procured the desired color SMD LEDs. Sure, cyan isn’t as common as regular blue, but definitely are available in basically the whole range of packages and power levels.

author: Taviman
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2025, 06:17:58 am
content: Unfortunately, the K2700 uses DD-61, which is different from DD-52.

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2025, 03:28:40 pm
content: Quote from: Taviman on July 16, 2025, 06:17:58 amYou're correct. They appear to be partially compatible. Unfortunately, the only difference seems to be in the annunciators.

author: BU508A
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2025, 05:23:48 am
content: Quote from: BennoG on June 18, 2025, 07:46:46 pmHave you seen this?https://github.com/RM-Engineering/Keithley-2000-replacing-the-VFD-with-a-5.5-inch-OLED-

author: BennoG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2025, 05:33:07 am
content: Quote from: BU508A on July 18, 2025, 05:23:48 amYes I have but it involves destructive modifications to the front pannel.

author: BU508A
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2025, 05:48:08 am
content: Quote from: BennoG on July 18, 2025, 05:33:07 amYes, that is definitely a drawback.

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 05:37:06 pm
content: The Keithley 6485 and 6487 Picoammeters appear to use the same display as the 2000 model.

author: skysurfer
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 15, 2025, 10:17:30 pm
content: Hi,I would be interested too for your project! This is a great instrument that is poised to death without these kind of conversions. I will stay tuned!Laszlo

author: minsik
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2025, 12:31:42 am
content: also interested in a 2015THD kit when available. Great work.Confirm order placed and paid for 16/10/2025.

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 01:48:55 am
content: Hi everyone.Sorry for the delay, those tariffs aren't helping. Here's a long-awaited update: we've finished the board design and tested several prototypes.We expect to begin mass production in about two weeks!

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 02:04:16 am
content: That looks great!

author: BennoG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 05:41:48 am
content: I can not wait, can we preorder ?Benno

author: the Chris
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 07:39:59 am
content: That's awesome, you made the digits larger than the original ones, a big plus imho

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 03:00:48 pm
content: Quote from: the Chris on October 14, 2025, 07:39:59 amYes, the digits are larger. This is one of those cases where manufacturing limitations actually worked in our favor.I personally really like the bigger digits compared to the original display, which I always disliked for their small size.That's why I used the 34401A more frequently than the Keithley.However, there is one drawback. Since the display visible area is slightly larger, the conversion process is a bit more complex. Thanks to the Keithley engineers.I'll make a separate post describing the minor front panel modification in detail.

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 04:26:16 pm
content: Front Panel Mod for Keithley 2000/2015 LED Display UpgradeSo, about the front panel mod for the LED display upgrade. For some reason, Keithley engineers decided to paintthe left and right edges of the display window to hide some parts of the original VFD (see pic 1).Not sure why they did that, but for the LED display, we need to remove some of that paint.It wasn't possible to make the LED display with the exact same digit size (tech limitations), but honestly, that turned outto be a good thing. The new digits are much bigger and now is way easier to read from across the bench.The mod itself is simple and takes about 20–30 minutes. We found that the paint on the acrylic window dissolves nicely withacetone-free nail polish remover. This is super important - don't use regular remover with acetone, it will melt the acrylic.Here's the basic process (also covered in the instructions that come with the LED kit):Mask off the areas with painter's tape. (see pics)Apply some acetone-free remover and let it sit for a minute or two.Use Q-tips dipped in the remover to gently rub off the paint.After that, the window might get a few fine scratches. If you want a perfect finish,you can polish it with Novus plastic polish (I used a two-step process, worked great).This step is optional though. It'll look fine without polishing too.We're still deciding whether to include the necessary materials in the kit or just leave that up to you.Nail polish remover and Q-tips are easy to "borrow"from your wife or girlfriend anyway, and the Novus polish can be grabbed on Amazon.What do you guys think. Should we include all the materials in the LED display kit?Keep in mind we probably can't ship liquid chemicals overseas, so this would be for North America only.

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2025, 10:31:21 pm
content: Looks really good, much nicer than the pure blue. Now you're tempting me to buy a K2000 meter to add to my keithley pile

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2025, 12:54:34 am
content: Quote from: Hydron on October 14, 2025, 10:31:21 pmSame! It makes me want a 2010.

author: dimmog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2025, 01:30:23 am
content: Quote from: BennoG on October 14, 2025, 05:41:48 amPre-orders are now open, with shipping starting on November 14.https://hubequip.net/products/keithley-2000-2015-2016-2010-vfd-display-replacement-led-display-conversion-kit