LED strip for keyboard light?

[ModusPwnens]

I recently purchased the razer BlackWidow as my first mechanical keyboard. I must say it's very nice and the clicks are very satisfying. However, I could not justify paying $50 more for backlighting and pass-through ports so I opted to get the regular one.

However, even though I am a touch typist, I miss being able to see my keyboard at night and I like using a computer in the dark, not sure why. Anyways, I was looking into affordable ways to cast light on my keyboard without actually turning on the light in my room and have not been able to find what I am looking for on the internet. I have one of those desks with a pull out keyboard tray, so I was looking for an LED strip that I could place above the tray which would cast light on the keyboard.

Does anyone know where I can find something like this, and if not, does anyone know if it would be difficult/costly to make something like this? Hopefully this isn't too ridiculous of a request...

[Findecanor]

I know IKEA has one for $50 ... I dunno about cheaper ready-made lamps.

Just soldering together a few LEDs in parallel is quite easy. Bend the legs so that the LEDs hook into each other and then solder. Get a spare wall wart that gives you almost the correct voltage. Google for a LED resistor calculator on the web and use it to find the resistor you need.

[nanu]

Not a ridiculous request at all. I have the same sort of configuration but it's not something I've been compelled to execute.

I've thought about bouncing light off the underside of the desk top by placing LEDs at a slight angle along the back end of the keyboard drawer, since I tend to have the drawer extended at a different position at any given point in time, depending on how close I want to be to the screen. That should also diffuse the light, making it more dim and possibly reducing the amount of LEDs needed.

I'd want to control them using the teensy++ I already have hooked up to my PC for random projects such as this. Connected there already is a photoresistor I yoinked from a nightlight, so that should take care of ambient light level detection to determine when to drive the LEDs.

I wish LED technology would improve standards in terms of higher CRI. The Flashlight Community has spoiled me. Accurate color reproduction would matter less if you want it dimly lit, however, and if your keyboard doesn't have some color to it.

[Pylon]

My local electronics store sold LED strip lights.