Tip for fixing enclosure holes for LEDs when you drilled them a bit too large

[moid]

Hi everyone

This might be obvious to everyone, but I discovered today that in my great enthusiasm (and rush) to complete an Autowah that I had drilled the holes for the LEDs in the enclosure with a 5mm drilbit, and as my LEDs are also 5mm they tend to slip out of the holes Normally I drill a 4mm hole and then use a reamer to widen the hole a bit larger so that LEDs poke out of it but the friction keeps them in place because the hole is now about 4.5mm in diameter.

After some manly cursing, I realised I needed to pack the holes a little tighter in order to get the LEDs to stick in them. Here's the clever part! I took some electrical tape, cut a small section of it and placed it over the hole on the inside of the enclosure. I then stabbed a hole in the tape (I used some thin tweezers, feel free to apply screwdrivers/barbecue skewers/small twigs as your needs/circumstances allow), and pushed the LED into the hole so that the top of it poked out of the enclosure and it worked! One of the holes needed two layers of tape to cause enough friction to hold the LED, but there you have it - my quick tip for fixing overly large LED holes.

[ElectricDruid]

Sneaky! I'd probably have gone for one of those funny little plastic LED clips that everyone used to use once upon a time. They don't seem very popular these days.

[PRR]

Clear bathtub caulk. Or ShoeGoo/E6000.

[merlinb]

Not only but also

[Phend]

1. Led Bezel


2. 8mm Led

[Invertiguy]

I usually just use an LED Bezel, but if you're in a pinch you can usually find a rubber gromme at your local hardware store that'll do the trick

[Lino22]

1. Led Bezel


2. 8mm Led

This ⌃⌃⌃. I drill 3mm holes for LEDs, when something evil happens, i re-drill it to 6mm and use the steel socket.

[GibsonGM]

Bezels are good if you have them/can wait for them/want to go to the trouble.  Like Paul mentioned, clear silicone caulk works great to stick 'em in from behind.  Do a neat job, don't get it all over your enclosure paint...

Being a house painter, I have lots around so I've done that for years (usually make the hole a tad SMALLER than the full diameter of the LED and recess it a bit).  If you use a 'blob', you'd need to grab it with pliers to rip it out - pretty stable.

I also use it to cover exposed 'things' I don't want touching other things, or secure stuff inside enclosures (glue wires to the enclosure side or something).

[Lino22]

Or get a washer with LED matching inside diameter and the hole covering outside diameter and glue it on the top.

[ElectricDruid]

Like Paul mentioned, clear silicone caulk works great to stick 'em in from behind.

Watch out that it's the non-acetic silicone. Since you don't mention having had any problems, I guess it must be.
The place where I worked once had trouble because some waterproof enclosures had had the lids stuck down with silicone. It gave off fumes over time that ate the copper tracks off the PCBs. Directly on metal would be worse.

[GibsonGM]

Great point, Tom.  What I use is a clear silicone/latex mix. It doesn't fume. You can't paint straight-up silicone (the bathroom stuff)...it causes fisheyes.  I should have specified that.   "Painter's Caulk".   Made by DAP and Sherwin Williams and so on.
   
Just - don't get white, it's unsightly  

[Phend]

What ever you do I am sure you will do a good looking job.

[moid]

1. Led Bezel


2. 8mm Led

Damnit! why did I not think of make the hole bigger and use a bigger LED? I haven't got any 8mm ones, but I have some monster 10mm LEDs! I'll remember that for next time

[davent]

These are the style of bezel I prefer, have them in 3, 5 & 10mm sizes and a few colors. Very low profile, tough and look great.

https://www.mouser.ca/images/vcc/images/ITP_VCC_SMB_200_RTP.JPG



https://www.mouser.ca/ProductDetail/VCC/SMB_200_RTP?qs=%2FvU7ivDUWU9ynFvK22x9KQ%3D%3D

[bluebunny]

I had drilled the holes for the LEDs in the enclosure with a 5mm drilbit, and as my LEDs are also 5mm they tend to slip out of the holes

A spot of superglue?  (My go-to when friction isn't enough.)

[moid]

I like to make sure all my components can be removed from the enclosure if required (not that I ever have to repair any of my builds; no, that never happens at all - I just like to consider the possibility )

[deadastronaut]

I had drilled the holes for the LEDs in the enclosure with a 5mm drilbit, and as my LEDs are also 5mm they tend to slip out of the holes

A spot of superglue?  (My go-to when friction isn't enough.)

yup, me too, 3mm hole , superglue around the inner hole, poke the led in, done....its never coming out. 

[Chillums]

Yeah I'd do the same as well but I use the type of super glue which reacts to UV light and dries instantly... it works great.  I use it on everything!! I even fixed one of the men on my foosball table... was shocked that it worked really