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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: voodoo6k on Wed, 03 January 2018, 13:48:49

Title: Disable Cherry LEDs
Post by: voodoo6k on Wed, 03 January 2018, 13:48:49
Hey all.

What is the simplest way to disable (physically disconnect) all LEDs on something like a Ducky keyboard with Cherry MX switches.

I can turn them off by holding Fn+F10, but I'm looking for a more permanent solution.

Thanks
Title: Re: Disable Cherry LEDs
Post by: TalkingTree on Wed, 03 January 2018, 13:50:19
Other than desoldering?
Title: Re: Disable Cherry LEDs
Post by: voodoo6k on Wed, 03 January 2018, 13:52:32
Quote from: TalkingTree on Wed, 03 January 2018, 13:50:19
Other than desoldering?
No other way?  :-[
Title: Re: Disable Cherry LEDs
Post by: TalkingTree on Wed, 03 January 2018, 13:55:07
Quote from: voodoo5 on Wed, 03 January 2018, 13:52:32
Quote from: TalkingTree on Wed, 03 January 2018, 13:50:19
Other than desoldering?
No other way?  :-[
If there's enough room between the switch bottom and the PCB, you might be able to clip the LEDs pins off but surely desoldering is a much better approach with much better results.
Title: Re: Disable Cherry LEDs
Post by: Puddsy on Wed, 03 January 2018, 23:44:39
desoldering is cleaner but you can clip it out if you just want a quick and dirty solution
Title: Re: Disable Cherry LEDs
Post by: TalkingTree on Thu, 04 January 2018, 02:33:00
Quote from: Puddsy on Wed, 03 January 2018, 23:44:39
desoldering is cleaner but you can clip it out if you just want a quick and dirty solution
Granted that there's no plate in the way.
Title: Re: Disable Cherry LEDs
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 04 January 2018, 04:40:16
LEDs should be soldered on the bottom: both SMD and through-hole ... but there are exceptions.

But seriously... what keyboard does not have a way to disable backlighting?  If the on/off switch does not survive power off, Is it not possible to set the brightness at 0% ?
Title: Re: Disable Cherry LEDs
Post by: voodoo6k on Thu, 04 January 2018, 10:40:53
Quote from: Findecanor on Thu, 04 January 2018, 04:40:16
LEDs should be soldered on the bottom: both SMD and through-hole ... but there are exceptions.

But seriously... what keyboard does not have a way to disable backlighting?  If the on/off switch does not survive power off, Is it not possible to set the brightness at 0% ?

Problem is many LEDs don't work anymore. There is an OFF mode (no switch). When the keyboard is reset, the mode changes and the LEDs are back on, which happens occasionally.

Most annoyingly, Caps/Scroll/Num Lock are always lit when turned on... and not all three work!