03 September 2010
1/1
difficulty rating:
- easy/medium
article by:
- inder
related www:
- forum thread
"Tired of those boring green LEDs in your keyboard? Ever wanted to change them out for something more appealing, such as blue LEDs or any other colour of your choice to match your case or just for looks? Follow this simple guide that applies to the majority of keyboard's out there and you will end up with a great new look for your keyboard..."
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this includes loss of warranties or damage to your equipment and/or systems...
and any other negative outcome that may occur due to inaccuracies or poor implementation of the guide on the readers part.
if in doubt - don't do it, be smart and safe!
Article ©2004 Modtown
Warning: This mod involves opening up your
keyboard and taking it apart. You will most likely void any warranty that you
may have and you could damage the keyboard, rendering it inoperable if you are
not careful. Modtown cannot take responsibility for any negative outcome that
may arise from
following this guide... If you are not confident to attempt this mod - then don't.
Tired of those boring green LEDs in your
keyboard? Ever wanted to change them out for something more appealing, such as
blue LEDs or any other colour of your choice
to match your case or just for looks? Follow this simple guide that applies to
the majority of keyboard's out there and you will end up with a great new look
for your keyboard...
What you need:
- A soldering iron
- Small amount of solder
- Three LEDs in the colour of your choice
- Desolder braid OR a Desolder Pump
- Wire cutters (optional)
- A crosshead screwdriver
;)
The required tools...
Step One:
Unplug the keyboard from the back of your computer if you have not done so
already. Clear you desk to give you space to work, and plug-in your soldering
iron now, to give it a chance to warm up.
Flip the keyboard over and examine the base to locate where the screws holding
it together are located. The keyboard I modded had TEN screws on the base, this
will vary from keyboard to keyboard depending on the manufacturer.
Once you have located all the screws, proceed to unscrew each one using your
crosshead screwdriver. Remember to collect and place all the screws somewhere
safe!
;)
;)
Locating screws on base | Unscrew each screw...
Step Two:
With all the screws removed carefully flip the keyboard back over. You
should be able to remove the top piece of the keyboard by lifting it upwards.
If the top piece does not move, do not force it - turn the keyboard back over
and ensure you have removed all screws. There could be a couple covered by a
sticker or similar...
;)
;)
Top piece removed easily | Keyboard membrane.
Step Three:
Now the top piece is removed you should see a small circuit board in the
top-right hand corner. This is where the LEDs are located...
The circuit board will also be secured with some screws. Remove each screw and
take the circuit board out of the keyboard. The keyboard I modded had THREE
screws holding the circuit board in place.
;)
;)
The circuit board | Held with screws...
;)
;)
Remove the screws | Remove the circuit board.
Step Four:
Turn the circuit board over and locate where each of the three LEDs are
soldered in. It should be easy for you to identify where they are.
;)
The three green LEDs.
Step Five:
With your soldering iron and desolder braid or desolder pump, proceed to
remove each of green LEDs one by one. Be
careful and don't apply too much heat in one place for too long as you might
burn off the solder pad.
After removing each LED, clean up the solder pad of excess solder ready for the
new LEDs.
;)
LED removed and pad cleaned.
Step Six:
Take one of your new LEDs and place it into the holes on the circuit board.
It is important that you watch polarity, i.e. which way round you put the
LED in... (see note)
Solder it in and trim the legs of the LED flush with the circuit board.
Repeat this for each of the LEDs.
;)
;)
New blue LED soldered in | All the LEDs
soldered...
Note: Most of the circuit
boards inside keyboards will have this information silk-screened on them. Giving
you all the information you need to work out which hole is for the ANODE leg (-ve
/ negative) of the LED and which is for the CATHODE leg (+ve / positive) of the
LED. Usually, the anode leg of an LED is the shorter of the two legs, but this
may vary with manufacturers.
If this information is not present, you can just look at the old LED and see
which way round it has been soldered in and do the same for you new LEDs.
;)
Polarity information silk-screened.
The finished mod!
With all the LEDs soldered in, place the circuit board back in place (screw
it back in) and reverse your steps to put the keyboard back together. Plug the
keyboard back into your computer and boot up... if all went well, the new LEDs
will light up during boot up.
;)
The finished mod - blue LEDs!
If they don't light up, try
pressing their related keys. If they still don't light up or if only some are
working, open up the keyboard again and check all your solder points. Re-solder
the points if you are unsure of any that look dodgy.
It could also be that your LEDs are of too high a voltage to run, try using lower voltage LEDs...
Why not discuss this article on the forum?
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