LED Mounting Tips/Tricks

[GrahamHyman14]

I’m just getting into pedal building and have really enjoyed it so far. Was wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks to make mounting the on/off leds easier and more reliable. I’ve ran into the led leads touching together multiple times due to them bending out of place when trying to line them up with the enclosure and I’m sure there’s a more efficient and reliable way to do this so I’m curious what everyone else does. My first thought was using heat shrink to keep the leads separated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Many__Of__Horror]

Heat shrink will solve that problem. Also getting more precise with measuring so that the lead lengths are correct for where it is going. This will come with practise

 

[Barry]

Heat shrink is an option, led bezels can help, I install mine before putting the board in the enclosure by first mounting it to the face of the enclosure , get the LED set, pots and footswitch all soldered then install into the enclosure

 

[spi]

I use heat shrink to avoid the leads shorting.

Getting the lead lengths right is still tricky when I directly solder to the board. I saw a build posted here where they socketed the LED. I think this looks like it might make installing the LED easier, and I intend to try it on my next build.

 

[Barry]

Look up this thread:​

Basic Workflow Tips for Building a PedalPCB​

 

[GrahamHyman14]

Is there a particular size heat shrink that would be best for 3mm leds? Reading through different forums seems to be pointing me toward 1/8 or 1/4 inch. Any specific recommendations?

 

[Barry]

Is there a particular size heat shrink that would be best for 3mm leds? Reading through different forums seems to be pointing me toward 1/8 or 1/4 inch. Any specific recommendations?

I like to use wire insulation stripped off scrap bits, heat shrink smaller the better

 

[Harry Klippton]

I'm a big fan of bezels. The bezels I've been using for 3mm LEDs have a little plastic insert that keeps the legs separated

 

[Feral Feline]

Just trying to brainstorm a bit: clip the leads short and solder some wire to them, a dab of glue to hold the LED in place.

Problem with this idea is the increased # of points of potential failure:
- overcooking the LED from soldering too close to it;
- 4-solder joins instead of just 2 (at the LED and at the PCB);
- glue failure is real, I've experienced it...



Another option: run the LED from the 3PDT instead of from the main board.

 

[caiofilipini]

Another option is using a 2x2 piece of vero where you would solder the LED's leads and a couple of wires from the vero to the LED pads on the board. Helps with keeping the leads apart, and you don't have to solder the wires directly to the leads.

 

[Barry]

Another option is using a 2x2 piece of vero where you would solder the LED's leads and a couple of wires from the vero to the LED pads on the board. Helps with keeping the leads apart, and you don't have to solder the wires directly to the leads.

I use this one when the LED is not close to the board pads