[Elecraft] K2 backlighting brightness

[Mike S]

At 06:28 PM 7/12/2006, ron_w wrote...
>would such a change give me more back light without compromising components in the Front panel board?(ie U3). I doubt there is a problem but it is always wise to ask ..........

If you're equipped to desolder the display, you could replace the backlight LEDs with brighter ones. I used two Everlight EL-94-22UBGC arrays, which are available in the US from Mouser for a couple of buck each ( http://www.mouser.com/catalog/626/41.pdf ). They fit perfectly, I think the originals from Elecraft are the Everlight EL-94-22VGC. The relative brightness of these two different LED arrays is 133 vs. 35 mcd @ 20 ma, a very significant difference in brightness. They do change the display from green to a blue-green color. 

I was then able to use a _larger_ R10 dropping resistor to get acceptable brightness (can't remember what I ended up with), so now I get the same current draw regardless of the day/night setting (with the night setting, the main display uses more power, but the meter LEDs use less).