LED types for simple indicator lights

rtarbell · 27th September 2006, 01:54 AM

What size/type/package LEDs can be suggested for a front panel display (LEDs for simple functions like power indication, warning lights, etc.)?

I'm trying to get something a little smaller than the standard 3mm (because I want the lights subtle, not really noticeable), but I don't know what all of the packages are in the listing on digikey (gull-wing, rectangular, T-3/4, etc.).

wrenchone · 27th September 2006, 04:54 AM

If you want really tiny, you can drill a hole in the front of an LED and epoxy in a plastic fiber optic strand. Coupling efficiency may not be too great, but you'll get a tiny light.

cpemma · 27th September 2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rtarbell
I'm trying to get something a little smaller than the standard 3mm...

There are some wire-ended usually known as "lighthouse" LEDs, flat-topped and come in 2mm, others 1.8mm with a rounded front around.

"Gull-wing" are one of the surface-mount packages, going that route the smallest LEDs easily available (AFAIK) are a 0.2mm lens in a 1.5mm x 1.0mm x 0.5mm package, but maybe harder to panel-mount.

As said, you can drill a shallow hole in a 3mm LED and glue in some fibre-optic strand, make your own mini-lighthouse. Superglue maybe better than poxy resin.

AndrewT · 27th September 2006, 07:30 PM

Hi,
another thread showed machined LED lenses of various shapes.

You could machine a normal 3mm LED to any sensible size between 1mm and 3mm using his method.

lgreen · 3rd October 2006, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AndrewT
Hi,
another thread showed machined LED lenses of various shapes.

You could machine a normal 3mm LED to any sensible size between 1mm and 3mm using his method.

Yes, try taking a file to a normal size LED, surprisingly you can remove a lot of the outer glass/plastic to make it have a smaller point before wrecking the LED.

cpemma · 3rd October 2006, 11:21 PM

Another way to make the light more subtle is to really reduce the LED forward current; think 0.2mA rather than 20mA.

27th September 2006, 01:54 AM	#1
rtarbell diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	LED types for simple indicator lights What size/type/package LEDs can be suggested for a front panel display (LEDs for simple functions like power indication, warning lights, etc.)? I'm trying to get something a little smaller than the standard 3mm (because I want the lights subtle, not really noticeable), but I don't know what all of the packages are in the listing on digikey (gull-wing, rectangular, T-3/4, etc.).

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27th September 2006, 04:54 AM	#2
wrenchone diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Silicon Valley	If you want really tiny, you can drill a hole in the front of an LED and epoxy in a plastic fiber optic strand. Coupling efficiency may not be too great, but you'll get a tiny light.

27th September 2006, 07:30 PM	#4
AndrewT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scottish Borders	Hi, another thread showed machined LED lenses of various shapes. You could machine a normal 3mm LED to any sensible size between 1mm and 3mm using his method.

3rd October 2006, 11:21 PM	#6
cpemma diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: S Yorkshire OK	Another way to make the light more subtle is to really reduce the LED forward current; think 0.2mA rather than 20mA.