Tips to dim front panel LEDs?

Kantastic · Jul 2, 2012, 05:25 AM

I have a power LED and 2 HDD activity LEDs from a hotswap enclosure that are really bright. Anyone know any tips to dim the brightness?

Morgoth · Jul 2, 2012, 05:32 AM

Add some Voltage resistors to it ?

TRWOV · Jul 2, 2012, 05:34 AM

Sand them a little

baggpipes · Jul 2, 2012, 05:36 AM

Electrical tape...?

Lost Hatter · Jul 2, 2012, 03:33 PM

Black permanent marker. should take you 15 seconds

Delta6326 · Jul 2, 2012, 03:56 PM

You could unplug them

thats what i did, can't stand those lights.

RejZoR · Jul 2, 2012, 04:05 PM

Use a fine grit sandpaper, take the LEDs out and "polish" them a bit. They will still glow, but the light will be diffused.

m1dg3t · Jul 2, 2012, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Hatter

Black permanent marker. should take you 15 seconds

OR nail polish/model paint. Some acetone (nail polish remover) will clean it right up after if you feel like switching back, will work on either the paint or marker

keakar · Jul 2, 2012, 10:38 PM

i found the best thing is put masking tape onto a piece of doubled up paper and slip it between the case and the led then reassemble. this way you dont have to mess with or risk damaging it.

when you are done its still a fairly bright light, but its not an intense beam so its like a frosted window effect and it wont be shining on the opposit wall at night.

theJesus · Jul 2, 2012, 10:43 PM

I always just put black electrical tape over any LEDs I don't like. Granted, that covers the light up completely, so if you still want to see it for monitoring and such, then I wouldn't do that.

Jegergrim · Jul 2, 2012, 11:22 PM

Really good solutions here

makes my own feel totally shamefull, I got annoyed so bad one night, I took a piece of card from the deck on my table and glued it onto the case (Lian li pc-q08) and it worked perfectly, besides the fact that it looks tedious and blocks too much surface area including the power on button XD I guess I'll look around the house for a black permanent marker, I do have 99% alcohol to clean it off if I want to roll back, cheers and thanks for the ideas.

Norton · Jul 2, 2012, 11:32 PM

Put a small dap of clear silicone sealant over the LED.... you can remove easily at any time if you don't like it or if you go to sell it.

Also, you can mix the clear silicone with a darker pigment if you want the light a bit darker

Lost Hatter · Jul 3, 2012, 12:41 AM

Any time my brotha. I have many ghetto solutions for all you're computer needs. LOL

Jul 2, 2012, 05:25 AM	#1
Kantastic Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Big Apple Posts: 4,976 (3.39/day) Thanks: 1,252 Thanked 930 Times in 739 Posts System Specs	Tips to dim front panel LEDs? I have a power LED and 2 HDD activity LEDs from a hotswap enclosure that are really bright. Anyone know any tips to dim the brightness? __________________ Heatware

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Jul 2, 2012, 05:32 AM	#2
Morgoth Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,650 (1.25/day) Thanks: 80 Thanked 217 Times in 160 Posts System Specs	Add some Voltage resistors to it ? __________________ http://www.moddb.com/mods/biohazard-project http://biohazardproject.net76.net/

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Jul 2, 2012, 05:34 AM	#3
TRWOV Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Mexico Posts: 2,048 (3.16/day) Thanks: 790 Thanked 1,053 Times in 548 Posts System Specs	Sand them a little __________________ My other rigs: OCTANUX - Conroe865PE - QX6800 - 4GB OCZ Platinum EL - HIS HD4670 AGP - SB Audigy 2 ZS - BFG PPU phenomenal - AM2NF3-VSTA - 965BE - 8GB OCZ Platinum LV - HIS HD3850 AGP - SB X-Fi - Asus PPU - WIP Green Tea - 939A8X-M - FX60 - 4GB OCZ Platinum EL - 7950GT AGP Re-build - CT-6VTA2 - PIII 600E - 384MB PC133 - Voodoo 5500 AGP - SB16 ISA BLUELINE - H61M-GE - PDC G645 - 8GB DDR3-1333 - Powercolor HD7750 - 2xTV Wonder 650

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Jul 2, 2012, 05:36 AM	#4
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Jul 2, 2012, 03:33 PM	#5
Lost Hatter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 134 (0.15/day) Thanks: 6 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts System Specs	Black permanent marker. should take you 15 seconds

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Jul 2, 2012, 03:56 PM	#6
Delta6326 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Iowa, USA Posts: 3,287 (1.80/day) Thanks: 557 Thanked 597 Times in 437 Posts System Specs	You could unplug them thats what i did, can't stand those lights. __________________ Diablo III- Delta6326#1894 TechPowerUp WCG Forum Skyrim Skill Perks By Delta6326

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Jul 2, 2012, 04:05 PM	#7
RejZoR Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Europe/Slovenia Posts: 3,963 (1.26/day) Thanks: 39 Thanked 752 Times in 540 Posts System Specs	Use a fine grit sandpaper, take the LEDs out and "polish" them a bit. They will still glow, but the light will be diffused. __________________ RejZoR's Little Secrets @ rejzor dot tk

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Jul 2, 2012, 10:38 PM	#9
keakar Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,267 (1.01/day) Thanks: 382 Thanked 301 Times in 216 Posts System Specs	i found the best thing is put masking tape onto a piece of doubled up paper and slip it between the case and the led then reassemble. this way you dont have to mess with or risk damaging it. when you are done its still a fairly bright light, but its not an intense beam so its like a frosted window effect and it wont be shining on the opposit wall at night. __________________ here are some guides that might help you: Guide to Proper Case Airflow Design How To Safely Clean The Dust From Your PC How to Build a Great Computer Desk for $50 in Under an Hour Helpfull Step by Step Troubleshooting Guide for Assembling Your First Computer

Jul 2, 2012, 10:43 PM	#10
theJesus Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 3,116 (1.76/day) Thanks: 2,301 Thanked 865 Times in 612 Posts System Specs	I always just put black electrical tape over any LEDs I don't like. Granted, that covers the light up completely, so if you still want to see it for monitoring and such, then I wouldn't do that. __________________ HEAT “congratulations! you have successfully been inflicted with tpuitis! symptons include: prolonged computer usage, urge to make tpu your homepage, posting at rapid posts-per-day ratios (also known as post whoring), and the urge to waste lots of money on high end computer hardware that you dont need!” -panchoman “Modding to me is something best shared with others.... Kind of like a fine wine, but without the drunk driving arrest and hangovers.” -MKmods “i'm going to punch you in the face now Jesus..” -BumbleBee

Jul 2, 2012, 11:22 PM	#11
Jegergrim Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Denmark Posts: 373 (0.58/day) Thanks: 150 Thanked 38 Times in 37 Posts System Specs	Really good solutions here makes my own feel totally shamefull, I got annoyed so bad one night, I took a piece of card from the deck on my table and glued it onto the case (Lian li pc-q08) and it worked perfectly, besides the fact that it looks tedious and blocks too much surface area including the power on button XD I guess I'll look around the house for a black permanent marker, I do have 99% alcohol to clean it off if I want to roll back, cheers and thanks for the ideas. __________________ "In youth we learn, in age we understand." - Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

Jul 2, 2012, 11:32 PM	#12
Norton WCG Team Assistant Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Northeast, USA Posts: 5,151 (9.96/day) Thanks: 5,382 Thanked 10,084 Times in 3,179 Posts System Specs	Put a small dap of clear silicone sealant over the LED.... you can remove easily at any time if you don't like it or if you go to sell it. Also, you can mix the clear silicone with a darker pigment if you want the light a bit darker __________________ *Why sit on the Bench* when you can get in the game and Crunch!!!- World Community Grid (FTW) CPU crunchers- FX-8350(4.4)/FX-8150(4.0)/FX-6200(4.0)/ PII 1045T/PII 1045T/i7-920/Xeon (6c/12t)....(44 cores/54 threads) GPU crunchers- no WCG GPU work available Folding@Home- 2x GTX 580's WCG-TPU Mothers Day Challenge (5/10 thru 5/19- crunch for our Team, for Mom, for games and prizes )**

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Jul 3, 2012, 12:41 AM	#13
Lost Hatter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 134 (0.15/day) Thanks: 6 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts System Specs	Any time my brotha. I have many ghetto solutions for all you're computer needs. LOL

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