replacing LED in my optical mouse- EDIT: PICS ADDED!

[MatthewF01]

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...

 

[Tal]

And it works well?

 

[MatthewF01]

yes, so far it tracks fine and its been pretty dark in the office since ive been using it. picks up just as good, but i havent tried turning on the overheard fluorescent light. i bet it will be just like before.

the only minor difference is if i pick it up and run my finger underneath it, SOMETIMES it wont brighten the LED when it picks up on the motion. But that doesnt affect performance, its NEVER done it while sitting on my desk surface, and only happens sometimes.

 

[Turkish]

looks very nice. good job

 

[MatthewF01]

Originally posted by: Xiety
looks very nice. good job

yay, compliment!


Wasnt sure if Tal was thinking good things or bad things about it, soo...



Now i have to find something else i can modify..

 

[Turkish]

modify your keyboard, change keys, put neon under keys

 

[MatthewF01]

ooo how do you put neon under the keys?

 

[NEVERwinter]

ooo how do you put neon under the keys? << maybe you can put that flexi-glow EL cables under the keys ;D

 

[MatthewF01]

ahh good call


although the logistics of it seem like a pain in the ass.

 

[stevewm]

I did the same mod, except took mine a little further.

I soldered a small header in place of the LED. This allows me to just plug the LED. I can change the LED color whenever I want by just plugging the LED in My mouse also has clear sides and bottom just like yours so you can actually see the change.

Picture:
http://www.geocities.com/stevenwm_17/plugmod.txt (this pic is hosted on Geocities which does not allow direct linking, renaming it to .TXT gets around this, just click the link and the picture will load as normal!)

I ordered one of every color http://www.superbrightleds.com has in stock. Every LED works fine. The mouse tracks just like the original Red LED.

I usually rotate the LED once a week, just because I can!