Replacing Power LED on MicroVAX 3100/95 Power Supply

[Rob Jarratt]

That's fantastic Maciej! I often buy from Farnell, so there is no issue with
getting those parts myself. When I have accumulated enough wants to warrant
an order I will get them.

Regards

Rob

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> On Behalf Of Maciej W.
Rozycki
> via cctalk
> Sent: 13 May 2020 02:41
> To: Peter Coghlan <cctalk at beyondthepale.ie>; General Discussion: On-Topic
> and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Replacing Power LED on MicroVAX 3100/95 Power Supply
> 
> On Sun, 10 May 2020, Peter Coghlan via cctalk wrote:
> 
> > > I seem to remember people saying it is quite difficult to replace
> > > these, mainly because you can't get them out without breaking the
> > > holder. Is that right? Has anyone done this successfully and have any
tips?
> >
> > Is this the green LED in a H7821 PSU? I managed to get one out of the
> > holder with a bit of difficulty before I realised I could have left it
> > in place and the board can just about get past it when the plug at the
> > far end of the leads feeding it is plugged out from the board.
> 
>  If the holder is the same as with the H7826 PSU, then it's a generic part
still
> manufactured.  I bought whatever was the minimum quantity sold by Farnell
> when I broke one along with the LED a few years ago.  I still have a few
> available and I could post one set once I am back to my UK home (which is
> given the current situation regrettably not going to happen anytime soon).
> Otherwise you can order it yourself:
> <https://uk.farnell.com/broadcom-limited/hlmp-0103/mounting-clip-ring-
> 5mm-led/dp/8576378>.
> 
> > > Are there any recommendations for a replacement? If I remember
> > > correctly the LEDs used in those days were not as bright as modern
> > > ones and a modern one would end up being much brighter because of the
> higher voltage maybe?
> >
> > Maybe it would be possible to tack blobs of solder onto what's left of
> > the leads on the original and use them to attach fine leads, digging
> > out a small amount of the LED casing around the leads if necessary?
> 
>  I chose an LED matching the original colour, also of the case, as closely
as
> possible:
> <https://uk.farnell.com/vishay/tlhg5205/led-5mm-green/dp/1045482>, but
still
> haven't installed it (well, ahem, I need to fix the PSU itself first), so
I can't
> comment on the result.  I could post one of those along with the holder if
> needed (subject to the condition noted above).
> 
>  An LED will dim with use, so you may not be able to closely match a worn
one
> with a brand new part, but I suppose you don't actually need to be
> *that* exact with your equipment, do you?  Otherwise you can always put a
> resistor in series to dim the light produced.
> 
>  HTH,
> 
>   Maciej