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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: saint emerald on Mon, 02 July 2018, 12:13:34

Title: LEDs and Box Jades
Post by: saint emerald on Mon, 02 July 2018, 12:13:34: I'm helping a friend out with a mechanical keyboard build, and she told me that she wanted clicky switches and red or blue LEDs.
If I were to use Box Jades or similar box switch, how would the LED situation work?
Are there any solutions that will allow the light to be seen through the keycap?
Thanks! ;D
Title: Re: LEDs and Box Jades
Post by: JoeriW on Mon, 02 July 2018, 13:16:23: You need to solder the led's in before you solder the switches . Or as I have done it: put the led's in under the switch, insert the switches, solder the switches, then solder the led's. This way the led's will stay in place better, won't block the switch and it's easier to check if they won't interfere with the clickbar. I'll get a pic up in a second on how it looks with warm white led's. I used 1.8mm leds btw so I can guarantee you those will fit, not sure about others.

Here's how they look installed, they let through a lot of light so it doesn't look much different than on a regular switch. Don't have any transparent keycaps but the light should get through fine. :
(https://i.imgur.com/QzdMsb3.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VD6Zd42.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/x4iK8N4.jpg)
Title: Re: LEDs and Box Jades
Post by: killyou on Mon, 02 July 2018, 13:27:49: I have another piece of advice. Do not use BOX Jades.
Title: Re: LEDs and Box Jades
Post by: saint emerald on Wed, 11 July 2018, 16:20:42: Quote from: killyou on Mon, 02 July 2018, 13:27:49
I have another piece of advice. Do not use BOX Jades.
Could you explain why?
Title: Re: LEDs and Box Jades
Post by: Aerizu on Wed, 11 July 2018, 16:42:25: Also, when soldering LEDs, you can solder one leg, reflow it and pull the other leg with a tweezer so you can ensure that it is straight and near the PCB as possible. This ensures that the tip of the LED won't reach the click bar regardless if it's a 1.8 or 2x3x4 (although 1.8 would be the safer choice here)
Title: Re: LEDs and Box Jades
Post by: Aerizu on Wed, 11 July 2018, 16:49:18: Quote from: saint emerald on Wed, 11 July 2018, 16:20:42
Quote from: killyou on Mon, 02 July 2018, 13:27:49
I have another piece of advice. Do not use BOX Jades.
Could you explain why?

I think some people doesn't like the sound of the upstroke of BOX Jades as it feels like it's lagging behind because of the weaker springs compared to BOX Navys. Some say that by lubing the part of the stem that hits the clickbar remedies the issue, but I have not yet tried them personally. In reality, you can just easily type with these similar to other switches. It's just a matter of preference I think.
Title: Re: LEDs and Box Jades
Post by: Rumblehotep on Wed, 11 July 2018, 17:18:12: My brother wanted blue leds to go with his box navy board so I just soldered them on first doing scissor-leg bending for each led, + up - down.