Silent Optical Mouse (No red shining light)

So, i got a new computer and i use it as an HTPC and home server, it sits nicely in my room and it's up and running all day 24/7, even when i'm trying to sleep so any bright light will disturb my dreams.
The only light on the PC is the power light and the HDD light, the power LED isn't too bright, the same for the LCD monitor and the HDD led is in the back of the PC case, the keyboard leds can be easily turned off so it isn't an issue. Now the real problem comes with the optical mice included in the PC. My older mouse will get bored of being red-shiny all time and will turn off but this new mouse won't, it keeps shining bright red light all over the desktop all night long.
Something has to be done...
The goals to this instructables are:
Kill the red light.
Keep the mouse aestetics nice and unscratched, since it's brand new and good looking.
Same or better functionality.
No analogic/mechanical electronics involved (forget about putting a switch or anything like that).

Well, the goal was achieved very easily and with a very few tools.
I'll show you on the next step.

Step 1 Testing, testing, 1, 2...

Tools and materials:
-Small philips screwdrivers
-Soldering iron
-Some flux and solder wire
-Cutting pliers
-875nm Infrared LED

The specification sheet of various optical sensors for mouses say that it can work with no problem using infrared light, but not all sensors are the same so, first, you need to make sure that the particular one you have, can move on IR light, to test this, go get your IR TV remote and turn off the lights, (the HT, sat or audio remote will work too as long as it uses IR Light and has enough batteries) point it to the optical sensor of the mouse and press a key on the remote, keep it pressed and see if the mouse reacts to the invisible light, you can be aware of this because of the change in intensity of the LED inside the mouse or by the cursor moving on the computer screen.
If the mouse reacts fine, then go ahead and try the next step, if it doesn't do anything, you can't modify your mouse using this method.

Comments

[fgorenc]

I also made this mod. I used an IR LED from an old remote. The LED is dark puple color but it works beautifully. I also rewired the LED so its always on. Before i always noticed some delay if for example left the mouse alone for a couple of seconds so the led dimmed and then quickly moved it. Now there is no delay. It works like a gaming mouse. :)

[Dwargh]

Erm... sorry, but... why don't you use a simple laser mouse??? :-o
As it has no light emitting LED ;)
I don't get it...

[zim_256]

I already have this dell mouse and the design is the same as the keyboard and monitor, ¿Why would I buy a new mouse if this was at the time brand new and working fine? By the way, it's still working fine, if it failed i may repair it before attempting to replace it by a new one. Think about where this mouse will end if you simply replace it whenever it goes bad. One option, wasting space in my house, another, the trash, making more electronic garbage from a mouse that may be repaired in less than an hour.

[Dwargh]

Ah well, under those circumstances... you got the point! Well then... THATs kinda nice idea ;)

[thewizard42]

What program is that?

[Dr.Horrible]

It's called the "Tone Matrix". http://lab.andre-michelle.com/tonematrix

[thewizard42]

thanks :D

[lon92]

Nice, but hey, what about the power consumption and pointer accuracy?
I have a wireless battery operated mouse and it drain the battery quite fast...

[shekhar.suman09]

nice instructable..can it be posible that one can have an led for light purposes and the infrared led for the actual usage..or to paraphrase my question..is it possible to have two different leds in the same sockets. its just a brain fart

[zim_256]

In case you need to hook a LED "just for show", connect it to GND and through a 500OHM resistance to +5V.
You can't connect two on the same place.