5120 - Mac Portable, Adding a Back light, 12v LED Strip?

#1 Fri, 20 Dec 2013 - 02:52

Maybe it will be too bright?

saw this there at the SHACK… You can cut it to size!

I'm thinking this may work!

#2 Fri, 20 Dec 2013 - 03:09

looks like i already have a back light for the Floppy EMU

the 3 led try it now demo seems to work. now all i need is a 12v tap on the floppy emu board connector lol.

Screen Shot 2013-12-19 at 10.06.31 PM.png

#3 Fri, 20 Dec 2013 - 03:16

Be warned. those LED strips dont last very long before LEDs start dropping out, they are very cheaply made and very chinese. So, To prolong the life extraordinarily, do not run them at max voltage which is 12v, Dial it down a bit. How? A simple 555 timer based MOSFET PWM control will work just dandy for this application. For bonus points, you can make the circuit also accept external PWM control from the mac's brightness signal. (assuming your retrofitting a 5126)

You can buy 5 meter rolls of LED strips on ebay, various colors various sizes dirt cheap. Again, chinese.