Changing LED Guide
Changing LED Guide
DISCLAIMER: I am not liable for any damages caused by changing LED's in your system. If done incorrectly, it may cause damage to your system. Make sure to unplug computer before starting this project.
Parts Needed:
For each LED changed:
T1 (3mm)
Blue LED. Forward Voltage 5.5V Max, Luminous Intensity:12.5 Min; 40 Typical,
60* Viewing Angle.
100 Ohm
5% Tolerance resistor (needed if LED voltage is less than 5 volts)
Soldering Iron, solder, heat shrink
tubing (can be substituted by twisting wires together and electrical tape)
or solderless
terminals.
Parts bought from Mouser Electronics
(www.mouser.com)
Step 1: Getting to the LED's to be replaced.
Case Front:
1. Remove Side
and Top panels, if needed. Gently pull tabs (or remove screws) holding
front panel in place.
2. LED's are
either screwed in with a bracket, or glued in. Remove bracket or glue to
expose LED's.
Keyboard:
1. Keyboards
differ widely, but basically follow these same procedures.
2. Unscrew
bottom of keyboard.
3. Making
sure keyboard is key side down, remove bottom, plastic sheets (if there),
keys (if needed). The LED's will
be screwed in, or most likely just be sitting in there.
Step 2: Replacing LED's.
Case:
1. Most motherboard
leads have 5 volts, so there was no need for me to add a resistor. I cut
the old leads off as close
to the end of the other leads as I could.
2. Slip a small
piece of heat shrink tubing (enough to cover the connections) over the
exposed wire, leaving enough
room to solder.
3. Bare the
wire from lead, solder the wire (heat wire, not solder) lead to the LED.
Make sure you have the positive
and negative leads correct.
4. Slide heat
shrink tubing over the connection, and heat (with heat gun, lighter, etc.)
until tubing is tight against the
connection.
5. Turn on the
power and make sure it works.
Keyboard:
STILL
WORKING ON...UNDER CONSTRUCTION...