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Modded keyboard back-light colour (pictures)

Tags:
  • Light
  • LED Monitor
  • Keyboards
  • Components
Last response: in Components
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December 17, 2011 2:01:08 PM

I've always wanted to change my Sidewinder X4's back light colour from red to blue, but only recently had the balls to do so. I found a cheap (broken) keyboard on ebay to test with before making the changes on my working keyboard and here's results below. If you want to do the same, you simply need some 1.8mm clear blue LED's (ebay) and a soldering iron. It took about 20 minutes to de-solder and re-solder new LEDs to the three PCBs - job's a good'un. The LED brightness toggle still works fine, and personally I think it looks brilliant. Let me know what you think.


Stripping the keyboard of it's keys to replace with new keys.


Bare keyboard showing stock red LEDs.


First three LEDs have been changed.



First three LEDs through the top bezel.



Updated PCB.


Stock keyboard in red.


Updated keyboard in blue.


Comparison.

Hope you enjoyed.

More about : modded keyboard back light colour pictures

December 17, 2011 6:07:43 PM

Excellent!
December 18, 2011 11:18:35 AM

(ignore the bottom right control key, that picture was taken before finishing the last LED strip.
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December 18, 2011 4:08:55 PM

PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO MAKE ONE OF THESE!!!!!!!! ITS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 18, 2011 4:23:33 PM

If you have the same keyboard, you simply de-solder the red LEDs and then pop in blue ones in their space. It's a simple job - you just need to be confident that you won't destroy your £40+ keyboard.

If you're using another keyboard but one that still has back-lighting, chances are that you can still do the same mod, you might just need different LEDs to the 1.8mm I'm using.
December 19, 2011 1:39:03 PM

Excellent mod! I did the same, but with white LEDs from a broken notebook.
This has changed the way it looks!

The steps I followed are posted on instructables.



December 19, 2011 1:41:35 PM

Oh wow, it looks great in white!

The next step is to change the macro bank, num lock, caps lock and scroll lock LEDs to blue, though I feel they might be more tricky.
December 19, 2011 4:14:51 PM

Nice mod, good stuff!
!