LED Lighting Under HDX Button Panel

[N205EN]

Yesterday, flying at night, I realized that I need some panel lighting under my HDX screen to illuminate the toggle switches I have there. Has anyone mounted some sort of LED lighting mounted on the underside of the HDX Screen button panel to illuminate the panel under the screen? What did you use?

 

[jefish]

I'd look for "silicone led strip" or "EL wire" and see where that gets you. Such as,

Search Results for 'silicone led strip' on Adafruit Industries

Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits : Search Results - Tools Gift Certificates Arduino Cables Sensors LEDs Books Breakout Boards Power EL Wire/Tape/Panel Components & Parts LCDs & Displays Wearables Prototyping Raspberry Pi Wireless Young Engineers 3D printing NeoPixels...

www.adafruit.com

Search Results for 'el wire' on Adafruit Industries

Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits : Search Results - Tools Gift Certificates Arduino Cables Sensors LEDs Books Breakout Boards Power EL Wire/Tape/Panel Components & Parts LCDs & Displays Wearables Prototyping Raspberry Pi Wireless Young Engineers 3D printing NeoPixels...

www.adafruit.com

 

[andresmith76]

I installed a Crazed Pilot LED strip along the bottom of my RV-6 glare shield. It illuminates the entire panel and includes dimmer:

LED Cockpit Lighting System, Digital Dimmer, up to 15ft, 2.5oz

We manufacture and sell aircraft parts and accessories for general aviation pilots and airplane builders. From camera recording cables to Bluetooth interfaces ...

www.crazedpilot.com

 

[ebackscheider]

I did the same. Had them on the full dash, but it messed with the light sensor, so I went shorter and just under the HDX to light up the switches. Works perfect!

 

[Albee]

I did something similar, except I made 1/2" x 1/2" angle strips that fit just under the button shelf to hold the LED strip, so it's attached and wired to the panel and not actually touching the display. I used amber LEDs, which I've seen suggested recently for astronomy instead of red because our eyes are so much better reading with amber light that the the LEDs can be dimmer and night vision impact is actually lower. Haven't done controlled experiments myself, but it's definitely easy on my aging eyes.

 

[andresmith76]

I did something similar, except I made 1/2" x 1/2" angle strips that fit just under the button shelf to hold the LED strip, so it's attached and wired to the panel and not actually touching the display. I used amber LEDs, which I've seen suggested recently for astronomy instead of red because our eyes are so much better reading with amber light that the the LEDs can be dimmer and night vision impact is actually lower. Haven't done controlled experiments myself, but it's definitely easy on my aging eyes.

Do you have any pictures you can post showing your lit panel?

 

[Albee]

I would have sworn I do, but evidently not of the completed panel. I'll take some next time I get a chance.

 

[porterjames]

I installed blue strip LED's with a dimmer. The only problem I have experienced is that the lights go out when I key the x-mitter.
I'm sure there is some way to fix that but I haven't found it that annoying.

 

[tniel7331]

Yesterday, flying at night, I realized that I need some panel lighting under my HDX screen to illuminate the toggle switches I have there. Has anyone mounted some sort of LED lighting mounted on the underside of the HDX Screen button panel to illuminate the panel under the screen? What did you use?

LED straps work well I prefer blue for subtle lighting they are very reasonably priced

 

[andresmith76]

I installed blue strip LED's with a dimmer. The only problem I have experienced is that the lights go out when I key the x-mitter.
I'm sure there is some way to fix that but I haven't found it that annoying.

Looks good - very even lighting on both sides of your panel.
Is the LED strip powered from the same circuit or wire that also powers your 2-way radio?
On the *bright* side (pun intended), you now get visual confirmation whenever your radio is transmitting!

 

[Albee]

I would have sworn I do, but evidently not of the completed panel. I'll take some next time I get a chance.

 

[porterjames]

Looks good - very even lighting on both sides of your panel.
Is the LED strip powered from the same circuit or wire that also powers your 2-way radio?
On the *bright* side (pun intended), you now get visual confirmation whenever your radio is transmitting!

No, the LED's are on their own separate circuit.
Your observation about verifying the radio reflected my own.

 

[andresmith76]

No, the LED's are on their own separate circuit.
Your observation about verifying the radio reflected my place a voltmeter on the LED circuit's +12v and see if it changes when the radio begins transmitting.

Can you connect a voltmeter on the LED circuits +12v input and see if the voltage changes when the radio begins transmitting?

 

[porterjames]

I could but I don't find it annoying enough to try to troubleshoot. I have found some reference that the RF may be causing the problem with similar problems with LED's.