- Mar 1, 2002
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- 0
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Howdy everybody.
Lately ive been reading a few sites having walkthroughs on replacing LEDs in optical mouses (isnt that the REAL proper term for a pc MOUSE? I read an essay on that...), and am really tempted to do it on my own.
I really havent done any modifying of any computer hardware yet, the biggest thing ive done is replace the fan on my HHC-001 with an 80mm...
My mouse is a Logitech iFeel mouse, and I think it would be an AWESOME candidate for an LED change because the ENTIRE BOTTOM SHELL is translucent, kind of a smoky gray, but when the mouse is powered you can see straight through to the inside. So if I swapped it out with a nice BLUE LED the whole bottom and sides would be blue (as opposed to just the bottom on other optical mice, or sometimes even less than that, just a little hole).
Anyway, Ive opened up my mouse numerous times (even to bend the little wire to adjust the resistance of the mouse wheel when you scroll it) and today I even ripped out the PCB to check things out.
Theres this LED holder white thing around the LED holding it down, and I couldnt take it off without probably ripping out the LED. So I figure I wont take it out until I do my mod, just unsolder the LED and then pop it out of the holder after I get it out of the mouse so I dont break anything.
But so I guess I wont need any resistor changes or anything right? The voltage wont be enough to burn out a replacement LED, ya?
Other question, I walk into Radio Shack, what do I buy? Dont the LEDs come in different LEDs and Millicandellas(?) and voltage ratings?
What will I need to get?
thanks guys. hope someone can offer me some good LED advice or reccommendations.
Well I went on down to Radio Shack this evening and picked up 2 blue LEDs. I asked the clerk if Im replacing the red LED in an optical mouse, this 2600mcd LED wont be as bright as the red. So if I piggyback another blue LED on it, I know it will dim the LEDs a little, but will the combined output still be as bright or greater than that of the original?
Needless to say, I stumped him. A guy in line behind me said 'well thats series. youve got to run them in parallel." I said, Im working INSIDE A MOUSE. Theres no room, and Im not modifying the circuit board or anything!
Anyway, heres some pics:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/m/a/matthewf01/images/modified%20my%20optical%20mouse!/
Its on my FTP site.
Tell me what you think.
The quality is a little crappy, I took them from my new Panasonic digital camcorder instead of my 3.0 megapixel Kodak digital camera like I usually do...
Lately ive been reading a few sites having walkthroughs on replacing LEDs in optical mouses (isnt that the REAL proper term for a pc MOUSE? I read an essay on that...), and am really tempted to do it on my own.
I really havent done any modifying of any computer hardware yet, the biggest thing ive done is replace the fan on my HHC-001 with an 80mm...
My mouse is a Logitech iFeel mouse, and I think it would be an AWESOME candidate for an LED change because the ENTIRE BOTTOM SHELL is translucent, kind of a smoky gray, but when the mouse is powered you can see straight through to the inside. So if I swapped it out with a nice BLUE LED the whole bottom and sides would be blue (as opposed to just the bottom on other optical mice, or sometimes even less than that, just a little hole).
Anyway, Ive opened up my mouse numerous times (even to bend the little wire to adjust the resistance of the mouse wheel when you scroll it) and today I even ripped out the PCB to check things out.
Theres this LED holder white thing around the LED holding it down, and I couldnt take it off without probably ripping out the LED. So I figure I wont take it out until I do my mod, just unsolder the LED and then pop it out of the holder after I get it out of the mouse so I dont break anything.
But so I guess I wont need any resistor changes or anything right? The voltage wont be enough to burn out a replacement LED, ya?
Other question, I walk into Radio Shack, what do I buy? Dont the LEDs come in different LEDs and Millicandellas(?) and voltage ratings?
What will I need to get?
thanks guys. hope someone can offer me some good LED advice or reccommendations.
Well I went on down to Radio Shack this evening and picked up 2 blue LEDs. I asked the clerk if Im replacing the red LED in an optical mouse, this 2600mcd LED wont be as bright as the red. So if I piggyback another blue LED on it, I know it will dim the LEDs a little, but will the combined output still be as bright or greater than that of the original?
Needless to say, I stumped him. A guy in line behind me said 'well thats series. youve got to run them in parallel." I said, Im working INSIDE A MOUSE. Theres no room, and Im not modifying the circuit board or anything!
Anyway, heres some pics:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/m/a/matthewf01/images/modified%20my%20optical%20mouse!/
Its on my FTP site.
Tell me what you think.
The quality is a little crappy, I took them from my new Panasonic digital camcorder instead of my 3.0 megapixel Kodak digital camera like I usually do...