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Mounting LED's

post #1 of 7
10/9/10 at 11:08am
Thread Starter 

What kind of hardware do you guys use to mount an LED to a 3mm front panel?  Laying out a couple of custom panels and trying to figure out hole sizes.

 

Thanks

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post #2 of 7
10/9/10 at 12:56pm

I have used this with good results:

 

   http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062558

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post #3 of 7
10/9/10 at 1:13pm

Parmetal enclosure which is .060, and with an 1/8" thick front panel, but it would work for anything if you're careful with the drill.

 

 

I drilled about halfway through one side and then did the same on the other side. this is all guesswork so you might try with a scrap piece first.

ledmount003.jpg?t=1286655137

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post #4 of 7
10/9/10 at 1:19pm

...sorry, the page editor on this forum is lacking, at best.

continued....

 

Then I took the led in question to the hardware and fitted a plumbing washer(rubber?) to the inside of the panel with Quik Grip (from Walmart).

I insert the led into the washer and make sure it all fits nicely(you could use 2 washers if you need the led to stand off from the panel a bit more than I did). This will also hopefully hold the led in place during shipping.

ledmount001.jpg?t=1286655489

 

I think the plumbing washer I used is a 3/4" outside, and no idea what inside. I just tried stuff in the Ace Hardware plumbing aisle until I got something that seemed to work ok.

 

Use your imagination....


Edited by digger945 - 10/9/10 at 1:34pm
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post #5 of 7
10/9/10 at 4:29pm

I plan to use these panel-mount leds:  mouser.com pn 696-ILXH312GD5V150

 

Datasheet is here:  http://www.lumex.com/specs/SSI-LXH312GD5V-150.pdf

 

Looks like it needs a 4mm hole. (edit, 0.170-0.174" per note on the spec sheet)

 

BK


Edited by BK_856er - 10/11/10 at 10:30am
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post #6 of 7
10/10/10 at 11:33pm

With most proffesional gear,  they have a very small straight hole and then the LED mounted in the back panel,  looks very proffesional but I'm not sure how to duplicated it,  these panel mount LED from Mouser/Digi/Ratshsack aren't asthetically appealing IMHO.

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post #7 of 7
10/11/10 at 4:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by regal View Post


With most proffesional gear,  they have a very small straight hole and then the LED mounted in the back panel,  looks very proffesional but I'm not sure how to duplicated it,  these panel mount LED from Mouser/Digi/Ratshsack aren't asthetically appealing IMHO.






The last two I did were just holes, but, the board was close enough to have the leads hold the bulb portion in place. It does look the best. In this instance, a small bead of silicon caulk might work well and still allow easy replacement. Either that or epoxy a toothpick or similar non-conductive brace against the bulb and the panel. Another option which I used on my original MOSFET-MAX panel was to tie-wrap the wire run against a neighboring switch. There was enough force to keep the bulb in place against the panel hole.

In the end, the easiest mounting was the RS part I mentioned above. It is about as inconspicuous as you can get for this type of mount. Drill a hole and lock it in, no fuss no muss.
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