VCI-100 Button Lights Mod?

[fa5ky]

i will once i get more leds in. Ive done only 2 so far. I find its easier to just break the existing led off rather trying to preserve it.
1. Break the led off with a needle nose plyer
2. Heat up the joint on the bottom of the pcb
3. I use a led lead to push out the old lead
4. Use the desoldering iron/pump to suck up the remaining solder(this part is the hardest to do since you have to get all the solder out of the hole so that you can put the new led in)
5. Insert new led and solder it up. Time consuming but well worth it.

[fa5ky]

desoldering iron ? i didnt even know those things existed

They look damn handy !

yeah thats the exact one i have.

[BentoSan]

<3 these forums, learn new stuff all the time

[fa5ky]

update: theres a reason why vestax used 3mm leds instead of 5mm. I did the two blue leds under the platters and they dont clear the leds! >_<. On the other buttons there are plenty of room but i guess since it had to be 3mm under the platters they wanted to be uniform in their led sizes.

[djmod]

Another cheaper solution is to user a solder pump (solder-pault):



It's spring loaded, works well getting solder out from those vias and has replaceable tips.

[fa5ky]

i used those before and they are still harder to use then the one bento posted. You have to use two hands and be pretty quick before the solder cools. The desoldering iron can be used with one hand and allows to u suck up the solder right when it heats up.