Guide Backlit DVDs/CDs in Slot loading drive. -Guide

Either way will end up just as bright and work just as well.
Runnin them parallel off of 5volts will be easiest though.

 

great thanks.

 

you first. since you're so sure.

 

Where are you guys getting these drives? I checked svc, case-mod, pricegrabber and couldnt find it.

Edit: NM found it had typo in search on price grabber

 

Done I did so with three 12000 mcd green LED. They are so bright that if I have the faceplate off it will light up the wall at the opposite end of the room it is in. But a word of advice, be very careful about the front PCB. When I was hot glueing the LED and resistors to the tray I knocked 2 little components off and could only find one. Somehow the drive still functions, though it has loads of distortion when playing a SACD. It use to have problems playing DVD but I soldered on the one component I had and DVD could be played again. How exactly this works out I have no idea. But if anyone has a dead 120s with an undamaged front PCB (yes motors ribbon dial and all that stuff soldered to it). I would like to buy it from them, so please email me so that I can get full functionality of my drive back.

 

Zap - What size LED did you use, 5mm or 3mm, and would using any other color aside from red enable it to be on all the time without messing up the DVD or CD reading ability?

Should the LED have a wide viewing angle, or narrow?

Sorry for the probably-stupid questions, but I've got a Pioneer on the way and want to do this for my HTPC.

 

I used 5mm LEDs.
The only other colors that would probably mess it up is white, which of course has red mixed in it.
You can use either a narrow or wide LED.
I used two 45 degree leds

 

I used a white led on my DVD 303S... it worked, it just wasn't as striking as zap's mod. it was also narrow angle, which may have had something to do withit. Still looked real cool though.

 

I can build PC's just fine, but electronics and modding are really not my things.

So here I am with another idiotic question.

If I want the LED's to simply be on all the time, all I have to do is wire them to the 5V supply and get the LED's inside the drive somehow, right?

I'm planning on using these LED's, two of them.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/leds/g3_specs.htm

Question: Wiring the two LEDs in series would be like how you've done it, right Zap? The cathode of the first LED after the resistor is wired directly to the anode of the next LED?

If I wanted to wire them both like that from the 12V lead, I'd need one 150 Ohm resistor before the first anode?

Like this?

http://www.white-leds.co.uk/led-wiring-guide.htm

So..red wire -> resistor (150Ohm) -> anode of LED #1 (short leg, right?) -> LED -> ground
??

I know that I'm a fool. I'd rather ask for guidance though than ruin drives.

-Jas

 

"there are no stupid questions, just stupid people"

just kidding, you gotta learn this crap somewhere

 

If you want them on all the time, yes just wire them to +5volts and GND.
I re-did my LEDs in parallel later to make them brighter.
If you used a +12volt lead, make sure and don't wire into the _Tray_Out signal as more then 5 volts can damange the drive signal.

Yes, if you wire them in series you need only one resistor.

 

so what volt led is needed with what ohm resistor? the example in the mod uses a 100ohm resistor but haven't a clue on the led! or what are the resistors needed to make a 3.3v led work as in the example or a 5v?
cheers!

 

please someone?

3.3v led needs a what ohm resistor?

Thanks v v much! Then I can get the bits over the weekend and kill my drive!

 

You can use the LED Calculator here:
http://www.bit-tech.net/article/68/

Assuming the LED runs on 20mA, and you have a +5volt source, you need an 85ohm resistor.
But they are not common, the next common size is 100ohms.

 

thanks!!

 

well I am going to try this mod, even though I am a n00b to modding, and a total n00b to electronics

I am going to order the exact drive off of newegg.com, but I was wondering: where is a good place to get LEDs? also, where is a good place to get vinyl dye? i am looking for dye that will match my antec super lanboy

thanks in advance

EDIT: i checked out superbrightleds.com. i read the chart but i am not sure what red led i would need for this mod. if someone could check out that list and tell me which led would be best suited for this it would be greatly appreciated, thanks for helping da n00b

 

I've done mine in bloo, looks quite good, I'll try n get some pics up!

 

The latest time I have done this mod (For the ATI PC)
I drilled two holes into the plastic at the back, and installed the LEDs there.
I then cut away a little of the metal shell, so it doesn't touch the LEDs.
The result is easy to do, and works well.

www.lsdiodes.com is best for LEDs

 

So will it be possible to illuminate blue when the CD is in and red when the CD is out? this would be very interesting and I would love to see it done (and do it myself)

 

Zapwizard, what exactly do I need to order for this mod. I have the DVD-ROM. Could you please list the things I should order from the site you provided. Thanks. (I know I am a n00b.)