changing LEDs on an Enlight 7237 case

[Special K]

I just got some free blue LEDs at work and want to replace my green power LED on my 7237 with the blue one. I just wanted a little advice from anyone here about the best way to go about doing this. The LEDs I have are larger than the one currently in there (the one that came in the case) but it looks like it should still fit in the plastic holder. What is the best/easiest way to go about switching these?

 

[1sikbITCH]

Google Search for "Changing LED's" = Changing LED's

Make sure your new LED is the correct voltage.

 

[Icewind]

Boy, I had that case Waaaay back when when I first built my computer. It was my first modded computer also. If I remember right, Im pretty sure they were 3mm LED's in the front. As far as changing them out, you'll have to cut off the olds ones and solder in the new ones. Don't worry about voltage to much, most of the 3mm's are in the same range, 2.5 -4.5v or around there. Worst it can do is blow it if its to high (shrug)

 

[Special K]

The old ones are housed in these little plastic holders that clip onto the metal frame of the case. The wires appear to be crimped inside the plastic holder, but how is the LED connected to the plastic piece? Is it glued, soldered, etc. or just pushed in there? Do I have to remove both the wires and the LED to replace it or can I just take out the old LED and plug in the new one? Also the LEDs I originally had were 5mm but now I have some that are 3mm, although they aren't quite the same shape as the ones that are in there now. I hope they could still work.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: SpecialK
The old ones are housed in these little plastic holders that clip onto the metal frame of the case. The wires appear to be crimped inside the plastic holder, but how is the LED connected to the plastic piece? Is it glued, soldered, etc. or just pushed in there? Do I have to remove both the wires and the LED to replace it or can I just take out the old LED and plug in the new one? Also the LEDs I originally had were 5mm but now I have some that are 3mm, although they aren't quite the same shape as the ones that are in there now. I hope they could still work.

The plastic holder is just clipped in, and the LED's simply push in - no soldering or heat shrinking required. Pull the old one out, and put the new one in, observing proper polarity of course - otherwise, the LED won't light up. I've not encountered a board that'll take damage from improper LED insertion, but some may not boot.
I'm using 5mm LED's in the case right now, however, the plastic front of the case is not installed; best way to find out if it'll work for you is to just snap the front cover on, and see if the light guides on the cover hit the bigger LED's.
Oh, where do you work that you get free LED's? Or should I call them "free" instead.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: SpecialK
The old ones are housed in these little plastic holders that clip onto the metal frame of the case. The wires appear to be crimped inside the plastic holder, but how is the LED connected to the plastic piece? Is it glued, soldered, etc. or just pushed in there? Do I have to remove both the wires and the LED to replace it or can I just take out the old LED and plug in the new one? Also the LEDs I originally had were 5mm but now I have some that are 3mm, although they aren't quite the same shape as the ones that are in there now. I hope they could still work.

The plastic holder is just clipped in, and the LED's simply push in - no soldering or heat shrinking required. Pull the old one out, and put the new one in, observing proper polarity of course - otherwise, the LED won't light up. I've not encountered a board that'll take damage from improper LED insertion, but some may not boot.
I'm using 5mm LED's in the case right now, however, the plastic front of the case is not installed; best way to find out if it'll work for you is to just snap the front cover on, and see if the light guides on the cover hit the bigger LED's.
Oh, where do you work that you get free LED's? Or should I call them "free" instead.

Well one other thing I noticed is the following: the LEDs that came in the case are cylindrical, and flat on top. When they are mounted in the case and the front cover is on, the top portion of them comes into contact with a cylindrical piece of clear plastic on the inside of the front cover that leads "out" to the front display, if that makes sense. Although the 5mm LEDs would probably fit into the plastic holder, they are rounded on top and may not fit once the front cover is on. The 3mm ones are rounded also. I guess I will just have to take it apart and see.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: SpecialK

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: SpecialK
The old ones are housed in these little plastic holders that clip onto the metal frame of the case. The wires appear to be crimped inside the plastic holder, but how is the LED connected to the plastic piece? Is it glued, soldered, etc. or just pushed in there? Do I have to remove both the wires and the LED to replace it or can I just take out the old LED and plug in the new one? Also the LEDs I originally had were 5mm but now I have some that are 3mm, although they aren't quite the same shape as the ones that are in there now. I hope they could still work.

The plastic holder is just clipped in, and the LED's simply push in - no soldering or heat shrinking required. Pull the old one out, and put the new one in, observing proper polarity of course - otherwise, the LED won't light up. I've not encountered a board that'll take damage from improper LED insertion, but some may not boot.
I'm using 5mm LED's in the case right now, however, the plastic front of the case is not installed; best way to find out if it'll work for you is to just snap the front cover on, and see if the light guides on the cover hit the bigger LED's.
Oh, where do you work that you get free LED's? Or should I call them "free" instead.

Well one other thing I noticed is the following: the LEDs that came in the case are cylindrical, and flat on top. When they are mounted in the case and the front cover is on, the top portion of them comes into contact with a cylindrical piece of clear plastic on the inside of the front cover that leads "out" to the front display, if that makes sense. Although the 5mm LEDs would probably fit into the plastic holder, they are rounded on top and may not fit once the front cover is on. The 3mm ones are rounded also. I guess I will just have to take it apart and see.

Yeah, I saw that. I've not seen LED's with that particular design anywhere else; probably a specialized component available only a few places.
If the LED's you got for free are the clear-lens, ultrabright ones that are popular these days, there won't need to be any direct contact between the two surfaces - the light will just shine right in the end, and out the front of the lightguide, on the outside of the case.

 

[Special K]

Yeah I'm just worried that the front of the case may not fasten on all the way if the LED is too long.

 

[Special K]

Just made the switch and everything went fine. The LEDs pulled out like you said, and the bright 5mm blue one fit just fine. The only problem was that it was so bright it was hard to see the orange HD light right below it, so I replaced that one with an identical 5mm red light so they would be equally bright And I actually found an LED that is the exact same shape as the ones used in the case, but I could only find red ones and the 5mm ones work ok so I thought why bother.