how to choose a blue LED???

[mydangpleeze]

ok, i'm goin to change the power led on my antec 830 to a blue one. now, i kno i'll need a 3mm one, approximately 3 volts. i'm trying to figure out what brightness i should use and the rating system on it. i was lookin here: eled there are a few choices available. i don't want a super blinding one....mebbe just a lil brighter than stock since the stock is on the dim side. which of those mcd ratings would work well?

 

[SuperPickle]

the larger the mcd rating, the brighter it gets. I've replace all my LED's (except my router and hub 'cause it would cost too much) with blue ones and have various mcd ratings. I have some 2600mcd LEDs in my case and drives and they are nice and bright but I dont' have to look at them all the time. I have 500s in my keyboard (perriferal vision) and they don't p!ss me off due to brightness. 2600, IMHO, is too bright if they are in direct line of sight but look badass in the (slightly out of direct sight) case. Looks like your 1500s might be just the ticket.

 

[mydangpleeze]

thanks for the advice....just wat i needed to know. especially with all these ratings out, i have no clue how bright each is in real life. i guess i'll give the 1500 a try....mebbe buy a few of the others just for the heck of it, lolz. btw, do keyboards also take the 3mm? hmmm, wonder wat other leds i should change...hehe

 

[lamga]

It should be noted that blue light is not processed as well by human eyes as red light. Therefore, a blue LED of identical power to, say, a red LED will appear to be roughly three times dimmer. This is why lots of people opt for "super bright" blue LEDs. Just an FYI!

 

[jdurg]

Lamga's right, especially as you get older. When you're younger, blue light is easier to see, and in fact the vision of a young child will have a bluer tint to it because of that. As you get older, your eyes no longer react as quickly/easily to blue light as they do when you're a child, and things also tend to take on a reddish tint. (Don't ask me why. lol. I just saw this on the Learning Channel a few months ago.)