PICS: LED color/brightness mod for smartcord

[kpatz]

Here's how to change the LED colors and/or reduce the brightness of the LEDs in an Escort or Beltronics Smartcord.

The tools you'll need include a soldering iron, some solder, a desoldering tool (wick or a solder sucker), replacement 5mm LEDs if you're changing them, and a 2.2k to 4.7k 1/8 watt resistor to reduce the LED brightness.

The pictures show a hardwire Smartcord, but the procedure is the same for the lighter plug version.

1. Remove the screw(s) from the display housing. 1 screw for hardwire, 2 for lighter. If you're taking the lighter plug apart, be careful not to lose the plunger or spring. You'll need to peel the decal off, which is easier once you get it half off when opening the housing.

2. Carefully remove the circuit board from the housing. It might be stuck in there a bit, so you might have to gently pry it out.

Once you get it apart, and remove the board, it'll look like this:



To change the LED color, you'll have to unsolder the old LED and replace it with one of a different color. On mine, I changed the alert color to yellow and the power to red (I reused the original red alert LED for the power LED). Make sure to install the new LEDs with the correct polarity (cathode or - lead, which is the shorter lead, is away from the mute button). The LED itself has a flat spot on the flange on that side as well.



If the LEDs are too bright for your taste, replace the 470 ohm resistor R4 with a higher value. I installed a 4.7K in mine which dims the LEDs nicely. If you don't want them that dim, you can use a 1K or 2.2K.



Put the thing back together (don't forget the spring and plunger on the lighter plug version), put the decal back on and you're done!

[Nick]

Nice Guide! I just ordered my passport 8500 with the smartcord and a visor mount. Is the stock LED's that hard to see? If so I'll def. change them and replace using your guide!

Thanks =)

[kpatz]

Nice Guide! I just ordered my passport 8500 with the smartcord and a visor mount. Is the stock LED's that hard to see? If so I'll def. change them and replace using your guide!

Thanks =)

The stock LEDs are BRIGHT. I posted this mod to show how to change the colors if you like and how to dim them if you like.

[taylormade]

Thanks, I'm a give this a go. I have tape over it now. I have the blue one and it's still stupid bright at night.

I've done plenty of soldering, but never any de-soldering. Any tips?

[languy99]

use desoldering braid, you can find some a radio shack. It works the best.

[Nick]

Nice Guide! I just ordered my passport 8500 with the smartcord and a visor mount. Is the stock LED's that hard to see? If so I'll def. change them and replace using your guide!

Thanks =)

The stock LEDs are BRIGHT. I posted this mod to show how to change the colors if you like and how to dim them if you like.

Oh okay now I see, I just briefly skimmed the guide before. =)

[kpatz]

use desoldering braid, you can find some a radio shack. It works the best.

I've used desoldering braid, but it seems to be hit or miss. The braid absorbs heat, making it harder to melt the solder. Last time I was at RatShack I picked up the vacuum tool and used it for the first time today. Worked like a charm, and a lot faster than the braid too. Melt, pop, done.

[languy99]

technically you have to get a good brand, I only use chem-wik, anything else stinks and does not work right. http://www.chemtronics.com/products/...?r=1&m=2&id=23

[mswlogo]

Resisters are easy. Just gently pull one end at time with needle nose or wedge a small screw driver under it as you heat it. Just make sure it's flowing before you pry or pull.

If you have trouble and don't care about salvaging it cut it in half then remove each end. If you are lucky holes will be open. A solder sucker works best for me to clear the holes. But you can probably get it in with no special tools by using a spare resistor as a wick.

If your really lazy snip it off leaving the leads and solder new on onto the old leads. But every solderer I know has too much pride in his work to ever do that

[bigalinwv]

Nice Guide! I just ordered my passport 8500 with the smartcord and a visor mount. Is the stock LED's that hard to see? If so I'll def. change them and replace using your guide!

Thanks =)

The stock LEDs are BRIGHT. I posted this mod to show how to change the colors if you like and how to dim them if you like.

I think the basic green version is fine, but the BLUE led ones are BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT.