Thread: LED indicator mounting rings

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I've probably tried every LED indicator mount made and none of them look clean enough for my taste. They either stick out to far, are too big around, or just plain look cheap. Most of the time I use the smaller 3mm LED's and just drill a small hole and glue them in from the back side. but recently this method was challenged by the area I wanted to mount the LED's not having enough space behind to get to it and glue them in. I ended up using 1/4" stainless set screws drilled and tapped into the area, then drilled the set screw from the back for the LED to go into it. This worked and looked better than I had imagined it would, so I'm sharing the method with everyone incase they have the need.

LED mount.jpg

Show an installed picture please

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Show an installed picture please

Yeah, I don't understand your drawing. The first drawing shows a blind hole, then the LED glued into a blind hole, and then the one on the right shows a large hex surrounding the green dot? What's the hex? Maybe a photo?

rodger - the hex is for the allen key and the hole isn't blind it is drilled thru into the bottom of the hex for the allen key hole - so once screwed in and allen key removed , you can see the end of the led
clear as mud ????

well that's the way I see it .

Set screws with LED installed
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Set screws looking at allen end
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LED's on
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Installed
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Installed on
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I use water clear LED's (they light up the color you desire) so they're less noticeable.

Duh! OK, I see it now. Sorry for the dumb question. I'd have never thought of that approach. Thanks for sharing.

I've done almost the same thing, used a 1/4 - 20 x 3/4" bolt and nut. I used a tiny lamp, don't remember the number,,, Spin the hex of the bolt head at an angle in the lathe and fasten tight with the nut. I used a silicone to hold the lamp.

I suppose you nut the back side. Or do you use threadlocker?
I wish I could turn you on to the LEDs we used in operation consoles at my last job. But then they were 24 V.

PS. Fine threads would be my choice.

BTW - very slick, thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

I suppose you nut the back side. Or do you use threadlocker?

I crimp the treads on the set screw slightly so they have resistance, I was afraid the thread lock compound would show. Can't get directly behind it to install a nut, had to fish the wires.

I've dealt with some similar electric doohickies.

Put the nut on first, thread it into the hole, then tighten the nut against the back of the mounting surface.

Your assembly also has the advantage that you could mount the bezel, then come back later and glue in the LED.

Neat install! Does the small led light used here require a resistor?

Yes, the LED's require a bias resistor, it is under the shrink tubing. I set the bias (resistor's value) to determine the brightness of the LED. On the dash you can see the red LED is brighter than the blue one, the red one is my parking brake warning light intentionally bright so I take the brake off, lol. Normally I set them on the dim side as they are just indicators and I don't want them distracting me.
I use a resistor substitution box to dial in their brightness, then install the desired resistor to set the bias. But you can also do it as outlined below if you do not have a substitution box.

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36 sedan, thanks so much for the drawings and info. They have been very helpful.

I'm glad I was able to help.