Help a noob with notifications LEDs for an Ergodox kit!

User avatar
Plasmodium

07 Mar 2016, 16:09

Hey all, I ordered an ergodox kit from Falbatech, however, I didn't notice that it doesn't come with LEDs for caps/num lock, etc. However, I happened to have some LEDs lying around.

This is what I have: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/visible-leds/7133949/
This is what the Ergodox people recommend: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/e ... -ND/121770
(The Ergodox has 3 220ohm resistors which you are suppose to use for the LEDs, I think - see here: http://ergodox.org/Hardware.aspx)

My question is can I use the ones I have already, or will I need to change the resistors or something?
Please excuse my lack of knowledge of electronics!

User avatar
flabbergast

07 Mar 2016, 16:26

220 Ohm resistors and the LEDs you have result in 9mA current through a LED, which is well within the 30mA the LED datasheet lists. So as long as you can mechanically fit the LEDs where they're supposed to be, you're fine (you may need to sand off the "lip" from the LED I think).

EDIT: For the forward voltage computation I just used one of online 'led calculators'.

User avatar
Plasmodium

07 Mar 2016, 16:31

Thanks. The LEDs fit exactly into the cutout in the switch. (I think it is the lip that is 3mm in this case, not the main bit of the LED)

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