Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
Shining leds through the PCB
OM222O:
Hello
I was wondering if there are SMD LEDs that can be mounted on the PCB, with copper areas cut out , so they shine through the PCB and are visible on the other side!
I searched for reverse mount LEDs, but they require a hole to be drilled, so they can poke out. I want something that just shines through the PCB without requiring any holes (for aesthetic reasons). I searched mouser, digikey, amazon and aliexpress but couldn't find anything :(
Rerouter:
Mount a smd led upside down
The reason your likely struggling is the light will be very diffuse after travilling through the board unless you constrain it with a wall of vias.
wraper:
--- Quote from: Rerouter on May 09, 2019, 12:59:46 am ---Mount a smd led upside down
The reason your likely struggling is the light will be very diffuse after travilling through the board unless you constrain it with a wall of vias.
--- End quote ---
Not possible unless you bodge them with soldering iron. Top facing LEDs have terminals on bottom part only.
OM222O:
--- Quote from: Rerouter on May 09, 2019, 12:59:46 am ---Mount a smd led upside down
The reason your likely struggling is the light will be very diffuse after travilling through the board unless you constrain it with a wall of vias.
--- End quote ---
Light bleed is not an issue. It's just a single on/off indicator. The main problem is that the plastic package sits on the PCB first, which raises the soldering pads off the PCB. I can bridge the distance with adding more solder but I'm not sure if there is an LED meant for this application. if there is, that would be the easiest solution!
--- Quote from: wraper on May 09, 2019, 01:16:44 am ---Not possible unless you bodge them with soldering iron. Top facing LEDs have terminals on bottom part only.
--- End quote ---
actually I have a few which have castellated holes (plating on top, bottom and side) but they sit about 1mm off the board due to the plastic package
wraper:
PC motherboards use a trick. They simply mount usual LEDs on the back side and rely on reflection from a metal plate behind it to shine through copper free areas. For example you could solder a small metal shield above it. It likely would even provide better visual effect.
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