Xbox 360 Ring of Light LEDs

Step 3 Overview

Having the necessary knowledge can make this install go much more smoothly without as many mistakes.

Microsoft LEDs
The Xbox 360 LEDs are different from the ones that we are using. They are capable of producing two colors - red and green, which are used to display error messages along with player numbers. Each LED shares the same positive located on the counter-clockwise end. This instructable is tasked with soldering to only the positive and green negative terminals.

Positive/Negative Orientation
In the picture below, green negatives are more counter-clockwise and red negatives are more clockwise. There have been many different revisions to the wireless board, constantly changing the direction of the red and green negative terminals. Newer Xbox 360s have the layout shown in the picture below, while older 360s may have different orientations for each terminal (such as only player 2 has green and red switched).

Body Positioning
As the pieces we are working with are so small, shaky fingers can make this a frustrating task, which by itself makes the job impossible. I suggest laying down on your chest to to handle and solder the pieces. Getting too excited, running around, or becoming angry at the process will increase your heart rate and adrenaline, and make it much harder to complete this project. If you need to, feel free to take a 5 minute break to calm down and do the job correctly.

Either way, the SMD LEDs we will install will be facing towards the center on their side (for players 1-4 the LED is sideways, the power LED however points straight up). Installing the 0603 SMD LEDs sideways makes them brighter since the light is being emitted directly into the diffusion clip's (white clip) lenses.

Comments

[on a path to instruction]

"The Xbox 360 LEDs are different from the ones that we are using. They are capable of producing two colors - red and green, which are used to display error messages along with player numbers." Would it be possible to purchase similar LEDs? That way I can still be aware of errors that have occurred.

[QuackMasterDan]

I haven't been able to find the kind Microsoft uses, you can also solder on two different colored LEDs, just use a small length of wire to connect the other color (to the side of the primary color you will be using)

[Shadowfury]

The bi-color LEDs that Microsoft uses are right-angle 1204 SMD LEDs. You can purchase them, but they are exceptionally hard to come by, and you'll find that your color choices are extremely limited.

[TheMainMan]

Thanks for the size! In this case I've been able to find the ones I am looking for (Blue/Red) through DigiKey.ca. I knew that they had to exist. Now I can change the RoL on the Montreal Canadiens themed Xbox 360 for my dad.

As far as other colour choices, it was pretty much Amber/Green, Blue/Red, or the original Green/Red.

Thanks again!