How can I dull the brightness of LEDs?

[hugz]

I like to listen to music in the dark often, so I cant stand how popular it is these days to add bright blue LEDs to the front of every piece of hifi. My DIY amp simply has a dull red LED at the rear.

How can I electrically modify various hifi components to reduce the brightness of their LEDs?

Thanks

Hugo

[wintermute]

Easiest way would be to find the value of the resistor feeding the led and increase it. Try doubling it to halve the current as a starting point, you may need to go more. You might want to only clip the leads off at the body of the resistor initially and solder onto them to avoid too may solder/desolder iterations (which could lift the tracks on the pcb) until you find the value that works.

It it is surface mount that might be tricky.

if the led has flying leads to the pcb then it is easier just cut one of the leads and insert the resistor there.

edit: of course these suggestions would void any warranty! Another option would be to go to jaycar and buy the lowest output colour led of your choice and replace it, however you would need to check the max current which may necessitate replacing the resistor once again...

Tony.

[hugz]

Originally Posted by wintermute

Easiest way would be to find the value of the resistor feeding the led and increase it. Try doubling it to halve the current as a starting point, you may need to go more. You might want to only clip the leads off at the body of the resistor initially and solder onto them to avoid too may solder/desolder iterations (which could lift the tracks on the pcb) until you find the value that works.

It it is surface mount that might be tricky.

if the led has flying leads to the pcb then it is easier just cut one of the leads and insert the resistor there.

edit: of course these suggestions would void any warranty! Another option would be to go to jaycar and buy the lowest output colour led of your choice and replace it, however you would need to check the max current which may necessitate replacing the resistor once again...

Tony.

Thanks very much I wasn't sure if a series resistor would do it.. Fortunately my main priority is a very nice Chinese preamp with gorgeous point-to-point wiring. Should be easy

[alexf]

A piece of tape over the LED comes to mind... doesn't void the warranty

[digits]

Most leds will happily run off 1 or 2 mA, measuring the voltage source the resistor would connect to and useing Ohms law can then find the resistor.

Lets say its a 24V line, you want say 2V for the LED at 2mA, So that leaves 22V to deal with (burn off in heat). So to get 2mA at 22V (currents in series are always equal), you take 22/.002= 11000ohms. So, if you connect an 11k resistor and LED in series from the 24V point to ground, 22V @ 2mA will flow through the resistor (dissipating 22 x 0.002= 0.044W) and 2V @ 0.002A will flow through the LED. 10 or 11k is thus a good resistor for supplies between say 15 and 24V... you can do calculation based on the voltage you find there. If you want to further improve things, hit an online catalog for low current LEDs.

[joe58]

There definitely is a silly obsession will bright blue led's in any form of product, but especially audio stuff. I hope Temple Audio can hear this....

[Andy5112405]

If you don't want to solder extra components why not simply place a filter over the LED.

[digits]

well its not extra, he just has to find the resistor in series with his led and replace it... I hate bright blue LEDs too.

[DF96]

The best option might be to avoid buying Chinese gear with blue LEDs. I always regard blue LEDs as a warning to keep away, whether on cars or on 'hi-fi'. In either case they suggest that good driving/good sound are not uppermost in the mind.

[M Gregg]

I agree!

I use an I pod dock- Blue LED in your face! Wire cutters come to mind every time I look at it. LOL.

I suppose it could be worse- they could flash!



Regards
M. Gregg