My LED Mod

[ROFLMyWaffle]

Hey, I've seen a bunch of people do this before, but I'd like to add some tips and tricks I've used. First of all, the led's. I bought them on ebay from hktaiyuen LED store. It was A 25 pack of Blue LED's as found here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=66948&item=7512605358) . I used different resistors from a lot of 500 from R@d10$h@ck. 1/4 watt.

Second, I planned it out. It would use a total of 10 leds (9 of which would be on the same circuit. The other just replaces the stock led.) I'm not to technical when it comes to currents and voltage, so i found this (http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz) led wizard that will tell you the optimal arrangement for your leds. For the leds I selected, the voltage range was 3.2 ~ 3.6 volts, so I chose 3.5v. Then, they didn't post current, so I used common sense that most leds operate off 20 mA so entered in 20 mA. I was taking power off the power assembly (12v) where the power regulator board connects, so the lights turn on with the cube. I entered in all the vital info and it gave me 3 parallel subcircuits of 3 leds with an 82 ohm resistor on each subcircuit. So I started modding....

Third, I took the cube apart. Took off the front panel and got to work. For the leds to shine through, I tore the top and bottom support spring thing off because they are unneeded. They would make for good LED holes. With those out, I hot glued the leds in diagonally. This acutally give it that effect that makes it look like there's light coming out from under the cube, when there's really not. Then wired them up in the circuit format that the wizard designed for me. You're probably questioning, "but that's only 8?" Good question, The other one goes to the fan. All I had to do is drill a hole in the natural indent behind the fan (probably left from the molding process). Leaves the perfect size hole correctly centered. After all the leds were in place, I wired them up. Then I joined the positives and negatives toghether at the end of the circuits and soldered those to another wire. That then attached to the underside of the power/fan assembly board.

Fourth, The revisions. The first thing I noticed was that the leds were VERY bright, I took off the plastic controller cover, drilled 1/16th in. holes in each number indent. Put it back and something was missing. Didn't quite displace the light so I put some hotglue behind them to blur the light. The next revision I made was to amplify the light in the fan. I found a Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition sticker in my Xbox Magazine (Yes, Xbox stuff in a gamecube :D). I cut little slips off the edges and stuck them on the backside of the fan and next to the led. This way, it would reflect more light out (the sticker is like tinfoil).

And finally, Fifth, the other mods. I cut some more circles off the sticker and stuck them to the buttons. Gave them the extra little touch. I also made a custom viper jewel as i did in this thread (http://forums.maxconsole.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3599). And that's about it. Hope you like it.

P.S: If you look at the picture of the front, the leds are so bright, it casts light down on the memory card door. Very cool, unexpected but very liked, effect

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/ROFLMyWaffle/Gamecube/Top.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/ROFLMyWaffle/Gamecube/Front.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/ROFLMyWaffle/Gamecube/Fan.jpg

[Xboxmodder999]

Very nice, I like it!

[Quantumsource]

DUDE, freaking sweet. I never thought a game cube could be a work of art, but you just did it.
My idea was using either the black or smoke executer case with green leds kind similar to the way you did it, I'm just wonderingthat if I use the leds on a simi-transparent case, it may blow all over, I make have to like wrap the leds with like tape, so that it only points stright. Let me know what you think? ...if you want...:rolleyes:

[gulliver]

Very nice bro. I like the fan.

[Janneman]

Yeah those LED's sure are bright :). Cool mod, I wonder what it looks like with the controllers plugged in, isn't the effect then gone or not?

Maybe there is a too high current running through your LED's (assumed a too high forward voltage). In the worst case (3.2V) they might be running at 30mA, which is really the absolute max. (which could explain the brightness)

You can check this very easily. All you have to do is to measure the voltage over the resistor. Then divide this by the resistance value of the resistor (82). Then you have to multiply by 1000 to get mili-Ampère.

Actually when you know the voltage over the resistor, you know the forward voltage of the LED's. If you read 2V, then there is 10V left (12-2), divide this by the number of leds in the series (3 in this case): 3.3V

[hiaaa]

A high class job, well done.

[thecheekymonkey]

very nice mate, ive got a couple of premods here i`m gonna snazz up a little. the pad ports look nice.

i like it,.
i was thinking odoing this to the fans.

possibly have a couple of red leds pointing either way from inside the case, to give a red background effect when you look directly into it.

then use UV purple leds for the fan, but paint the fan blades with clear UV reactant paint, so they glow blue.

purple > blue > red inside

hoefully i`ll get time to try it out.


good work though

[LiquidKill]

Very nice I Like it.. I also want to mod my cube but I need purple LED's but not able to find them,but only can find UV LED's on ebay.
I need around 100 of them but i can't find them anyone know any good site with leds that might have purple ones thanks.

[thecheekymonkey]

where abouts are you mate, if your in the UK, as i have loads here 3mm and 5 mm, and to be honest i never use that many at all

could sort you out pobly hundred for what i paid for them

[LiquidKill]

I'm in Ontario, Canada...

Would Ultra Violet Be the same as purple LED's?

Heres the current purple ones i have in car... But these are so expensive
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58019&item=5765571888

[ROFLMyWaffle]

Originally posted by Quantumsource
DUDE, freaking sweet. I never thought a game cube could be a work of art, but you just did it.
My idea was using either the black or smoke executer case with green leds kind similar to the way you did it, I'm just wonderingthat if I use the leds on a simi-transparent case, it may blow all over, I make have to like wrap the leds with like tape, so that it only points stright. Let me know what you think? ...if you want...:rolleyes:
Yeah, You'll probably need to use some electrical tape because thats opaique. Thanks for the positive feedback every one. Awesome Idea too thecheekymonkey. As for with controllers in, I use all wavebirds so both the controller port led and dots above are covered. With a regular contoller, they'd shine through. The memory card doors always have that unexpected lighting, unless theres a memory card in there. Some of the memory cards actually light up from it like clear ones. Solid colors just get a little beam of light across when the card meets the front panel. Led's are running at 3.5v and 20mA but they're 5000 mcd. A good sorce for leds is the link in my other post. That seller has a store with great prices. Check for a hundred pack there. I think it's only like 11.99 with shipping. Thanks again for the positive feedback.

[justinkb]

looks nice dude.

[ROFLMyWaffle]

Thank you. Positive feed back = very yes.

[Quantumsource]

I wonder if it would be possible to make it so like deafault with no controler in the number dots would glow one color(ex. blue) and then when a contoler is pluged in it would switch to another color(ex. green). I think that there is a curcit that gets completed when a contoler is pluged in, I wonder if some how it could be tapped into. If some one knows how, make a tut, or something that would be awsome.:rolleyes:

[ROFLMyWaffle]

You could probably use the grounding side, but that might give you some unwanted interference since it's on a different circuit. I would say try to mount two pieces of thin metal to the top of the port. Just above it. This way, they would be pushed together creating a circuit. Or you could use some sort of relay system so that you don't use the controller circuit, but it creates a circuit when a controller is plugged in flipping a switch on the other led circuit. I could think about it and maybe come up with an idea tommorow.

[Janneman]

ROFLMyWaffle I seriously advise you to measure the voltage over the resistor (while the led's are powered) to be sure they are not about to blow :). Divide the readed voltage with 82, then multiply by 1000 to get the mA.

For your information, LED's don't have a range of forward voltages, they only have one. The specifications may say 3.2-3.6, which is useless, you'll need to find out what it is yourself and it is not wise to just assume something!

[ROFLMyWaffle]

I did measure it. I'm getting 3.5v and 20mA to each. It told me thats what I'd get and thats what I'm getting too. As for the range, I think it's saying it needs at least 3.2 volts but no more than 3.6. I just chose something in the higher end. If they blow soon, I'll redo it with lower specifications.

[Janneman]

If you measured everything then it's OK :) (measuring things is good)

I thought that you just assumed 3.5V to base your calculations on (just as I used to do when I was a LED noob :)).

Don't forget to put some more LED's in your cube, different colors, you may even end up just like me :D

(I'm also interested in getting LED's more interactive with the cube, like an laser activity led, or when you put in controllers, or when you push the reset button or something, also more animation, sound activated, turning it into a disco :))

[ROFLMyWaffle]

Yeah me too. Especially when I get my blue transparent xecuter case in 2 days for free to review! .........








......... I wish :(