Change Red Ring to Blue Ring

[baconfrazzles]

I was going to have a go at changing my LEDS, I followed the link in shootsteels tutorials and bought the LEDS form here http://www.phenoptix.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, but there way to small, have I ordered the wrong ones or have they sent me the wrong ones ? these are what I got ..Ultra Bright Blue 0603 SMD LED 110mcd

[trailz]

When I took apart my xbox, I didn't see anything that looked like an LED, so I assume they are surface mount, and thus very very small. Good luck!

[HaGGardSmurf]

0603 are the correct LED's. they are surface mounted, and 0603 are NOT the LED's that microsoft puts in, microsoft puts in larger LED's that use 3 contact's and can light up to be either red green or orange. I'm not sure the size on those ones, but you can likely buy those if you want.

0603 are the LED's I use, yes they are quite small, I use tweezers to handle them. I'm pretty sure the green LED (right under the power button) is 0603 and you'll notice its the same size as your LED's.

[baconfrazzles]

Thanks HaGGardSmurf, I think am gonna look for some bigger ones, dont no how you guys can solder them..I can just Barely see them.

[Deathuntou]

You can purchase a tweezer soldier set that can solder those little (%%#^%#^) bad word LOL in with,it works great did a few myself with the tweezers you can actually soldier 2 leds with ground being center soldier point just make sure you get the led's pos neg side right or they won't light up.

Thanks HaGGardSmurf, I think am gonna look for some bigger ones, dont no how you guys can solder them..I can just Barely see them.

[HaGGardSmurf]

Its not to hard, just remove the LED, then clean off the solder from the pad's, then get some solder on the 2 pad's you will be working with (green pos, and neg). Make sure the solder on the pad's is flat, place your led on top with the tweezer's, keep holding it with the tweezers and apply a bit of downward pressure, then touch the pad with your iron, the solder should melt almost instantly, then remove your iron, and your led should be soldered in place, you can now put the tweezers down, and solder the other side.

I usually do one side just well enough that the LED will hold if I solder the other side, because then I can move the board around to get a good angle, then I go a good job on the second one, and fix up any mistake I may have made on the first side.

Lots of people lay the LED down on its side, but I dont notice a difference in lighting or colour.

Also if you do find the 'bigger' led's the ones M$ uses by default, you will need to solder 3 points, one of which will be below the LED, so its going to be a pain. If you want red LED's you can just do a mod that has to do with connecting the green - and the red - solder pad's with a wire or something. While keeping the stock LED's in place.

[baconfrazzles]

Thanks deathuntou, it s not the tools am having probs with, it’s just I don’t have bionic eyes lol
Can’t believe how small they are

Anyway I managed to do the game pad, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Its looks great am well chuffed, wasted about 6 SMDs little buggers are like fleas...good tip haGGardsmurf about soldering one side at a time, I was trying to do both sides while holding them with the tweezers and they kept popping back off

Gonna start the board now. Think I might try the first one flat like you said and see what it looks like, be easier for me to solder. Thanks guys