Electronics HDD Activity LED

here goes:

1. ok, ive seen and read the article on the hdd led array, and was thinking of doing something similar, yet less complex.
what i want is to have the hdd led on permanently, and turn off when there is hdd actvity, pretty much the inverse of what it does normally.

now, what i need help with is how to make this work. any help is appreciated.

2. also, the leds are blinding me on my sn41g2, well the bl00 one is anyway. if i sand the top of the led it will diffuse the light and be less harsh. but i want just the platic ring around the led (will find picture of shuttle led thing) to light. so really, i need to "block" the top of the led. i thought of sanding and then painting (black) the top of the led, to "force" the light out the sides and to the plastic ring. anyone else have ideas, as ive tried the effect by putting blu-tac in the centre of the ring.

thanks


Bentos

 

ignore this post, i think ive gone insane


Bentos

 

Umm, do you still need help with this?

 

yep, i still need help with this. esp. from the almighty Zapwizard

 

Ok, it is very easy.

The Activity indicator is active LOW,
so to make this work, all you need in a single diode.

I explained how to do this to Bard, for his power LED
Yours will work the same way.

This is explained in this thread:
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31549

If you have anymore questions post them here.

 

thanks, but to have the hdd led on permanently, does it not need a constant supply ?

im really not great with the electronics side of things, so i diagram would be lovely.

cheers

 

Yes, the supply would be constant.
You motherboard already puts out a constant supply on the Posative side of the IDE Header (It also already has a resistor)

Code:

MB IDE (+)--------+------>LED (+) |----GND
.                 |
.                 +--->|----Pin39 or IDE header (-)
.                    Diode

The LED would be on all the time,
When the HD is active the Negative side of the IDE Header will be pulled low (Shorted to ground)
The diode, will then short circuit the LED, turning it off.

 

Dude, you rock. Anyone ever mention that?

 

I tried to figure out an answer to this myself, but I think i got the same thing as Zap;
Put a diode between the + and - for the HDD LED. Then you put an LED on the + side where you also connected the diode, and connect the LED's - side to ground (chassis or a black wire on a molex).

 

Thanks, again, for the good diagram Bard.

 

thanks all for your help.
will show you the finished results of this small scale mod after ive purchased myself some LEDs.


Bentos