It has been a while since my last post. I haven’t been idle, just busy working out a plan of attack.
Today I finally completed the initial prototype of my backlighting. Initial fielding will be in my pedestal, then I will redo the MIP. The first attempt seems promising, and as you can see, I’ve learned how to create PCB’s and solder SMD LEDs to them.
I tried two different type of SMD LEDs. The larger ones are 3528’s in warm white (ACTIVE and STANDBY), while the smaller ones are 0603’s in white. I think I prefer the 0603’s and while they are much smaller, they are easier to solder then the 3528s as they have protruding contacts that you can get to much easier with a soldering iron.
I hope to knock out the VHF and NAV panels this week, and I’ll post video as I get through them.
Here’s a video of the prototype