But aren't LEDs very focused, directional light? I'm hoping for a soft
illumination - not another bright light.

"Robert Miles" wrote in message
. net...
I would've thought that LED's would be better than bulbs.. last longer ..

Regards

"William G. Andersen" wrote in message
news:6%j7d.12517$Hz.2496@fed1read04...
Anyone have ideas about how to add a light/backlight to an instrument?
I want to add interior illumination to the display panel of my Si-Tex
525
ADF. It has three lights for operation and they're very bright: I think
it
would be easier on my eyes at night if the face of the panel was softly
illuminated. Si-Tex only states they don't offer an illumination mode.
I'm thinking of a small 12 volt bulb inserted in a notch on one edge -
thinking the light would be distributed through the clear panel.
An alternative would be to just mount one or two bulbs inside the case
so
that the bulbs aren't directly visible, but so that the light would be
dispersed throughout the case.
In either case, I plan on wiring the bulb(s) to the power switch of the
ADF.

On Sat, 2 Oct 2004 22:37:38 -0700, "William G. Andersen"
wrote:

"Robert Miles" wrote:

"William G. Andersen" wrote"

Anyone have ideas about how to add a light/backlight to an instrument?

I would've thought that LED's would be better than bulbs.. last longer ..

But aren't LEDs very focused, directional light? I'm hoping for a soft
illumination - not another bright light.

Some LEDs are focused, some are defused. Worst case, you simply take
the focused LEDs and work on them a little with some sand paper (or a
sand blaster, if you have access to a small one.)

--
BRENT - The Usenet typo king.

An LED will disburse throughout a sheet of plastic and show up brightest at
any scratches, printing or other deformities in the surface. OTOH, if the
display is an LCD any light in front of the LCD array will make it a lot
harder to read. You have to light LCD displays from behind. That is
usually done by placing a frosted edge lit acrylic sheet or
electroluminecent panel behind the LCD array.


"William G. Andersen" wrote in message
news:6eM7d.12872$Hz.10787@fed1read04...
But aren't LEDs very focused, directional light? I'm hoping for a soft
illumination - not another bright light.

Thanks for the information...now I need to take the time to open the case
and see what I can do.

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:wlT7d.28433$cN6.24595@lakeread02...
An LED will disburse throughout a sheet of plastic and show up brightest
at
any scratches, printing or other deformities in the surface. OTOH, if
the
display is an LCD any light in front of the LCD array will make it a lot
harder to read. You have to light LCD displays from behind. That is
usually done by placing a frosted edge lit acrylic sheet or
electroluminecent panel behind the LCD array.


"William G. Andersen" wrote in message
news:6eM7d.12872$Hz.10787@fed1read04...
But aren't LEDs very focused, directional light? I'm hoping for a soft
illumination - not another bright light.