Maximum PC

So I have a Toshiba Satellite A215-S4817, nothing to look at really. But I got thinking, if I put blue LED's in the speakers and maybe some on the front of it, that would look pretty darn cool. So of course now I have to give it a shot. My main problem is powering them. How would I do this, I'm not too experienced with pulling power from a laptop, and I'm not sure what kind of voltage LED's use.

LED voltages vary slightly depending on type, power output and color.. usually about 1.5 - 5v or so.. you can use any pretty much voltage LED as you will use a current limiting resister to match it to your power source.

you want all the wiring internal right? best bet for power is probably tap the +5v line to the HD or optical.

give me a bit and Ill get some specifics on blue LEDs and what resister to use for +5v.

OK here are a couple examples. used radio shack.

LEDs are diodes (duh) and as such they need a current limiting resister in series with them to limit what they can draw as they will present themselves as a short circuit when forward biased. the resister will also drop the voltage.

keep this formula in mind:

Resistance (in ohms)= Voltage (in volts) divided by Current (in amps)

rectangular

3.2v, 20ma

so for 5v supply to get 20 ma

r = 5 / 0.02
resister= 250 ohms

or this high output

5v, 30 ma

resister might be too much of a voltage drop with 5v supply so tap into 12v (if the notebook has that voltage? hmm this one may not be suitable but Ill include it anyway)

r = 12 / 0.03
resister= 400 ohms

dont worry if you cant find an exact match to the resister, use the closest one higher in value. each LED should have its own limiting resister.

Thanks for all the advice. With that 5V LED, can't I just tap the HDD's 5V power circuit, with no need for resistors?

no, the LED will draw too much current and burn out. they will draw as much current as you let them. hence the current limiting resister.

you would need a 167 ohm resister to limit it to 30 ma, but that will also drop the voltage below 5v, so the LED may not fire up or will be dim.