Helpfull LEDs

[Razors Edge]

Hey, I got my computer under my desk, And its dark. I have one of those things, Where its at the bottom of you're case, You flip it up, and I have a Microphone hole, Speaker hole, and 2 USBS. I need to put a blue LED under the flip thing. So When I Flip it up, I have a light. I have the LEDs, but I need some kind of cable or somthing to power it. Does someone have a guide or somthing, That can help me get or make a cable for it?

[FyR]

All you need is two wires for an LED, one positive, one negative, depending on the voltages of the LED's you will need an inline resitor to help lower the current and voltage, blue LED's typicly run on just under 5volts so make a wire one of the red wires from you psu which will be live 5volts, solder a resistor inline with the positive of the LED (100 ohms should be ample) to the red wire. Next make a wire of one of the black lines, this will be ground, attach this to the other leg of the LED. If you want it to come on when you flip the lid you can use a microswitch (a really small push-to-make switch).

You can get them from maplin (product link: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=34835&C=Froogle&U=34835&T=28865 )

Thats it really. Hope i helped :)

[Cagedconnerman]

this may not apply, but....is there a + and - side to an LED, or is it reversible?

[Cool1Net6]

Yes there is a + and - side. There is an Cathode and an Anode, and it is determined by which leg is longer or (more reliably) a notch on the side of the LED. The LONG LEG/NO NOTCH is positive, while the SHORT LEG/NOTCH is negative. For the most part LED's are NOT REVERSABLE.

-Cool-

[Cagedconnerman]

ok, maybe thats why my led mod that i tried didnt quite work :)

[Razors Edge]

Ok, Now the next step, I need it to only turn on when i flip up the case mini-door

[Cagedconnerman]

from fYr

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=34835&C=Froogle&U=34835&T=28865

[slaveofconvention]

Momentary ptm switch which defaults to an on position - then line it up so the door closes the switch and turns the light off - I think anyway...