liquidcross #1 Posted April 29, 2003 Anyone ever done it? I want to put in a green or blue one... While I'm at it, I wanna swap out the LEDs in my SNES, Genesis, and N64, but we'll take it one system at a time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stone #2 Posted April 29, 2003 Anyone ever done it? I want to put in a green or blue one... Yep, and it's easy enough to do. The polarity is marked on the board (the silkscreened line is the cathode or negative leg - usually longer on a new LED), if you're not already au fait with doing this My own Jag has a switchable bi-colour (red/green) LED in there, so I can make it look like an NTSC or PAL one with the flick of a switch (if you didn't already know, PAL Jags have green power LEDs, and NTSC have red). I've also converted 2 Jags (one to a Stub dev Jag, one to a BJL Jag) with a power LED that reflects the state of the region-switch I installed - 50Hz makes the LED green, and 60Hz makes it red. A very cool effect, though I like my switchable one more I always thought orange would look nice...then again I saw a multi-coloured flashing one for sale at one stage I thought could be good...but now I'm rambling The answer to your question is yes, it can be done, and easily, just get the polarity right and all should be fine. Note: the Jag factory bent the LED legs outwards at extreme angles to hold it in the board before soldering and snipping the legs off - make sure you remove *all* the solder from the legs and then use some needle-nose pliers to get the LED off the board. I've had severe difficulties in the past, just thought I'd share Rgs, Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liquidcross #3 Posted April 29, 2003 Cool. What voltage rating should I look for? I threw a 3.7V one in my Dreamcast, and I know the 5200/7800 LEDs are 5V... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stone #4 Posted April 29, 2003 AFAIK, all LEDs drop 2V... I guess the 3.7V one has an internal resistor or something... The Jag power LED runs off 5V through a 330R resistor, iirc, which makes the current flow 15mA (I= V/R = 5/330 = 0.015A = 15mA) - any standard LED should work. You should use a 5mm type to be the same size as the one in the Jag already, btw. I'm still confused about voltage ratings...I never knew LEDs had them! I've been taught that all LEDs drop 2V, with the protective resistor being required in order to take the other 3V and prevent the power supply from being forced into an intermediate state with the weaker of the two components giving way (in this case the LED). Just straight replacement of the LED with a 'normal' 5mm type should work fine. Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBizDude #5 Posted April 29, 2003 FYI, an LED only drops .7V - just like any other diode. Who taught you it was 2V drop. Put a meter across one when it's powered up - the LED itself, not the current limiting resistor. I suggest a 5V diode, but blue LEDs are only available in 3.3V. After you've installed it, if its too bright, install a higher value current limiter. Likewise, if it's too dim - nix it altogether. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CPUWIZ #6 Posted April 29, 2003 I have a bunch of 3.3V and a bunch of 5V blue LED's ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBizDude #7 Posted April 29, 2003 I will find proof for you - gimme a little while to research this. Oh, and don't just remove (nix) the current limiting reistor. You need to complete the path, so a zero ohm resistor should take its place. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBizDude #8 Posted April 29, 2003 I can't find anything on it. The only thing I can think is the case that I was buying at the time might have only been avilable in 3.3V. It was smaller than your average LED. I believe the Jag requires a T1 casing - maybe someone can confirm this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CPUWIZ #9 Posted April 29, 2003 Click this. 5V Blue LED Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaysmith2000 #10 Posted April 29, 2003 Anyone ever done it? I want to put in a green or blue one... While I'm at it, I wanna swap out the LEDs in my SNES, Genesis, and N64, but we'll take it one system at a time. My special "STONE" modified BJL has the region switch and the LED goes from red to green. It is very cool. Jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liquidcross #11 Posted April 29, 2003 I have a bunch of 3.3V and a bunch of 5V blue LED's ! So do I. That's why I asked, cuz I wasn't sure which one to use. So I should use a 3.3V model? Good Lord, it's been too long away from my electronics hobby... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CPUWIZ #12 Posted April 29, 2003 Do what I suggested via PM earlier, check the actual voltage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liquidcross #13 Posted April 30, 2003 Do what I suggested via PM earlier, check the actual voltage. I shall. For that "zero ohm" resistor...I can just use a piece of jumper wire instead, yes? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stone #14 Posted April 30, 2003 Do what I suggested via PM earlier, check the actual voltage. I shall. For that "zero ohm" resistor...I can just use a piece of jumper wire instead, yes? My advice would be not to mess with the resistor at all...it's only 330R and can easily cope with taking a tiny bit extra voltage with a 3.3V LED (whatever the hell they are). The protective resistor is only there to limit the amount of CURRENT going into the LED - as it's a junction drop, it'll take whatever voltage it needs and leave the rest of the 5V across the resistor. Simple. Kinda... Leave the resistor alone and replace the LED - I'd be 95% certain it's not gonna die. If you replace the resistor with a zero-ohm one and the LED doesn't contain its own current-limiting resistor then it can draw near-infinite current from the power supply, which WILL blow it. Not worth the risk, IMO. Stone Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liquidcross #15 Posted April 30, 2003 My advice would be not to mess with the resistor at all...it's only 330R and can easily cope with taking a tiny bit extra voltage with a 3.3V LED (whatever the hell they are). The protective resistor is only there to limit the amount of CURRENT going into the LED - as it's a junction drop, it'll take whatever voltage it needs and leave the rest of the 5V across the resistor. Simple. Kinda... Leave the resistor alone and replace the LED - I'd be 95% certain it's not gonna die. If you replace the resistor with a zero-ohm one and the LED doesn't contain its own current-limiting resistor then it can draw near-infinite current from the power supply, which WILL blow it. Not worth the risk, IMO. Stone Stone Cool. I'll just nab another 3.7V blue LED, and try that. Out of curiosity...what's the "R" notation you used for the resistor? i.e., "330R". Do you mean 330 ohm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stone #16 Posted April 30, 2003 Cool. I'll just nab another 3.7V blue LED, and try that. Good Let us all know what happens. Out of curiosity...what's the "R" notation you used for the resistor? i.e., "330R". Do you mean 330 ohm? Yes. It's part of the engineering resistor notation - while 1,000,000 ohms is written 1M, and 2700 ohms 2K7, it's sensible to have another symbol meaning 'units' rather than having people potentially confused over the numbers. The idea is to remove the decimal point, so it's possible to print it in really small letters on components...and just to insulate engineers from the world a little more Sorry if I caused confusion Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liquidcross #17 Posted April 30, 2003 It's part of the engineering resistor notation - while 1,000,000 ohms is written 1M, and 2700 ohms 2K7, it's sensible to have another symbol meaning 'units' rather than having people potentially confused over the numbers. The idea is to remove the decimal point, so it's possible to print it in really small letters on components...and just to insulate engineers from the world a little more Sorry if I caused confusion Stone No problem. I'm just used to writing 1M ohm, 2.7k ohm, etc. Anyways, I'll get the work done sometime next week. My friend's sending me a Jaguar deck, so I'll have to track down some accessories for it after I return from my vacation this weekend. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CPUWIZ #18 Posted April 30, 2003 The 330R is a British thing AFAIK, here it's usually 330 2.2K 1M etc. ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liquidcross #19 Posted April 30, 2003 Hey 'WIZ, before I forget...where do you get your purple LEDs? DigiKey, or someplace else? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liquidcross #21 Posted April 30, 2003 Digikey. Bloody hell. I better think of some other stuff to throw in that order, so I don't get raped on handling charges. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CPUWIZ #22 Posted April 30, 2003 Yeah, the $5.00 handling fee pisses me off too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBizDude #23 Posted April 30, 2003 Yeah, don't mess with the resistor unless you find the LED to be too dim. And then try going with a smaller value before going with the zero ohm (or jumper). Some LEDs have the current limiter built-in - some don't. I think 3.7V is the standard (not 3.3V). Also, after checking out the 5V versions, they require a minimum of 4.4V to light properly. You can check this place for LEDs: http://ledmuseum.home.att.net Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stone #24 Posted April 30, 2003 Yeah, the $5.00 handling fee pisses me off too. $5??? You got off lightly. I ordered some stuff off them ages ago and got one of their new catalogues a little while ago...I believe it was a £15 handling fee on orders under £75, and a flat-rate shipping fee of £20. Needless to say, the catalogue went straight in the bin after seeing that bit... Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CPUWIZ #25 Posted April 30, 2003 Damn, that must be because of international orders, that is just redicilous. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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