Bryan wrote:
Chuck Harris wrote
....
Mouser sells that same lamp (by Chicago Miniature Lamps) for $0.43 each
in a pack of 10. They have no minimum order.

-Chuck

Cool. Because of pricing, I've found myself buying from Mouser (and even
Allied) more often and Digi-Key less often. For dial backlights, I think
I'll give the white LED another try, the next time around. I want to try a
friend's suggestion to file/grind off the lens in order to increase the
dispersion angle.
Bryan WA7PRC


I've done that as well. In some cases where I can, I will string 3 or 4 LED's
in series and use them to light up the dial.

White LED's are funny devices. As I understand things, they are actually
blue LED's with a phosphorescent component added to the plastic of the package.
The phosphor is what makes them radiate white. I have a suspicion that filing
them may damage the color. Old fashioned GaAs LED's dispersion can readily
be improved by filing the end of the lens.

-Chuck

Chuck Harris wrote:
White LED's are funny devices. As I understand things, they are actually
blue LED's with a phosphorescent component added to the plastic of the package.
The phosphor is what makes them radiate white. I have a suspicion that filing
them may damage the color. Old fashioned GaAs LED's dispersion can readily
be improved by filing the end of the lens.

Yes, you can't file the whole lens off, but you CAN rough it up with a bit
of sandpaper to create a diffusing surface. You don't want to take any more
material off than you have to.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."