Illuminated Keyboard Hack

Turn your ordinary keyboard into an illuminated one for under $5. This is an easy keyboard mod that takes about 1/2 hour to do. Watch the video to see the test results and then follow the Instructable for more details. Enjoy!

Step 1 What You Need...

1. A Keyboard. Any keyboard will work.
2. 2 LED's. I used 5mm High-Brightness White LED (2-Pack) $1.99
Radio Shack # 276-017
3. Telephone wire. This needs to be solid core wire.
4. Heatshrink tubing. I had some in my parts bin.
5. Soldering iron and solder.
6. Wire strippers and snips.
7. Drill and small drill bit.

Comments

[Maxaxle]

Cool idea, though I seriously doubt I'll ever need to use my computer in the dark.

[Bartboy]

cool! one problem, if u have the light on and dont want scroll lock on.

[Kipkay]

What do you use the scroll lock for? Have you EVER used it? I know I haven't. In fact if you ask most people, most have no idea what it does.

[xc1024]

I use scroll lock a lot, every day. I've assigned it to show and hide a scroll-down terminal (Linux).

[cormac3050]

ummm...... what does scroll lock do????

[REA]

Wiki entry: "Scroll lock is a key (often with an associated status light) on most modern computer keyboards. The behavior of the key depends on the particular software in use. The scroll lock key is a remnant from the original IBM PC keyboard. In the original design, scroll lock was intended to modify the behavior of the arrow keys. When the scroll lock mode was on, the arrow keys would scroll the contents of a text window instead of moving the cursor. In this usage, scroll lock is a modifier key like Alt and Shift (which modify the function of other keys) and, more specifically, a toggling lock key like Num Lock or Caps Lock, which have a state that persists after the key is released. Today, this particular use of scroll lock is rare. Only a few modern programs still honor this behavior, such as Microsoft Excel (in the behavior of arrows — when scroll lock is on, the selection does not move), Lotus Notes and Forté Agent. In modern GUI environments, scrolling is usually accomplished using means such as scrollbars or scroll wheels. Therefore scroll lock can be regarded as a defunct feature in almost all modern programs and operating systems; some keyboards lack scroll lock altogether. Scroll lock has fallen into such extremely infrequent use that some of the lighter-weight Linux desktop environments don't even support it at all, such as Xfce."

[Xial]

It's used in FL Studio, actually, to control scrolling of a play area. Because of that, I would have to use my NumLock light instead of the Scroll Lock, since I always have NumLock on at night. :)

[Yerboogieman]

Whats does scroll lock do? Also, what voltage are the LED's?

[REA]

scroll lock alows you to scroll through a long page using the arrow keys. it was a handy tool during the DOS era.

[AT]

Not much! But it is used in a few applications. If you go way back, it was common to use it in a spreadsheet program (Lotus 123 or Excel) to move the spreadsheet around without moving out of the cell with focus. Try it next time you are in Excel. Turn on Scroll Lock and use the arrow keys and the whole spreadsheet will move but the cell with focus will keep focus.

[Kipkay]

Key words "go way back". LOL! Thanks for the info!

[Kipkay]

Standard voltage. 3.3V.

[Bartboy]

Yeah, you're right, but surely it does something? Maybe?

[CameronSS]

Wikipedia to the rescue!

[James Longpaw]

I would use my scroll lock but I figured out that my mouse changes profiles every time that I press it. so I think I'll just use the useless f-lock key.

[the_burrito_master]

Nice work,I love that keyboard all these newage ones stink. I'm going to do this to my netbook (when I get it after thanksgiving) but with blue :D

[eyerobot]

Iv'e been trying to think of a better way to illuminate my keyboard, Than by using a scanner bulb, And this is exactly what I needed. Thank you.

[DrCoolSanta]

Awesome hack, I loved this. Gonna do this soon

[Mr. Squishy]

Newer Mac laptops coome with illuminated keyboards. But how do you do this with laptops with non-illuminated keyboards?

[soldier_fever]

You could connect 2 LED's with a USB but you'll need a USB port aviable. If you won't some extra information just send me a message :)

[dowd95]

Great instructable...about to go make mine

[steimel386]

I'm going to give this a try but instead of on top of the keyboard I'll see if there is enough room under/around the keys to give it a more stock look. ... I wonder if I could use spacers or something to produce more room under the keys

[Millawi Legend]

cool what lse u can do is take the front of a key board a its like touch screen

[agis68]

Excellent instructable, Nice Job and CLEVER!!! 5/5

[Berkin]

Can anybody tell me what the backwards "R" and the "U"connected together mean? I see that symbol on almost all circuit boards and electronics I have.

[stringstretcher]

Mine works! Took 15 minutes, super big, blue LEDs and they look GREAT. Thanks for sharing!

[j2020j0908]

Sorry for posting an irrelevant comment but I think you'll find my question interesting none the less... Doesn't he sound just like Christian Bale from the movie American Psycho? LOL

[IW5 Industries]

awsome

[ctoon6]

i bet you could try just putting the LEDs in the keyboard instead of looping up like that

[nitrox027]

I used blue leds because when playing games there less distracting and i used paperclips instead of the wires because they are nice and clean and kind of modern looking

[Derin]

Interesting idea,detailed instructable.Good job Kipkay!

[friedfish1982]

I guess i would try it if i didn't already own a Logitech g15 gaming keyboard. But i bet you spent allot less money then i did.

[Rikasu]

You're my hero. You're the reason I joined this site (and all the cool stuff.)Only one word can describe you: Brilliant. One day I hope to be as creative as you.

[cool!]

Great idea. Another cool thing would be to iluminate a clear keyboard from the inside.

[dashman94]

It would be great if someone could find a way to wire each (or just maybe a few) specific key to where whenever you pressthat individual key it lights up, how all the wiring would still fit inside the clear keyboard, I have no idea.

[Redgerr]

lol that would be sick, but i doubt we have the technology to do that, unless the keaboard was like 2ft deep lol

[Joe Martin]

Thats very easy to do the only problem would be getting the legs of the led to stick the the silly "ciruct board printed on cling film" thing they use in keyboards. Thinking about this in my head it would be very easy as theres plenty of room inside each keycap for an led, I'll just have to look out for a clear keyboard at a boot sale soon. P.S Sorry would upload the pictures of my lit keyboard but my card reader is playing up!

[Redgerr]

lol ya, i have a keabord that lights up from underneath.. i was just talking about when you press it it lights up :O now that i think about it it could aswell :O welp, lol thanks :)

[emuman4evr]

Lol, I had the exact same thought. Youd just put the LEDs under the two home keys (F&J for you typing illeterates).

[lefouduparadis]

If u add some spring inside the shrink tube it will help bending the way u want to