Changing power and HDD LEDs on HAF 912

[xenon2000]

I know this isn't new, but I accidentally made the original thread a question instead of discussion. So here it is re-posted with some editing.

I am not a huge fan of red lights. And I also do not like my power and HDD lights to be the same color. So the first thing I wanted to do was change those colors. And I just did.

I have a lot of 5mm LEDs already. In white, blue, red, green, cyan, UV and IR. But I quickly found out that the case uses 3mm. Which is of course common for cases. I didn't want to order 3mm LEDs just for 2 lights. So I drilled out the 3mm holes with 3/16" and only had to do a tiny light file with a 5/32" rod style file for the 5mm LEDs to fit nicely.

So I now have a White Power LED and Blue HDD LED.

Here are the photos.

The stock 3mm holes with the 3mm LEDs pulled out.

5mm LEDs test fitting.

Soldered an old cable end for the LEDs to plug into so I could change colors easily if I want. Played with a few different color options.

While the LEDs stay fine on their own, I did a tiny hot glue job like the original set of LEDs.

A look from the front.

Top back in place.

Just the power LED lit.

Power LEDs lit. I used a HDD read benchmark to make sure it sayed on for the photo.

Close up of both LEDs on.

The still unfinished case next to my desk. I put this case on 2 tiles since the PSU is on the bottom. I will build a pedestal... or maybe I will just get tile that matches the carpet. lol.

Noctua NH-D14 is in place and I need to add more fans. Right now it just has the stock single 120mm in the front and stock single 120mm in the rear. I haven't decided on if I want to do 200mm or 2x 120mm for the front and top. I just know that I either want no lights in the fans, or modded lights with a single switch to control them all as I would normally have the lights off.

 

[amuffin]

Nice mod!

 

[randomkid]

Nice... I have been thinking about changing the blue Power LED in my case. Apart from being too bright, it doesn't match my all red led case lighting... Thanks for sharing.

 

[clutchc]

Good looking job! I might have to copy that for my HAF 912. I used to have a Lian Li case with no HDD activity light. I had to mod one into the aluminum case in a similar manner.

 

[xenon2000]

I have decided that my 5mm LED mod is just way too bright for my bedroom. The always-on power LED in White is just too bright when I am trying to sleep. I may have to add a resistor to cut down the brightness. Otherwise if you are going for bright, the 5mm LEDs are a great step up.


I already have a ton of 5mm LEDs, but if you have Amazon Prime, check out these links for LEDs and other mod items.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_industrial?field-brandtextbin=Joe%20Knows%20Electronics&node=16310091

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_electronics?_encoding=UTF8&node=172282&field-brandtextbin=microtivity

http://www.amazon.com/microtivity-Assorted-Clear-Resistors-Colors/dp/B0060FGA8A/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1339710590&sr=8-5

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_pc?_encoding=UTF8&node=172282&field-brandtextbin=mod%2Fsmart