Title: Stealth Hard Drive LED for Slabs
Post by: Nitro on January 16, 2023, 12:13:48 AM
Post by: Nitro on January 16, 2023, 12:13:48 AM
I'm sure this has been done before but here's how I added a stealth hard drive LED to my Turbo Color without modifying the Slab. I had a Seagate Barracuda drive in there that was starting to sound more like a bench grinder than a hard drive, so I swapped it out for a silent compact flash unit. Since the disk was no longer audible, an LED was added to indicate disk access. I ended up using an LED hard drive light from an old PC case which happened to have an attached two pin connector that plugs directly into the drive.
Since there's a line of ventilation holes along the bottom right side of the slab case, I chose to place the LED in the one closest to the front, which is under the floppy drive mounting bracket. The wires run down the right side of the motherboard and plug into the drive. The LED light shines down on the table, so it's an indirect light. Someone wiser than me would probably use a piece of tape to hold the LED in place.
Since there's a line of ventilation holes along the bottom right side of the slab case, I chose to place the LED in the one closest to the front, which is under the floppy drive mounting bracket. The wires run down the right side of the motherboard and plug into the drive. The LED light shines down on the table, so it's an indirect light. Someone wiser than me would probably use a piece of tape to hold the LED in place.
Title: Re: Stealth Hard Drive LED for Slabs
Post by: Rob Blessin Black Hole on January 16, 2023, 02:12:49 AM
Post by: Rob Blessin Black Hole on January 16, 2023, 02:12:49 AM
Hello Nitro: My cat Yoda now attacks the slab lol thinks it is a laser toy. Best Regards Rob Blessin
Title: Re: Stealth Hard Drive LED for Slabs
Post by: MindWalker on March 31, 2023, 11:48:34 AM
Post by: MindWalker on March 31, 2023, 11:48:34 AM
I made a small 3D-printable bracket that can be used to mount a 3mm LED neatly into the side vents. If mounted on the front corner (or at the center) it will stay in place by itself under the drive bracket.
I also like the fact that the light is way more subtle this way and not overly bright.
Here's the file (and some more pics) on Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5942827 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5942827)
Note: this works in my mono slab, I can't test whether the later pizza box models have different measurements on the side vent spacing.
I also like the fact that the light is way more subtle this way and not overly bright.
Here's the file (and some more pics) on Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5942827 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5942827)
Note: this works in my mono slab, I can't test whether the later pizza box models have different measurements on the side vent spacing.
Title: Re: Stealth Hard Drive LED for Slabs
Post by: barcher174 on March 31, 2023, 12:21:31 PM
Post by: barcher174 on March 31, 2023, 12:21:31 PM
I don't think there are any changes to the slab cases across revisions.
Title: Re: Stealth Hard Drive LED for Slabs
Post by: Nitro on March 31, 2023, 02:23:50 PM
Post by: Nitro on March 31, 2023, 02:23:50 PM
Quote from: MindWalker on March 31, 2023, 11:48:34 AMI made a small 3D-printable bracket that can be used to mount a 3mm LED neatly into the side vents. If mounted one the front corner or at the center it will stay in place by itself under the drive bracket arms.
I also like the fact that the like is way more subtle this way and not overly bright.
Here's the file on Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5942827 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5942827)
Note: this works in my mono slab, I can't test whether the later pizza box models have different measurements on the side vent spacing.
I like it! Thanks for sharing the file. :)