Exitement about LED's ! ...

[Melanhead]

Well I've been doing a few mods on Friends' pedals and I find most seem to be just as excited about the new LED as the sound of the pedal

The pedal has to sound better with a new LED ... kinda like the Jedi Mind trick ...

Now i know why Keeley uses blue LEDs

I've been using 5mm Violet ( Purple ) and 3mm Bright Green and as I watch them turn the pedal on the smile on their faces tells it all!

A friend of mine just got an AnalogMan Silver Mod done and still wanted me to put a Violet LED in ... of course I said yes as I wanted to take a peek inside ... your secret's safe with me Mike

[LP Hovercraft]

Every single customization job someone has me do involves that silly blue LED addition.  Everybody requests it.  Some are even annoyingly bright with just a 4.7K resistor.   There was even a girl once who made me put a pink indicator in her Uglyface.  (mind totally out of the gutter, here BTW)    Have you tried the violets in the clipping block of a Tube Screamer?  I recently put a couple of bright greens in one of mine and it sounded incredible.  I'd be curious to know if those work well, too.

[birt]

i would put in as many pink leds as i can for other people. i'll tell them i can't find blue ones

[LP Hovercraft]

I did that for Rip Glitter once.  He tried to back his primered Chevy Nova over my head.

[markr04]

I've been using 5mm Violet ( Purple ) and 3mm Bright Green and as I watch them turn the pedal on the smile on their faces tells it all!

A friend of mine just got an AnalogMan Silver Mod done and still wanted me to put a Violet LED in ... of course I said yes as I wanted to take a peek inside ... your secret's safe with me Mike

I didn't think anyone actually used those as indicators. Those violet/purple LEDs are harmful and are not used as indicators for a very good reason. The big warnings on the datasheets for them are there to tell you: "Emits harmful UV radiation. Protect eyes and skin during operation."

I wouldn't be concerned about my skin from a single LED light. But we're supposed to look at indicator lights... with our sensitive little eyes. You don't want them to be "tanned".

The UV radation emitted from them is non-directional. It doesn't matter if you look at it directly or from a guitar-playing angle, it kills eyesight either way. Protect your and your friends' eyesight by not using them.

[Melanhead]

You've got to be kidding, or not .... ...

They are just violet in color, ( actually look pretty blue ... ) not Ultra Violet light as far as I know ... the ones from Smallbear...

Enlighten me please ... ( no pun intended ... )

If so, I'll switch to green

[Melanhead]

Have you tried the violets in the clipping block of a Tube Screamer?  I recently put a couple of bright greens in one of mine and it sounded incredible.  I'd be curious to know if those work well, too.

Nope, usually just leave 'em stock ... I'll try it on my SD-1 someday...

[markr04]

I wouldn't joke about that... or if I did, it would be very obvious.

It's not the color itself that's harmful, it's the wavelength that "creates" the color you see (~405nm, if my memory is correct) which is harmful. In other words, there is no such thing as non-UV purple/violet LEDs. This isn't a "white" light filtered thru a purple gel.

You can get a pink one that might come close to purple, or a blue one that might come close. But the actual purple/violet LEDs are not for use as indicators, or for any use that requires direct sight of one. They're typically used as lightweight light sources for forensic police work ("flashlights" for blood detection), etc. That's why your pedals may be the only ones you'll ever see with "purple" indicator LEDs.

Ask Small Bear for the datasheet for your LEDs. He may not know what he's selling. But if he bought them as "purple/violet" or is selling them as such, they are UV... or mislabelled colors that are close to UV wavelength (~420nm is safe, but not really purple or violet either). None of my local retailers will stock them due to liability. Mouser does carry them, but Mouser also provides datasheets with the warnings.

[RJ]

Holy crap, I didn't know that about those purple leds!  Thanks for the headsup!  I've been monkeying around with those lights for months in my apartment thinking they looked neato... *frantically unplugs all the knight rider lights circuits*

-Ryan

[markr04]

Now then... I don't want to create panic! Look at the datasheets for your purple LEDs. Unfortunately, LEDs aren't usually marked with a part number. But if you bought them from Small Bear, ask for it. His site is down while he's gone, so I can't look at his LEDs.

If your LEDs are actually purple/violet, they are UV. If it's definitely blue with a touch of purple to it, it may be safe. But then you wouldn't be calling it violet or purple either.

Here are datasheets for two different violet LEDs, and one blue.

This one emits a 380nm wavelength:
http://www.lumex.com/images/pdf/SSL-LX5093SUVC.pdf

This one 410nm:
http://www.lumex.com/images/pdf/SSL-LX5093UVC.pdf

If you look in the upper left, you'll find a box with the warning. In the lower  left, you'll see the wavelength. The 380nm LED is a "super" UV LED. That wavelength ought to be a pretty, brighter purple/violet to look at, but also the worse of the two for human eyesight. The 410nm ought to be a bit darker and much bluer, but still not safe as an indicator lamp.

Here's a blue LED, 470nm:
http://www.lumex.com/images/pdf/SML-LX0805USBC-TR.pdf

That wavelength is above the UV range. Blue is around ~470. Green is around ~530nm, yellow around ~580, red around ~650nm+. Longer than 700nm, light becomes invisible and called infrared... then radio waves... then... If you care to know...

[Melanhead]

Thanks for the info! ... I'll ask Steve about 'em when he's back ... I only have 'em in about 5 pedals and it would be easy enough to do a "re-call" if I had to .... Damn! ...

[lovekraft0]

What about the phosphor violets, like the ETG 5AX420-15? It's 420nm, is that too low?

[markr04]

420nm is at the crossover point between UV and "safe". If one must use a violet/purple LED, I suppose this would be the one to use. I'd like to see the actual color of it... how blue is it?

[Melanhead]

well when I bought 'em I thought they'd be more purple ... they look dark blue to me ... I have an e-mail into Steve so I guess we'll know when he gets back.

[markr04]

well when I bought 'em I thought they'd be more purple ... they look dark blue to me ... I have an e-mail into Steve so I guess we'll know when he gets back.

I wasn't thinking clearly last night when I said 420nm was the crossover. Actually, wavelengths greater than 410nm are safe. So if you have 420nm LEDs, you're safe. But I'd imagine they're not very purple, like you said.

[Melanhead]

Thanks ... even if what I have are dark blue 420nm the info has been quite interesting read and topic ....

I'm anxious to hear from Steve ...

[vanhansen]

This is interesting.  I never knew this myself.  Red is my favorite color so I've been sticking with those anyway.

[KORGULL]

I bought a purple LED from Small Bear several months ago. It makes my old blacklight posters glow just like a regular blacklight would.
I was a little worried about it hurting my already damaged eyesight and decided to just put it aside. I intended to find out more about it, but never got around to it. I'm glad this topic came up.
I also wonder if all that time basking in the glow of blacklights while listening to Pink Floyd as a teenager has had a detrimental effect on my vision. :wink:  :roll:   :? :oops:  

[Melanhead]

Hmmm interesting ....

Steve replied, while he was still on vacation ... now that's customer service!

He's contacting the manufacturer about the wavelength they emmit ...