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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: awhitedev on Fri, 19 September 2014, 18:16:44

Title: What size LED for Cherry Switches?
Post by: awhitedev on Fri, 19 September 2014, 18:16:44

I'm in the process of modding a QFR and would like to change out the bright LEDs with something a little more subtle. This might sound like a stupid question but does anyone know what size LED fit in a cherry switch?

I was looking at these... but they look a little too big:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UZCMRK/ref=gno_cart_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3AGVPZHIH41EE

Thanks

Title: Re: What size LED for Cherry Switches?
Post by: qwack on Fri, 19 September 2014, 18:57:02

These 5mm LEDs are indeed too big. Cherry MX switches are made for flangeless 3mm LEDs; 2x3x4mm LEDs work too, as well as 1.8mm LEDs.

For further reference: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54702.0

Title: Re: What size LED for Cherry Switches?
Post by: Puddsy on Fri, 19 September 2014, 20:01:04

3mm, or 2x3x4. I think you want 3.3v as well

Title: Re: What size LED for Cherry Switches?
Post by: awhitedev on Fri, 19 September 2014, 20:06:21

Thanks guys! This helps...

So it looks like ebay is the only place to buy these... is that right?  Seems kind of a pain to ship something all the way out of Hong Kong. I don't think local electronics stores sell flangeless 3mm or 2x3x4 mm square leds like this. At least I've never seen one anyways.

Title: Re: What size LED for Cherry Switches?
Post by: Owntrolf on Sat, 20 September 2014, 13:23:01

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_odkw=flangeless+LED&_from=R40|R40&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313&_nkw=flangeless+3mm&_sacat=0
 Even though it takes like 2 weeks to ship to you its all k.
Works completely fine

Title: Re: What size LED for Cherry Switches?
Post by: 0100010 on Sat, 20 September 2014, 14:05:03

If I were to put LEDs on a Cherry switch, I would use 1.8mm LEDs, to ensure no interference with any cap selected.

Title: Re: What size LED for Cherry Switches?
Post by: dorkvader on Sat, 20 September 2014, 21:32:19

Quote from: TacticalStache on Fri, 19 September 2014, 20:01:04

3mm, or 2x3x4. I think you want 3.3v as well

you can use LEDs with a much lower Vf. In most designs any LED from 1.6 (red) to 3.5 (blue) will work.

Quote from: 0100010 on Sat, 20 September 2014, 14:05:03

If I were to put LEDs on a Cherry switch, I would use 1.8mm LEDs, to ensure no interference with any cap selected.

This is a good idea, as even 2*3*4 has issues with some extremely thick keycaps, but unfortunately 1.8mm is not available in all colours.