EEVblog Brymen BM235 - LCD issues or normal? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 04:29:15 pm
content: Hi there,I've just received the EEVblog Brymen multimeter. Nice little compact meter but I was wonderingif other units are like mine. The LCD display looks quite dim from most angles except if you look at itfrom below the vertical which then has a good contrast. I've tried to capture it in a photo and thisis what you normally see :Another thing to notice is that at certain angles you see the following effect on the screen :Is this normal or is it some kind of defective or strained LCD?Finally when you switch on the backlight here is what you see from three different angles.First from slightly below the vertical, which is ok: (missing segment because values were changing)then exactly vertical which starts to fade dramatically:and finally at an angle above vertical where you can't see anything at all:Did I receive a defective unit, or all BM235s are like that?On the positive side, this unit has no annoying backlight whine whatsoever.Regards,George.

author: nidlaX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 05:04:50 pm
content: Do you see the effects in picture 2 under all lighting conditions? The strains in the plastic should be normal but should only be visible with a polarized light source.EDIT: This article depicts the effect I'm referring to:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoelasticity

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 05:07:11 pm
content: No, only from a few angles.Usually when looking from the left.

author: Roeland_R
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 05:36:45 pm
content: Perhaps a stupid question. How is the battery?

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 05:44:15 pm
content: Not a stupid question at all. This is the same effect as if you have low batteries.Unfortunately I've just checked them and they are fine...Thanks.Maybe someone with the same model can compare the photos and comment. (?)

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 05:45:04 pm
content: I noticed the same, the contrast is only good when you look at the meter from below.

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 05:54:42 pm
content: Ok, so its normal.Thank you.A bit disappointed though. I was used the UT61E display which is crystal clear from all anglesand I thought that there was a problem with this one!..

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 06:57:14 pm
content: Hantronix application note about LCD viewing angle:http://www.hantronix.com/files/down/v-angle.pdf

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 07:05:20 pm
content: QuoteSomething that Brymen definitely needs to read...

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 07:35:09 pm
content: It is a mystery. One would think that buying an expensive meter from a reputable company would ensure a decent display, but it is often not the case. The reverse is true also. Some cheap meters surprisingly come equipped with very effective LCD screens.

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 07:59:11 pm
content: Mystery indeed. Makes you wonder.If you were the production manager, would you have allowed this kind of LCD into your product ??Cannot understand it. And they got into the trouble of designing a backlight function as well.(which if you see the pictures it amplifies the problem even more. It reminds me the displays ofsome very cheap Chinese wall plug watt meters...) The LCD is the main feedback you get fromusing the instrument. One of the number one priorities.Its a petty because apart from that and the dodgy battery case, its a pretty nice multimeter.

author: thisguy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 12:39:55 am
content: My new BM235 is the same. The image is clear with good contrast viewed from below, starts to fade at 90deg, then disappears completely when viewed from above. The best viewing angle seems about 45deg below vertical.It also has the moire-like patterns you show in the second and third photos, although they were hard to find and not conspicuous.Also, no back-light noise.Viewing angle is not a problem for me. If the meter is not in my hand it's either laying flat on the bench or propped up at 45deg by the stand, so the natural viewing angle is always from below.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 12:51:38 am
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on May 16, 2016, 07:35:09 pmThese cheap meters must look good from outside. They use a decent LCD but cheap internal parts that you cannot seen until you open the case.BTW I think that LCDs with no baclight possibility have sometimes better viewing angle and better reflective layer on back.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 01:04:25 am
content: A common complaint.The viewing angle seem to be dependent upon the angle to the light source.Here are two examples, one taken flat on my bench with light below the LCD, and angle taken from above the LCD. Looks fine.The other taken from the same angle, but with the meter vertical and the light source now above the LCD. Badly faded out.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 01:05:45 am
content: Quote from: thisguy on May 17, 2016, 12:39:55 amAll new shipments (in the plain white box) do not have the backlight noise, it was fixed.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 01:37:19 am
content: For 500USD, the Keysight U1282A might have a better LCD.http://www.newark.com/keysight-technologies//digital-multimeter-handheld-4/dp/58Y5948

author: joseph nicholas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 01:46:34 am
content: Its not at all surprising since all these meters use the same technology for the displays, except for oleds, that they should vary much from the cheapest to the most expensive? The manufactures want to maximize battery use so this variation seems normal. Also, I bet the battery life would be better with the slightly weaker display.

author: deadlylover
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 01:54:04 am
content: I think the high end Hioki's have the best viewing angles for LCD's. Instead of fading it just turns a little purple/bluey.In normal use the BM235 does look a biiiit faded, but it's still very legible. Mine's from the latest shipment and still has the backlight noise, but it's very high pitched and quiet, you have to bring it to your ear to hear it.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 03:11:42 am
content: IMHO, the best LCDs I have seen have been in Uni-T. Very ironic.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 03:22:52 am
content: One of my few gripes about the meter is the white text colour on the buttons which I find difficult to read at first glance and unfortunately I wasn't blessed with a steady hand otherwise I would have a go at it with a fine marker pen but I worry that it might end up looking like a dogs breakfast.It might also just be that the buttons and fonts are much smaller than I am used to although a small Digitech (CEM) meter that I have also uses white text over grey buttons but they used a slightly larger font so are a bit easier for me to read.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 05:50:44 am
content: The best LCD screen of all my meters (Fluke, Gossen, CEM, Uni-T), is on the Fluke 185 (Tektronix).Strangely, it is readable from any angle, close to the horizontal, from any direction. This is old technology, so there is no obvious reason, except cost perhaps, why modern meters couldn't all be like that.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 09:17:17 am
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on May 17, 2016, 05:50:44 amThat's a beautiful display on your 185. I have an original 189 which I would describe as having an OK display.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 09:20:55 am
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on May 17, 2016, 05:50:44 amYep. You'd think "LCD" would be a done deal by now.'Harbor Freight' meters seem to have better displays than the Brymen (judging by those photos - I haven't seen a Brymen in person, maybe you could take pictures side by side to compare them).

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 09:22:38 am
content: QuoteI second that.The most readable LCDs from all angles.The Fluke 185 display looks pretty good !QuoteThis is good technology you mean...Those days are long gone. Now quality and functionality isruled by marketing/economics rather than need.Other negative things on the BM235 is the stand which is way to soft for such a stiff function switch.You have to press it down to turn the switch and if the stand does not have a good grip, the multimeterstart bending down quite a lot.UT61E again has a very stable stand.The hold function is a joke. Same as in the BM869s. If you have three hands its very useful.The UT61E has a delayed hold which is perfect. Not as the Fluke 87V, but still very usable.The battery case is screwed on with just one screw which is in the middle! Feels very cheap andthe case flexes from both sides. You have to be very careful when you remove the holster.They could have used two screws spaced apart near the bottom. UT61E battery case is excellent.On the bench I keep turning to the UT61E simply because its a more functional multimeter.In my opinion the Brymens are more suitable for the electrical engineer than the electronics hobbyist.The constant gripe you hear for the UT61E is the lack of input protection which is true, but how manytimes will the electronics hobbyist start probing CAT IV installations ?...The frequency measurement of the UT61E is pretty good and goes up to many Mhz very easily.Brymens struggle with Hz.Another thing I like on the UT61E is the Peak function. Suppose you have the following1khz 3vp square wave, with a 3V offset.The UT61E will show you the peak value of 3V very easily up to 10Khz. The BM235 is missing thatfunction and even the top of the range 869s will go only up to 800Hz. Same is true if there is nooffset. UT61E peak function on 230V mains voltage works perfectly as well.Finally the UT61E is quite hackable with many functions that can be enabled or implementedlike a backlight, VFD function, MIN/MAX, enhanced APO functionality etc.In my opinion if the UT61E did not have the accuracy drift problem, it would have been the bestmultimeter for the electronics hobbyist hands down.The EEVblog logo looks cool though.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 09:23:25 am
content: Quote from: hgg on May 16, 2016, 07:59:11 pmThe display seems on par with most of my meters. LCD's aren't as readable as some of the other options out there but they are right by the work on the bench and's it's not a big issue in actual use.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 11:33:08 am
content: Not sure why you would start a thread about the BM235's LCD then turn to how great the 61E is in comparison. Just trolling? No matter. While there was a fair amount posted about adding MOVs to the 61E for one reason or another, I will say that the 61's I looked at failed with a small ESD hit. The Brymen I have does calls out the 61326 EMC standard, which covers ESD and of course the meter has no problem with it. Not to say the BM235 would not.Quote from: hgg on May 17, 2016, 09:22:38 am

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 11:46:30 am
content: QuoteVery simple. When I received it I really thought that I've got a faulty unit.If it was trolling do you think I would spend 100 euros to buy the BM235?Its just plain fact. The UT61E is an very nice multimeter especially for the price range and betterthan the BM235 in some areas.For one, if I knew that I will get such a low quality LCD, the BM235 would have been out of the questionno matter how many kV it can withstand...

author: kenabi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 02:48:20 pm
content: the only angle my 235 lcd will fade out when tilted is when i'm looking at it from an overhead-ish angle, and even then it's readable. half there, but i can still tell what it says.about the same as most of my other meters, including an old fluke from the early 90s./shrug

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 03:29:16 pm
content: Now, is this a bug or just a quirk ?When you take voltage measurements, 1 out of 10 times instead of locking on the correct value,it locks on a smaller value a few counts out and then starts ramping up slowly. BM869s does notdo that.https://youtu.be/KYinhq59tWI

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 03:54:24 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on May 17, 2016, 01:04:25 amGuess where 99% of the light sources are in respect to the LCD...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 04:14:03 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on May 17, 2016, 03:54:24 pmMany benches (including mine) are up against a wall, and the ceiling lights are worst case either directly above, or back a panel or two on the roof. So in a typical office environment like mine, the light will most likely come from above or below the LCD when it's lying flat.My photo above BTW had the light almost 90deg above the LCD, the meter was held completely vertical under the light.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 04:44:52 pm
content: Did you ask about returning it?Quote from: hgg on May 17, 2016, 11:46:30 am

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2016, 06:07:41 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on May 17, 2016, 04:14:03 pmYes, I see what you mean and I can confirm that when lit from more or less below the LCD looks better. Unfortunately I like my meter somewhat on the back of the bench and when it lies flat there it is very hard to read, I guess because my bench is a bit higher than a normal table. When I put it upright the display starts fading whenever you view it upwards from a right angle, something none of my other meters show. Maybe I should just post some pictures.

author: Jayeson
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 01, 2016, 04:57:03 am
content: My experience with my BM235's display is consistent with the OP's pics. Since posting earlier (sorry, different, wrong thread), I noticed that the display has a curved window over it. IMO, this is a mistake in form over function - it tends to pick up reflections from everything.There is a bit more going on than just lighting angle. Outside today in direct sun on a perfectly clear day, with care to avoid any reflections (very hard with this meter - I would never get this for outside work), I get good contrast looking almost directly on, and at all angles to the sun. I can't look directly on as all I can see is my own face. In a dark room with the meter's backlight, I get the same poor contrast shown in the OP's example pic.With the meter lying flat on my bench, backlight off, and me standing, the view angle is low and I also get low reflections. In this situation the display is readable, although somewhat dark. I like to sit, and in that situation with the meter propped up on its stand (looking straight on at the meter's display), the reflections and low contrast make the meter unusable without the backlight. I was not able to find a lighting setup that worked. And with the backlight on, it is hardly great.I see at least one person saying that their BM235 display is on par with their other meters. There is something very different in our situations. I've never had a usability concern of this level with *any* digital display on any device, although the very early TFT laptop LCD's would be taking second place. That experience includes a number of meters, from a c1989 cheapie, to a more recent (although still old) Fluke. Those, they just work.This is all quite frustrating since the compact size and the rest of the features make for a great all-round meter. At AU$135, Dave has made available what was almost, for me in Australia, the best deal by a mile. But like the OP, I don't really understand how the meters got released this way. Or the noisy backlight for that matter. And certainly, why these issues wouldn't be decisively fixed ASAP.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2016, 09:26:00 pm
content: QuoteA curved window is more durable.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2016, 01:27:12 am
content: Quote from: Hydrawerk on May 17, 2016, 01:37:19 amMy $4 'Harbor Freight' seems to have a better LCD.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 05, 2016, 11:34:18 am
content: I asked Brymen and their response is:QuoteSounds like a simple contrast issue rather than LCD production issue.I might try this tomorrow.Feel free to try yourself and report.

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2016, 07:36:48 pm
content: Quote from: hgg on May 17, 2016, 09:22:38 amWho says that bench-bound techs are the only buyers of UT61's? Many might be field techs...

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 07, 2016, 07:40:44 pm
content: I received mine yesterday and looks same, it very much seemed like contrast set too low and I was going to look at how to change that so it's good to have confirmation and a significant shortcut... will have a look.

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2016, 07:51:42 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 05, 2016, 11:34:18 amAre components ("R67") labeled on the pcb? (No, I did not "Don't turn it on, take it apart!!!") loliX

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 07, 2016, 07:53:41 pm
content: You apparently didn't RTFM either

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2016, 08:46:32 pm
content: Quote from: Kilrah on July 07, 2016, 07:53:41 pmHa! I did but not all the way through. Leave it to Dave to provide hires photos--you can almost read the value designations!I'll try this mod this weekend...iX

author: System Error Message
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 02:15:26 am
content: EEVBlog is now a brand :O ?How long before there will be EEVBlog oscilloscopes and slippers? Perhaps Dave could start merchandising.

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 05:30:57 am
content: Thanks Dave, great video and explanation. BM235 is way better now! Such a simple fix, they should have done it from the start. What happened to foundamental Fridays? We need more! :-)

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 08:17:14 am
content: Done, I seem to be pretty happy with 35k.Thanks for the explanations about LCD technology , but... it's nothing new, rather the opposite since back in the days they would often have much tighter vewing angles than we can have now.The big difference is that "in the good old days" if manufacturers couldn't use an LCD with a high enough viewing angle or temperature stability for it tolook good enough in all normal usage conditions they would add a contrast setting for the user to be able to adjust to their preference and the temperature conditions, pretty much every device (even new) that I have and has a B/W LCD has a contrast adjustment. The first thing I tried was actually to power up the meter while holding a button to see if there was an undocumented software-controlled contrast adjustment as that would have been the most sensible thing to do IMO.One thing that is weird with this LCD (or the way of driving it) and that' I've never seen before is that not all segments have the same contrast. I'd vote for the way of driving being the cause as it depends a bit on display contents.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 08:31:53 am
content: Quote from: Kilrah on July 08, 2016, 08:17:14 amThis.Everythingused to have a contrast adjustment. Modern tech has taken a step backwards here.eg. Look at the difference with backlight on/off. If it had a contrast adjustment you could use it with the backlight on.

author: Wirehead
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 08:49:59 am
content: Quote from: System Error Message on July 08, 2016, 02:15:26 amFlux Capacitor Slippers, I'd buy them immediately

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 08:52:40 am
content: BTW to clarify I'm not complaining but just observing especially since I've been through just that, people are very picky about the screen on devices where it's a component that's fundamental to operation.I've worked on a product that came out 3 years ago with a B/W dot matrix LCD that was "okay" but not great, there was some banding that would darken the light areas of columns that had a lot of dark pixels and that would change a bit with contrast. All the samples of the product we had seemed to respond pretty similarly so to avoid a bit of work we hardcoded contrast to something that we thought was the best compromise. Thankfully contrast was software-controllable on that display module, because when the product came out the customer response about that was so big that the first firmware update had the only purpose of adding a contrast adjustment.The product's manufacturer then worked with the LCD manufacturer to come out with a better LCD design with no more banding problems and a wider viewing angle for the next hardware revision just because it became obvious that the display was a much more important point for a customer's satisfaction / impression of the product's quality than anticipated.And that's all on a product that is comparatively much more "low cost" in its market than the BM235 is.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 10:19:16 am
content: Quote from: Kilrah on July 08, 2016, 08:52:40 amIt's not that they're being picky, it's because they own cheapo items that seem better than this $100+ item.eg. I've got a $4 "Harbor Freight" here that doesn't seem to suffer this lighting problem*.I'm with Dave: It's a design problem, they chose the wrong resistor.So far he's found two badly chosen components in this meter. It doesn't say much for Brymen's design process.(*Disclaimer:I don't own one of those EEVBLOG meters to put side by side, I'm just going by what I see in the video)

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 11:03:53 am
content: Quote from: System Error Message on July 08, 2016, 02:15:26 amWhen things become "famous" they almost automatically become a "brand".QuoteI really want to mint my own coin with my head on it. 88 "Dave Bucks" face value maybe?

author: Maxlor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 01:41:39 pm
content: Just did this small modification too, and yeah, the display looks better now. It's not just better contrast, all the segments now seem equally black as well. Doesn't do anything for the bad contrast when the backlight is on, but at least it's something.Heh, I wonder Dave... if you're doing this level of technical/customer support for a rebrand, what's it going to look like for your upcoming meter?

author: System Error Message
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 10:24:32 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 08, 2016, 11:03:53 amYou could always mint them for your own currency which they can spend buying your merchandise

author: Flipflop
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 10:38:51 pm
content: Maybe Dave's coin will be the future competitor to Bitcoin? When is the new EEVblog multimeter going to be onsale?

author: Curtis
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 10:53:32 pm
content: I have a couple Fluke 23 meters that are decades old and the LCD screen can be seen from any angle. I also have a old Heath Zenith multi meter whose LCD screen can be seen from any angle without fading.

author: D3f1ant
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2016, 10:56:28 pm
content: Some nice woolly slippers would go well with my eevblog t-shirts. I'd be in for a big red 'Fail' button too

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2016, 12:49:05 pm
content: It is nice to be able to fix the DMM.I replaced R67 with 24k.I would be happy to "repair" my Brymen BM869 in the same way. Does anyone know where the resistor is located in that model?Cheershammy

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2016, 05:05:38 pm
content: Quote from: hammy on July 23, 2016, 12:49:05 pmSend Brymen an email asking them. So far they have been very responsive and helpful to DIY eevblogers here.

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2016, 06:51:24 am
content: Quote from: hammy on July 23, 2016, 12:49:05 pmSubscribed.My BM869's contrast is really bad. The BM235 is much better in that way.EDIT: Which size is the resistor in the BM235?

author: tech5940
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2016, 07:34:24 am
content: I changed my resistor to a 22k and I'm much happier with the contrast.. If I had higher K resistors on hand of that size I might have gone even higher. That said I'm MUCH happier with my BM235 now. Love it !And what better support could we ask for then clear instructions on what part to change to what approximate value! Thanks Dave for following up on this.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2016, 10:11:21 am
content: Quote from: cs.dk on July 24, 2016, 06:51:24 amIt is 0603.Cheershammy

author: evharten
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 24, 2016, 12:51:19 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 05, 2016, 11:34:18 amIs there also an resistor like that on the BM257s ? i would guess so, but maybe someone already knows which one it is

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 25, 2016, 06:11:24 am
content: Quote from: hammy on July 24, 2016, 10:11:21 amThanks.

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2016, 07:22:22 am
content: Modified my BM235 yesterday with a 24K resistor. The display is much better now.Did you email Brymen regarding the BM869, Hammy?

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2016, 02:14:17 pm
content: Quote from: cs.dk on July 27, 2016, 07:22:22 amYes, I found the eMail address on their website. No answer (yet). I don't know, maybe the spam filter sorted me out?(On the other side I wouldn't wonder if they don't answer. I'm just a random guy who wrotes an email.)Cheershammy

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2016, 04:22:37 pm
content: Quote from: hammy on July 27, 2016, 02:14:17 pmWhen I got a response for this thread, I sent mine to info@brymen.comhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/brymen-bm869-meets-high-voltage-in-real-world/

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2016, 04:54:22 pm
content: Quote from: hammy on July 27, 2016, 02:14:17 pmLets see - I would not email them the accurate same question, if you already did. Lets see, maybe they will come with a solution

author: hammy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2016, 09:02:31 pm
content: I got an answer.Thank you Brymen!But unfortunately there is nothing we can tweak:---Thanks for using BM869s. BM869s is with different design. Its LCD contrast is not adjustable. Sorry.Best Regards,Product Marketing Manager/Brymen---Cheershammy

author: npelov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2016, 10:50:57 am
content: Quote from: hammy on July 27, 2016, 09:02:31 pmNot adjustable could also mean that it's set by a resistor. Is it really possible that there is no external (non software) contrast setting for LCD?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 12, 2016, 10:59:28 am
content: Quote from: npelov on September 12, 2016, 10:50:57 amYes, maybe you didn't ask the question the right way?Companies are probably a bit cautious to give users modification instructions.I got the info because I'm selling the meter and needed a fix.

author: todbnla
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2016, 08:38:34 pm
content: Mine arrived today from AU and the LCD looks bright and crisp, noticed my box had different labeling than the Amazon version being SOLD in the US

author: Russ
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2017, 10:37:27 pm
content: My new Eevblog/Bryman 235 arrived with a defective backlight function. It would go on & off intermittently. It acted like a short or connection issue. I loosened the boards, jiggled them a bit, and it appears to be working properly for now. I’m trying to avoid returning it for an exchange. Shipping and transport can be hard on delicate items. I am liking the meter. 👍Russ