Cascade Crew

Al Hasse · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:33 pm Post subject: Fun replacing radio backlights

Not long after painting the backs of the radio buttons red, two of the backlights went out. I've had the two to replace them for some time, but just got around to replacing them today, it involves quite a bit of disassembly. After soldering in replacements for the two culprits and testing, I have two more out that were OK before I started. Off to Radio Shack to get a couple more, I bought three and used them all, test and again find one more, if not two out that were OK before. Next trip, I'm getting enough to replace ALL of the remaining mini-bulbs. I guess that's what happens when you start working on 10-year old stock radios.

blue89 · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject:

Is there a reason you didn't replace them with a red batwing LED and a resistor?

Al Hasse · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:21 pm Post subject:

Buttons are already painted red on the back side, and space didn't really allow installing a resistor - besides I didn't fell like doing the math to figure the resistance (though it's not much). I think I actually broke loose a few cold solder joints using my butane iron, it vents out the side of the tip and pretty close to the circuit board.