geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Geroximo on Wed, 31 August 2016, 20:13:59
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Hi,
I have a really silly question.
How do you get a case underglow like this?
(http://i.imgur.com/SVDK7ro.png)
I imagine you just solder SMD leds on the underside of the PCB?
Is it that easy?
Also: Do I have to fit a LED in every slot on the PCB to make it work or can I just put a LED on the spots I want to?
Sorry, LED newbie here :))
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That's a Winkeyless.kr keyboard (b.face I think).
You are correct that there are SMD LED's on the underside of the pcb as seen here:
(http://i1.wp.com/winkeyless.kr/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_2820.jpg)
The case is also either clear or frosted acrylic
(http://i0.wp.com/winkeyless.kr/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/B_MINI_0475.jpg)
(http://winkeyless.kr/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DSC_0747.jpg)
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SMD LEDs will only work on the bottom if the PCB supports it. You can solder LEDs into LED spots upside down, but you will forfeit some backlighting. I know some people have used LED strips on the bottom of the PCB for the same effect.
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Ah, I see ... that's what the "SLED" pads on the backside of my NerD60 are for, right?
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The ones for the Nerd PCB are a bit different.
You need ones that look like the ones GON sells on his site:
http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/electric-parts/14-ledssmd-50-pcs.html
You might be able to find them on Mouser though, and resistors for them to work (if they're not already on your PCB). Also I think they're only single color and not RGB.
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Resistors are already on there.