Author Topic: Adding backlights to the non-backlit Magicforce / Qisan 68 key Mini Keyboard (Read 15376 times)

Leslieann · « **on:** Fri, 19 February 2016, 23:28:45 »

This is a pretty simple hack.

If you want to control the lights, you can put a switch in the middle of the jumper wire, otherwise, with this method the lights will always be on so long as there is power to the keyboard. If you use a powered hub, the lights will remain on even if the computer is off. This is because the traces that go to the controller are not fully populated and without consulting an electronics expert (not me) and maybe using a scope, you probably won't get that working, and that is if it's even built into the controller at all.

All you simply (HA!) need to do is add resistors and LEDs, and then jumper (wire) the ground bypassing the controller.

Here it is partially finished, I was just making sure it works, I'll be doing the rest this weekend.

Necessary items:
68 100ohm SMT resistors
68 3mm diameter 5volt leds
A 2in strip of small wire.

Open the keyboard, there is one screw under each pad and two under the small stickers at top and bottom in the middle. There is nothing under the large label.

First add your jumper wire, this needs to go from the connector over to a pad on the pcb as shown. Ignore the crappy joints, I was tacking things.

Close ups:

Now add your resistors and LEDs.
LEDs need to be installed with the long leg in the + hole, I recommend bending them out 45 degrees after going in to hold them in pace while you solder. Make sure they are in all the way, I had one I had to redo because it hit the keycap.

Resistors are super tiny, but they are not as bad or time consuming to do as you think once you get a rhythm going.
I add a teeny dab of fresh solder to one pad (I did both, bad idea) then while holding the resistor in place with tweezers, melt it down. Now go add solder to the other side.

Next up, finish adding parts and print covers to change color and control the direction of light output.

ArtVandelay · « **Reply #1 on:** Mon, 07 March 2016, 12:46:31 »

Hi Leslieann! I've got this same board on the way and was considering adding LEDs to it as well. I just found your post and noticed that it kind of ends abruptly. Could you post some followup pictures of how it turned out? Also, I get where the LEDs get soldered to but I don't know where the surface mount resistors go. I also plan on adding a switch, possibly a potentiometer, to control them. Any additional help would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: Looking at your pictures more closely, I'm thinking the resistors go where the "R##" is printed?

suicidal_orange · « **Reply #2 on:** Mon, 07 March 2016, 14:55:22 »

I don't know how this board's wired to be sure but 100ohm is a low value resistor for a keyboard LED and it sounds like Leslieann is using a powered USB hub so she may have more power available than a standard USB port can provide. Not saying it won't work but I wouldn't go buying anything until she confirms it works for the whole board as if it draws too much power your computer will complain and disable it.

You're right though - R## are where the resistors go

Leslieann · « **Reply #3 on:** Mon, 07 March 2016, 21:52:54 »

Quote from: ArtVandelay on Mon, 07 March 2016, 12:46:31

Hi Leslieann! I've got this same board on the way and was considering adding LEDs to it as well. I just found your post and noticed that it kind of ends abruptly. Could you post some followup pictures of how it turned out? Also, I get where the LEDs get soldered to but I don't know where the surface mount resistors go. I also plan on adding a switch, possibly a potentiometer, to control them. Any additional help would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: Looking at your pictures more closely, I'm thinking the resistors go where the "R##" is printed?

Sorry, I should have posted that.
Yes, that is where they go, you can follow the traces back from the LEDs. Beware, there are places where extras go, and if you populate them, who knows what will happen.

I have been busy with work and then I got the flu (yay), so I have yet to finish it. It doesn't help I'm not happy with the lights anyhow. They are really bright, and since it's on a powered hub, they stay on 24/7. I was going to rip the leds out, but decided I'll finish it, but a switch goes in first.

Leslieann · « **Reply #4 on:** Mon, 07 March 2016, 21:55:41 »

Quote from: suicidal_orange on Mon, 07 March 2016, 14:55:22

I don't know how this board's wired to be sure but 100ohm is a low value resistor for a keyboard LED and it sounds like Leslieann is using a powered USB hub so she may have more power available than a standard USB port can provide. Not saying it won't work but I wouldn't go buying anything until she confirms it works for the whole board as if it draws too much power your computer will complain and disable it.

You're right though - R## are where the resistors go

It seems a few keyboard guides spec 1000, but I researched it before I bought them and everything agreed at 100 outside the keyboard community

As for the power, yes, I run it off a powered hub.

ArtVandelay · « **Reply #5 on:** Tue, 08 March 2016, 00:16:39 »

Quote from: suicidal_orange on Mon, 07 March 2016, 14:55:22

I don't know how this board's wired to be sure but 100ohm is a low value resistor for a keyboard LED and it sounds like Leslieann is using a powered USB hub so she may have more power available than a standard USB port can provide. Not saying it won't work but I wouldn't go buying anything until she confirms it works for the whole board as if it draws too much power your computer will complain and disable it.

You're right though - R## are where the resistors go

Thanks suicidal_orange! I'll keep all of that in mind.

ArtVandelay · « **Reply #6 on:** Tue, 08 March 2016, 00:21:51 »

Quote from: Leslieann on Mon, 07 March 2016, 21:52:54

Quote from: ArtVandelay on Mon, 07 March 2016, 12:46:31
Hi Leslieann! I've got this same board on the way and was considering adding LEDs to it as well. I just found your post and noticed that it kind of ends abruptly. Could you post some followup pictures of how it turned out? Also, I get where the LEDs get soldered to but I don't know where the surface mount resistors go. I also plan on adding a switch, possibly a potentiometer, to control them. Any additional help would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: Looking at your pictures more closely, I'm thinking the resistors go where the "R##" is printed?
Sorry, I should have posted that.
Yes, that is where they go, you can follow the traces back from the LEDs. Beware, there are places where extras go, and if you populate them, who knows what will happen.

I have been busy with work and then I got the flu (yay), so I have yet to finish it. It doesn't help I'm not happy with the lights anyhow. They are really bright, and since it's on a powered hub, they stay on 24/7. I was going to rip the leds out, but decided I'll finish it, but a switch goes in first.

Thanks for getting back to me! I hope you're feeling better. Would it be possible to install LEDs without using a powered USB hub? And would your use of those lower resistors be causing the LEDs to be very bright? I'm wondering how the backlit model of this board handles the LEDs without requiring a powered USB hub.

Leslieann · « **Reply #7 on:** Tue, 08 March 2016, 17:39:40 »

I'm no electronics expert, my understanding is the resistors are to drop the voltage from 5v down to the LEDs 3.3 volts. I fed that into an online calculator and it told me 100 ohm based on the LED specs. I couldn't tell you if they are brighter than normal or not, they are bright, but that seems to be all the rage these days. I do know they are not even warm to the touch.

I have no idea what effect it has on hub vs direct or any of that.

And yes, I'm feeling better, just starting to get back on my feet.

kwadhera · « **Reply #8 on:** Wed, 09 March 2016, 21:57:21 »

Hey! Trying to do the same thing with my unbacklit boards. Tried just one led with a 100Ohm & 1k Ohm resistor. With 100Ohm it is really bright, with 1k resistor its significantly dimmer but not bad.

Instead of jumping from the connector, which means LED are always ON. Someone suggested a transistor that might allow for us to use the built in dimming feature, but Im not sure which transistor to try.

If someone has PCB pics of the backlit Magicforce, they would be really helpful.

EDIT: Found a pic, http://i.imgur.com/6SQsn5Z.jpg (Still would appreciate a better one though)

Looks like the backlit version uses 1.2k Ohm resistors, I might just go with 1k then

Leslieann · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 10 March 2016, 02:16:30 »

Even if you can identify all the missing parts, there is no guarantee the firmware has the code to turn them on and off, not that I wouldn't like to try.

As for the resistors they use, we would also need to know the specs of the LEDs as they work as a team.

Zibob · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon, 04 April 2016, 11:01:41 »

Quote from: kwadhera on Wed, 09 March 2016, 21:57:21

Hey! Trying to do the same thing with my unbacklit boards. Tried just one led with a 100Ohm & 1k Ohm resistor. With 100Ohm it is really bright, with 1k resistor its significantly dimmer but not bad.

Instead of jumping from the connector, which means LED are always ON. Someone suggested a transistor that might allow for us to use the built in dimming feature, but Im not sure which transistor to try.

If someone has PCB pics of the backlit Magicforce, they would be really helpful.

EDIT: Found a pic, http://i.imgur.com/6SQsn5Z.jpg (Still would appreciate a better one though)

Looks like the backlit version uses 1.2k Ohm resistors, I might just go with 1k then

The only this g the throws me off about the inbuilt controls for the backlighting is that the OCBs are different between the backlight and non backlight boards.

The backlight boards have the controller on the PCB SMD style. The non backlight has it in another separate green PCB that is soldered with pins to the main red PCB. The non backlight also lacks the DIP switches, while they have nothing to do with the LEDs the board is not just missing the switch but does not have the traces or through holes for it at all. So I am wondering if they have go that far to change the PCB whether the controller on the non backlight version even has the controls for the backlighting on/off or brightness.

I am very close to getting this project started myself and I have just planed to drill a small hole on the left side of the case and put a toggle switch through hooked up to the jumper wire to work the on off. Though if you could find more information about adding all the other parts to the non backlight board and seeing if it would come to life that would be really cool.

On the resistor side. I have a strip of 100Ohm SMD resistors after reading the initial post, so I will be using them, they were only a dollar or so though so if some thing like 300 or 500 would be more appropriate I would go get them before I start.

Has there been any more progress on the OP board?

EDIT: Iasked for some more pictures of the backlight PCB to see f there was some more info to be gained, I got back these so far but not sure if they are of enough help.

http://i.imgur.com/KtbZHZX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/B7KbqCm.jpg

More EDIT: I took a look on the inside after i had though about the caps lock key having a resistor on the non backlight version and wanted to see what value it was. The resistor on the caps lock for the non backlight board is marked 472 which decodes to 4.7kOhm, so good and high. It is kind of dim but not very, this has me wondering just how bright the 100ohm LEDs will be. Maybe I should grab some 1k just in case I don't want to have to redo SMD stuff.

The other thing that interested me is that CapsLock seems to have two positions for Resistors on the LED. Would one be for the on/off when pressed and the other for just permanent on like all the other keys?

The other thing is looking at other pictures of the backlight version is that it has diodes all over the board but no fore ever single switch, though there could be some more on the other side too for what ever reason but unlikely. Incontrast the non backlight version does not seem to have these diodes.

Leslieann · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 04 April 2016, 17:51:07 »

Use the 1000ohm resistors.
I think I burned one out already, not to mention annoyingly bright, glad I only did a few.

When I get back to it, I'll be putting in a switch, either on bottom (dip switch location) or the back (easier to reach). For the moment, I clipped the ground wire to turn them off.

Zibob · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 04 April 2016, 18:10:46 »

Yeah sounds like a plan 1KOhm it is. I was just thinking that while 3-3.2 is their range running close to the limit could shorted the life span. This is also why I plan to SIP socket the board. I am not a fan of burnt out LEDs and having to delsolder to fix it. Been there, done that, had a run in with the company involved never want to go there again.

On the switch note I have a plan for that too. Got hold of a small toggle switch and found a nice spot on the right side near the wires to hook it in and have it poke out the side.

https://imgur.com/a/YxFVY there are a few pictures in there of the switch and location.

Leslieann · « **Reply #13 on:** Tue, 05 April 2016, 01:30:25 »

If you're worried, you could probably use 1200ohm, that's what the lighted version uses.

Zibob · « **Reply #14 on:** Tue, 05 April 2016, 01:45:16 »

Not overly worried, more just a little cautious 1kohm should be fine. I have the 100 ohm on hand as I bought them when I read you first post but I am going to see if a shop has them instore and pick up some 1k and try one of each any way just to see the brightness, but for the whole board I will go 1k all over, if the shop has them.

kwadhera · « **Reply #15 on:** Wed, 06 April 2016, 16:33:53 »

Hey guys I finished this project about 2 weeks ago. I made a post on reddit that has pictures. https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/4dk3bt/keyboard_science_photos_modded_turquoise_leds/

Please feel free to ask me any questions you have.

I ended up using 3.3V turquoise LED's and 1k ohm resistors. I put in a switch on one of the boards that works perfectly, albeit a bit ugly.

TheUltimateWeeb · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 14 May 2018, 18:32:58 »

Hi Leslieann,
I know this is a really old post but I just took up this project, and have only one question I found resistors for cheap and need to know if they will do the job.
(Here is the link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-x-100-Ohm-SMD-SMT-0805-Resistors-100R-1st-CLASS-POST-/300749528890?clk_rvr_id=1531178235410&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=twenga&utm_campaign=twenga&utm_param=eyJlcyI6MCwicyI6OTcyMDIzNywiY2kiOiIwM2ZiMGRiYzUwMzM0MmE2ZjZiMTEwY2JmNGU0ZmUxMyIsImkiOiIzMDA3NDk1Mjg4OTAiLCJ0cyI6MTUyNjM0MDI3MSwidiI6Mywic28iOjE1MDAsImMiOjE4MTkxMn0%3D&rmvSB=true)
Thanks for your time!

Leslieann · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 14 May 2018, 19:08:34 »

Don't use 100ohm, 1000ohm or even 1200ohm is much less likely to be problematic, as mentioned I had one burn out pretty fast.

Remember what they say, not everything on the internet is true. Pretty sure the formula I used was wrong.

TheUltimateWeeb · « **Reply #18 on:** Tue, 15 May 2018, 13:59:32 »

Thanks for the quick reply! I found 2.2k smt resistors online, would they be ok?#
Here is the link https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-x-SMD-SMT-0805-Chip-Resistors-Surface-Mount-2K2-2-2K-ohm-222-5-1-8W-RoHs/162803107132?hash=item25e7d2453c:g:epAAAOxyedRTed2z
also, how exactly would you solder them on? I don't see any obvious way of doing it.
Thanks for any help!

PS. I watched a video. Now i get it

Leslieann · « **Reply #19 on:** Wed, 16 May 2018, 02:50:36 »

2.2k will be too much, should be able to get the right ones on ebay for cheap.

TheUltimateWeeb · « **Reply #20 on:** Wed, 16 May 2018, 12:13:01 »

Oh ok sorry, I thought that you meant that 1200 and 1000 ohm is too low.
Sorry for the misunderstanding!
I will definitely order the right ones.

TheUltimateWeeb · « **Reply #21 on:** Sun, 20 May 2018, 09:23:21 »

The last question I have is what size to buy? I have noticed that the most common size is 0805 (I'm not sure if that if that number is size, I'm just guessing)

Leslieann · « **Reply #22 on:** Mon, 21 May 2018, 03:53:51 »

All I did was search the resistance + SMD on Ebay.

AGmurdercore · « **Reply #23 on:** Wed, 05 February 2020, 06:52:49 »

Hey Leslieann how did this project end after all?

I got the newer version of the board yesterday and immediately thought of adding LEDs to it, but it seems that the newer version might even support LEDs through the firmware, any idea what I have to solder onto the board to make it work? Maybe anybody can take some high res pictures of the PCB of the LED version so that I can see what is missing and simply purchase/solder it?

Leslieann · « **Reply #24 on:** Thu, 06 February 2020, 03:06:56 »

I put some in but they were too bright, one burned out fast because of the wrong resistor, regardless, with no way to turn down the brightness even if they were right I didn't like them and stopped before I even finished it. It does work though, just make sure to use the right resistors.

The newer pcb may have the same firmware, but odds are not all of the components are and one of them may need additional firmware you lack.
If you are dead set on full control there are aftermarket pcbs you can get with them for pretty cheap actually (look up MF68).

As for how mine ended, I removed the leds and got a bug up my butt to change the switches, along the way I distracted looking for a new case and pcb and before long decided heck with it and bought a chinese custom, that had shipping issues and I wasn't happy with form factor, (75%). I then decided I was going to design my own keyboard since that has been a long term plan but I wanted to try Alps first, that resulted in buying a keyboard with Monterey Blues which was a mixed bag and a TKL with Matias switches, the latter was nice since it fit my Vortex case but the switches were meh, so I ordered some dampenned white Alps switches and started desoldering only to once again get realize I wanted clicky not dampened and just said heck with it and started buying parts to build a (3d printed) cnc mill as well as a hot air station in preparation to build my own design. I got the cnc done, the hot air station was a joke and got a refund, and then I moved. In the process decided to redesign the cnc so it was torn down and since my new location is prohibitive to running a loud as heck cnc all of it's on hold. Currently the Magicforce is in parts in box, the Chinese custom is in a box waiting for me to sell it and the cnc is in parts, in a box. Meanwhile I'm still using the Almost-a Filco.

How's that for a project spinning out of control?

Maledicted · « **Reply #25 on:** Thu, 06 February 2020, 07:40:25 »

Quote from: Leslieann on Thu, 06 February 2020, 03:06:56

I put some in but they were too bright, one burned out fast because of the wrong resistor, regardless, with no way to turn down the brightness even if they were right I didn't like them and stopped before I even finished it. It does work though, just make sure to use the right resistors.

The newer pcb may have the same firmware, but odds are not all of the components are and one of them may need additional firmware you lack.
If you are dead set on full control there are aftermarket pcbs you can get with them for pretty cheap actually (look up MF68).

As for how mine ended, I removed the leds and got a bug up my butt to change the switches, along the way I distracted looking for a new case and pcb and before long decided heck with it and bought a chinese custom, that had shipping issues and I wasn't happy with form factor, (75%). I then decided I was going to design my own keyboard since that has been a long term plan but I wanted to try Alps first, that resulted in buying a keyboard with Monterey Blues which was a mixed bag and a TKL with Matias switches, the latter was nice since it fit my Vortex case but the switches were meh, so I ordered some dampenned white Alps switches and started desoldering only to once again get realize I wanted clicky not dampened and just said heck with it and started buying parts to build a (3d printed) cnc mill as well as a hot air station in preparation to build my own design. I got the cnc done, the hot air station was a joke and got a refund, and then I moved. In the process decided to redesign the cnc so it was torn down and since my new location is prohibitive to running a loud as heck cnc all of it's on hold. Currently the Magicforce is in parts in box, the Chinese custom is in a box waiting for me to sell it and the cnc is in parts, in a box. Meanwhile I'm still using the Almost-a Filco.

How's that for a project spinning out of control?

Sounds like most of my projects, honestly. I have original Xbox consoles I was modding still in pieces strewn about, when I haven't touched them in at least a year. It has been months since I touched the Dell XPS 720 chassis I gutted to ATX mod and customize. There's an XPS 630i that I swapped a Xeon into that's been sitting with the access panel off for at least 8 months. I bought my XB1 with the sole purpose of modding it into an 80's VCR chassis, for laughs. I got all of the significant dremeling done for the motherboard to fit, and just sat on it for a year until I scrapped the guts. Meanwhile, the XB1 I bought for the project soon after launch (with shipping damage from the factory) remains completely devoid of the outer casing, the top inner chassis and optical drive are loose in the case, and literally the entire time I even used it (for a few years) when people bugged me to get on XBL, I was powering it on by shorting the proper pin to ground with loose bits of wire that happened to be around.

It seems like keyboard tweaks/mods are all I have finished at all lately, and none of those were as ambitious as rigging a jumper wire to try to add SMD leds to a board that was semi-designed for them.

Nice experiment either way.


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Author Topic: Adding backlights to the non-backlit Magicforce / Qisan 68 key Mini Keyboard (Read 15376 times)