Illuminated Buttons

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Translucent Illuminated Button Hack Howto.

This procedure will void any warranty you have.

The material on this page is for informational purposes only, I hold no responsibility of how you use it.

Materials Needed

Tools Needed/Suggested

SMT soldering web links, courtesy of Mark Lord

http://www.geocities.com/vk3em/smtguide/smtguide.htm

http://library.solarbotics.net/techniques/smt_assy.html

Step 0

Install new kernel

Mk2 kernel for player version 2 beta

Kernel patch

Or get the latest hijack kernel at empeg-hijack.sourceforge.net

Step 1

Open empeg, remove harddrive caddy. Instructions for opening player can be found at riocar.org under the Disk Upgrade Guide.

Step 2

Unplug and remove the display board. Use the socket or nut driver to remove.

Be careful of the nipple on the lower right of the display. If you break it you break the display.

Step 3

Bend up the display to get access to resistor pads, note the display is held down with doublestick foam and will probably tear.

Step 4

Use super glue to glue resistor pack in place on board. An x-acto knife can be used to position the resistor if you don't have fine tiped tweezers.

Step 5

Carefully solder resistor pack in place, it can be turned either way just make sure its upright.

Step 6

Bend LED leads as shown in the following pictures, take notice of flat side of the LED, if you bend leads the other way it will not fit in the buttons.

If you have the clear lens LEDs follow the pictures with red lines.

If you have the milky white LEDs follow the pictures with green lines.

Step 7

Desolder LED pads from behind.

Step 8

Place LEDs as oriented in the picture, flat side of LED goes towards red line for clear LEDs, and towards the green line for diffuse LEDs, then solder. Make sure you don't put the LEDs down too tight, make sure the button still functions before soldering. Leave the LED leads until after testing. Note the top LED does not have the flat side facing inwards.

Step 9

Check for continuity and shorts between resistor pack and LEDs, fix if necessary. Make sure you have continuity between each LED and only one resistor on the pack. Check for shorts between resitors, one side of the resistor pack should all be shorted together.

Bend display back down, you will most likely have to use some type of glue to reattach foam pads. If you are installing the knob board, wait to bend the display down, it will make it easier to get the board in the correct place.

Step 10

Temporarily hook up display board and harddrive(s) to test LEDs.

Make sure the connector is aligned or you will most likely blow something up.

I used a paper towel to make sure nothing shorted out when display board was not mounted.

Step 11

If you are installing the knob LED board continue here.

or

Reassemble and rejoice 8^)

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Questions, comments, or flames please email buttons@hulktronics.com

This page last updated April 25 2002.