Homemade keyboard backlight or how to work at the keyboard in the dark. Homemade keyboard backlight Do-it-yourself USB keyboard backlight

In some cases, there is a need to provide additional illumination of the working surface. Keyboards with backlit keys can be purchased, but if such an option is suitable.

If the price of such devices does not correspond to the user’s capabilities, it is enough to reserve time and do everything yourself. For this procedure you will need some knowledge of working with a soldering iron and connecting a diode strip.

Why do you need a backlight on your keyboard?

A backlit computer keyboard is essential for people working at night. Night owls often wonder how to achieve keyboard illumination if touch typing has not been mastered. Also, for some operations it is necessary to look at the keys, which is difficult in poor-quality lighting.

Additional illumination is necessary for:

IT employees;
gamers;
night shift dispatchers;
technical personnel testing equipment on site with the keyboard connected to the device.

Lighting the work surface is not only a beautiful fantasy for aesthetic pleasure. The need to see the necessary keys in the complete or partial absence of light requires such a measure. Taking care of proper operation can save time and provide an acceptable option for interacting with devices.

In some cases, the required keyboard option is difficult to obtain, or is not possible at all. Taking an option similar in configuration, it is enough to simply make backlit keys in it. This procedure will require some soldering skills and knowledge of basic principles of radio electronics.

Required Tools

Backlit Keyboard Reviews demonstrates the different options for backlit keyboards:

standard rectangular;
gaming;
laptop keyboard;
wireless analogues.

To repeat a similar experience, illuminating standard options without additional special effects, you need certain tools and materials:

LED strip (up to 1 m);
soldering iron;
batteries (in the case of a built-in backlight recharge option);
network cable (about 3 m);
adapter 2-4-pin to 1-6-pin;
Screwdriver Set;
insulating tape;
switch;
stationery knife;
glue (for some options with a change in the key panel);
tester for the final check of the functionality of all circuit elements.

Almost all the required materials can be purchased at any specialized store. This also applies to LED strips for Multi-color lighting systems.

Backlight power supply

Any illumination option requires a power source. This task remains the No. 1 solution for everyone who wants to create additional special effects on the work surface. It is worth considering the resource consumption of the diode element, since most of the recommendations boil down to introducing a connection to the computer’s power supply.

A factory-produced backlit gaming keyboard for a computer is built precisely on this principle. Since all the elements are already enabled, they directly take resource from the internal elements of the computer. This process requires a lot of resources.

Electronics engineers suggest making a separate output for connection to the system filter socket connector, or installing an additional power supply to relieve the load on the main one. There is some truth to this, as excessive power consumption wears out your computer.

Advantages of using diode strip

Backlit mechanical keyboards are all built on the principle of using an LED strip. This approach was preceded by numerous not entirely successful experiments. The choice of diodes was based on the following requirements:

compact location inside the keyboard box;
light weight;
ease of installation;
resource consumption;
convenience when replacing a worn-out element;
light source brightness requirements;
resistance to multiple mechanical damage;
possibility of adding additional colors.

The last point is important for the built-in Multi-color system. Gaming keyboards or laptop panels require contrasting backlighting. This is due to the orientation requirements of the gamer or tester during the work process. Areas painted in different light colors allow you to quickly find your way and prevent confusion. In addition, LEDs interact harmlessly with computer or laptop systems.

Is any keyboard suitable for transformation?

Any three-dimensional keyboard can be suitable for transformation. Backlit gaming keyboards of various configurations all have a certain height. Backlighting that is not based on the principle of using LEDs is possible only in factory conditions. Therefore, for an experimental project it is necessary to take a device of a certain height.

For the first experiments on installing a light element, experienced electronics engineers recommend practicing on mechanical keyboards from the following companies:

Assus;
Genius;
A4tech;
Gmej;

These keyboards have sufficient height and simplicity of design. They have a certain margin of safety, since they are designed for the average user.

You can use them to practice many different techniques, including completely replacing the key area with a similar option with transparent inserts. In addition, when several options are compiled into one for decorative effects, their standard configuration allows for similar manipulations.

A backlit wireless keyboard has its own specifics related to the signal element. When adding this option to the LED component, it is necessary to perform the following manipulations:

make accurate measurements of all keyboard parameters;
distribute all mounting points of the LED strip on the diagram at a sufficient distance from the pulse supply boards;
choose a reliable place to mount the battery;
decide how the backlight will turn off/on;
make some changes to the housing for the button output.

The main goal of this process is to install the ribbon without damaging the key functions of the keyboard. When dismantling the key panel, you must remember the main rule, which applies to all other keyboard options:

If the rubber backing is peeled off, it will be impossible to reinstall it properly. There is an additional option for mounting on a transparent backing sheet, however, in some sensitive models this will lead to a complete lack of response of the key when pressed.

Where can I get an LED strip?

To solve the question of how to turn on the keyboard backlight, you need to have an LED strip. The standard version of the tape is sold in all construction stores and markets. If the conditions for developing a project for installing lighting require any special properties or requirements, analogues can be found through Internet sources.

The standard tape consists of:

elastic polymer tape;
a row of series-connected diodes;
output points of power connection elements;
separation zone marked with special markings.

There are some differences in the tape options for the Multi-color system. Diode pairs of different colors are connected in parallel at some distance opposite each other. Otherwise, all soldering (connection) points of twisted pair wires have a standard output.

According to the markings, one output point has 5 volts, the other 12 volts. This must be taken into account when connecting the backlight circuit to the connectors. In addition, when connecting the blade through a charger, it is necessary to take into account that the charger must be a transformer, and not a pulse one.

Enable keyboard backlight on Asus laptop

One of the frequently asked questions is how to turn on the keyboard backlight on an Asus laptop. Because models of this type have a very moderate glow. Some users are not satisfied with the quality of the luminescent element. However, the machine itself is satisfactory in terms of its parameters and quality of work.

To install an LED element, you should immediately decide on the type of lighting. For beginner electronics engineers, it is recommended to do backlighting along the contour. Because this will minimize possible damage to performance due to inept installation.

The rules for installing diode strip require:

disconnect the battery;
remove all fasteners (some are recessed and hardly noticeable at first glance);
carefully remove the hard drive;
remove DVD rom;
release the key panel from the fasteners;
disconnect the display cable suitable for the motherboard;
disconnect the cable;
remove WLAN.

The LED strip itself must be installed along the free contour of the edge of the keyboard. In this case, take into account the mounting location of the battery or any battery that is flat enough to be mounted in the case. One of the inconvenient aspects of such a process will be the need for similar dismantling when replacing the power element.

No. 1 The easiest way to backlight

Attach the tape to the bottom of the monitor or the inside of the keyboard drawer. This is one of the simplest options for backlit keyboard. This method is suitable for those who are little familiar with the principles of electronics. The installed bracket has a simple connection type:

a twisted pair (similar to an Internet connection wire) is soldered to the output points of the internal connection of the diodes;
connection via a molex power connector to the hard drive;
the yellow-marked connector is designed for 12 volts;
The connector with red markings is reserved for 5 volts.

Installation can be done inside the tabletop, which provides bright illumination of the surface of the keys. In this version, you can attach a switch under the surface of the table cover, with which you can remove the lighting during the daytime.

Switch fastening

In various systems, an important point is to turn off the backlight when it is not needed. If we are talking about standard mechanical keyboards, then everything is simple. An additional groove is cut into the body, where the shutdown button is located. Accuracy and aesthetics depend on your efforts.

In models with a more complex structure, this approach does not have its functional meaning. Since damage to the integrity of the housing can affect the operation of the entire device. On laptops this option is basically not acceptable.

Factory backlit keyboards have special keys to turn off the backlight. Such keys have an additional LED located on the body, which does not light if the backlight is turned off. This principle can be applied to turn off a homemade keyboard backlight LED circuit on a laptop.

Keyboard key illumination principle

Light from the diodes reaches the surface in two ways:

through the gaps between the keys;
through the transparent parts of the keys.

You need to pay attention to this when working with the keyboard. LED lighting is considered the most optimal and correct. The light source produces an even beam that has a clear dispersion radius. This option is especially noticeable if the symbols themselves glow.

On standard keyboards, all buttons are not transparent. The situation can be corrected by cutting out the area of the working surface and replacing it with a more progressive one. When performing such manipulations, it is worth considering the moment of coincidence of the location of the button area.

Also, such a process requires care when processing joints and adjusting to the hole area. A new panel with keys is glued in using specialized glue. It is necessary to carefully monitor the joints so that the structure fits tightly. In any embodiment, the light supplied by the diode is reflected from the hands, creating additional illumination of the panel.

No. 2 Installation of LEDs in the body of the 760 keyboard

Before installing the backlight strips, you need to draw up a diagram of all the exit points of additional elements. This applies to:

switch;
wires to the power supply;
connection of the console system for Multi-color.

Thus, the diagram must include:

exit points for additional wires;
location of rubber key pads;
internal fastening points for all wiring and connections.

Since all the planks are connected into one assembly, a well-thought-out plan for laying this part is needed. So that its volume does not interfere with the installation of the panel with keys.

Do-it-yourself keyboard backlighting requires some care. When installing the tape, the first task is to dismantle the housing. All fastening elements must be carefully disconnected, paying attention to the possible outputs of the various connectors.

In the case of a solid key panel, it makes sense to melt holes for the output of the diodes with a soldering iron. For such a manipulation it will be necessary to accurately calculate the location of the diode along the guide and the places where the keys are attached. It makes sense to attach the wire connected to the beginning of the circuit with adhesive tape to the main wires of the keyboard for greater ease of use.

A connector adapter for the power wires of the diode strip is mounted on the wire. We connect it directly to the power source. The button to turn off the backlight can be inserted into the place where the boards exit by breaking out one strip.

Multi-color rainbow backlighting of a regular keyboard

The multicolor lighting system is based on the use of RGB diode strip. For this option you will need:

keyboard with transparent key symbols;
RGB diode strip;
RGB controller designed for 12v;
power unit;
mode switching remote control;
power connector;
signal reception sensor.

The ribbons are unraveled into the required lengths. They are attached in a clearly defined place under the keys. They are connected in parallel and connected to the controller. Additionally, the remote control signal reception sensor is displayed. A groove is cut into the housing to remove the power connector. When the final preparations are made, the body is assembled.

When typing in the dark, be it text or correspondence on the Internet, you always end up not understanding what. I do not have touch typing. So I'm constantly looking for a way to backlight the keyboard. My previous designs were worn out by time and helped by a small child.
The design will have height adjustment. There is no need to make it particularly high.
Everything is made from available, not rare parts.
For production we will need:

- axis from the printer;
- halogen lamp;
- a piece of LED strip;
- two-wire wire;
- pin;
- single-core copper wire;
- plywood or chipboard;
- epoxy adhesive;
- drill, soldering iron, self-tapping screws.

Making a backlight for a computer keyboard

To begin with, the printer axis needs to be freed from the rollers. They fit very tightly, but if you help with a hammer, they come off quickly. As a last resort, you can cut it down. The main thing is not to damage the axle coating; it will quickly become covered with rust.

On a single-core copper wire, mine is a 2.5 square mm mounting wire, we make a ring for a 4 mm screw. Set aside at this stage.

I took the power cord about one and a half meters. A large cross-section of wire is not needed, the current is small. I have a double wire with a core diameter of about 0.25 square mm. I applied what I have, maybe thinner. The backlight is powered by 12 volts taken from the computer power supply. The wire is simply inserted into any hole in the system unit and connected to the black and yellow wires. You can also power it from an external power supply of 12 volts and current for a lamp or LED strip.

The reflector of this design is very convenient. We take a burnt, or maybe a new, halogen lamp and carefully knock out the glass. Be careful, the glass may bounce into your eye, follow safety precautions.

Cut a piece of 40-60 mm from a single-core wire. We make a bend at the end and insert it into the reflector. We also insert the power cord there. Fill all this with epoxy glue. Once frozen, the wires sit securely and will not fall out.

For aesthetics, we will make a twisted wire. I will have it hanging around the lighting stand. During the manufacture of the structure, another axis was taken from the printer; it had diameter transitions. Cutting them off exposes the axle to rust. So I took another axis.
To make a twisted wire, you need to wrap the wire tightly around the axle and heat it up. I did this with an industrial hair dryer, you can heat it over a gas stove. Set aside the wire to cool.

We glue a piece of LED strip into the reflector. We protect the wires and solder them. The double-sided tape turned out to be bad, so I glued the tape with super glue. Holds up great.

I make the basis of the structure from various chipboard scraps. It can be made from anything: plywood, OSB, etc. I make it in a round shape. I cut with a crown on plywood and drywall.
The middle ring is in the shape of a donut; a switch and some wires will be installed there.

I processed the base blanks and twisted them together. At the end of the middle piece, a donut, I made a slot for a switch.

I made a hole in the top circle; the power wire will be inserted there later. Between the lower and middle circles I drilled a hole for the wire. Drilled at an angle.

I was thinking about painting. I decided to paint it matte black.

I attach the power switch with epoxy glue. You don’t need a lot of it, if the glue is good, it will stick with a small amount.

While the glue hardens, we proceed to assembling the reflector. I drill a through hole in the clothespin. Using a 4 mm screw, we twist everything into one, not forgetting about the grower.

We pass the wire into the hole, having first screwed the wire onto the axle. We strip the wire insulation and cut one wire. We solder the resulting wire break to the switch. Let's isolate.

We twist the base into a single structure.

We test by temporarily connecting it to a 12 volt battery.
It turned out great. Adjustable in height to fully illuminate the keyboard.

This is such an excellent backlight for the keyboard. There is more than enough light. In general, I advise you not to throw away such reflectors, which are very useful after they burn out.

One warm winter evening, while working at the computer, I noticed that when I looked from the screen to the keyboard, I had to peer for a very long time at the letters, which were barely visible. And then an idea came to my mind - to make a backlight for the keyboard to ensure comfortable use of the PC in the evening and at night :)

Having heard a lot about LED strips, I ordered just such a package from China.

Even before placing the order, I decided that The LED strip should be powered directly from the computer, so I chose LED strip SMD5050 with operating voltage 12 Volt.

Having received the parcel, I immediately got to work. Gluing the tape to the table and connecting it to the computer is not a tricky thing :)

This is how the LED backlight looked and worked in its original version.

Installed in the backlight electrical circuit limit switch, which supplies power onto the LED strip when extending the tabletop, and de-energizes it when the keyboard is not in use.

After a couple of evenings with such lighting, it became obvious that the tape is too bright so I decided to collect circuit for adjusting brightness tapes. After playing with setting the variable resistor I got this result.

It doesn’t hurt your eyes, you can see the letters, and it doesn’t disturb the sleep of others :)

All the parts of the brightness control fit into a Kinder Surprise egg, which was successfully hidden inside the system unit (closer to the computer power supply).

A few words about backlight power consumption

Let's look at the characteristics of this LED strip

The main thing among all these parameters is the power consumption of LEDs. Total 7 watts per 1 meter of LED strip! For any modern computer power supply with a power of 350 Watts and above, this is an insignificant load. In addition, as the brightness of the LEDs decreases, the power consumption also decreases.

Satisfied with the resulting keyboard backlight, after a while I decided to make LED lighting for the entire table. I used the same LED strip, which I glued to the top shelf of the table.

After several days of use, I noticed that the tape began to peel off, because... When heated, the original adhesive layer stops holding (at full brightness the LEDs get quite hot). The problem was solved using double sided tape 🙂

For this illumination I made a remote module with brightness control, and placed it on the left edge of the table.

How make your own device for adjusting the brightness of the LED strip, told in :)

The regulator module was secured with double-sided tape. Holds up great!

When the brightness is reduced to a minimum, the situation looks like this:

The power supply for the backlight was also the computer's power supply. The tape is connected via a connector for a floppy disk drive (FDD), which is present in all modern power supply models, but is used extremely rarely :)

The next day I glued a decorative strip in front of the tape so that the light would not shine directly into the eyes

P.S.
The remaining LED strip was used to make lighting for the kitchen, but that’s a completely different story... :)

The peculiarity of this design is its ease of manufacture, low cost and easy availability of materials, practicality and inconspicuousness. The backlight unit is attached to the bottom of the tabletop and, when turned on, illuminates the keyboard and the area around the keyboard very well. The computer will act as a power source for the backlight unit, because at the time when you need to illuminate the keyboard, it is usually always on.

Making a backlight for a keyboard powered by computer ports

To begin with, a little about the materials and parts that were used in the manufacture of the structure. LEDs were used as light sources due to their reliability and low consumption. I used eight bright bluish LEDs with a diameter of 3.5 mm: I just went to a store that sold radio components and bought the ones I liked. I chose based on the following principles: the color of the glow (almost all the colors of the rainbow are available), the minimum possible dimensions and supply voltage (you need LEDs that burn reliably at a voltage of approximately 3 volts, which, by the way, are the majority; use copies powered by 12 volts in this design, I think, is inappropriate). Unfortunately, I cannot name the brand of LEDs, because... Even the sellers themselves don’t know it; the quantity (8 pieces) will be explained below. Tests have shown that the selected LEDs glow very brightly at a voltage of 3 - 3.5 volts, the lower glow threshold is about 1.8 volts. It is very important to purchase LEDs all at once in one place: this will give at least some guarantee that they will all glow with the same brightness at the same current consumption.

You also need to purchase any switch (toggle switch) for two positions - “on” and “off”; I also chose it based on the minimum dimensions. A section of electrical box for wiring installation was used as a housing for the backlight unit. It can be purchased at an electrical goods store for almost pennies. The cross-section (height*width) of the box was chosen to be the smallest possible, look at several options and take the one that suits you. By the way, here you can use your imagination and use something else that is suitable in size as a case. I settled on an electrical box, due to its availability; I didn’t want to invent anything special: anyway, the lighting housing itself under the tabletop would be practically invisible.

Well, now about the most important thing: the power supply of this design. As mentioned above, the backlight will be powered from one of the computer’s peripheral ports. In principle, there may be several options, but it is better to settle on two: USB or IEEE1394 (FireWire), these ports are found in almost any computer. It all depends on which of them are less in demand on your PC. For example, almost all of my USB ports are occupied, but I have a couple of free FireWires, so I chose IEEE1394 for power supply (see diagram above). The output voltage of the computer FireWire port is 12 volts, hence the number of LEDs used. By connecting 4 pieces in series (with a voltage on each of about 3 volts), we get the coveted 12 volts. For more uniform illumination of the “near-keyboard” space, it is desirable to increase the number of LEDs, which is why we got the number 8 (we connect in parallel two consecutive groups of four LEDs each). We include a resistor in the circuit of each serial chain (resistances R1 and R2 in the diagram - in my case 510 Ohm 0.125 W). Resistors limit the current flowing through the LEDs (in my case the current is 5mA for one serial chain, the total consumption of the design is 10mA, which , in terms of power, gives us 0.12 W), by changing their resistance you can select the required brightness of the glow.

The backlight circuit for a keyboard powered by a USB port will look slightly different:

The number of LEDs, in this case, can be any (the main thing is not to overload the USB port): it is important to connect a current-limiting resistor in series with each of them. By changing the resistance of the resistors, you can obtain the required brightness of the glow. At these ratings, the current through the LEDs, as in the first case, is limited to 5mA, resulting in a total consumption of 40mA or 0.2 W in terms of power.

The resistance values in the first and second diagrams are approximate; these were obtained for the LEDs I have, at a brightness that is comfortable, again, for me: you may get slightly different values. It is best, during setup, to connect the assembled circuit to an external voltage source of 5 or 12 volts, respectively, check the functionality and, if necessary, adjust the brightness of the LEDs, only then connect the device to your computer.

You can get a general idea of the design of the backlight unit by looking at the photographs (click on the photo - a larger image will open in a new window). To connect to a computer, standard cables are used (in the first case, an IEEE1394 6pin - 6pin cable, photo above; in the second, USB A - USB A. On one side, the connectors are cut off, the wires are cut to the required length and soldered to the required points in the circuit. Unused wires must be carefully insulate relative to each other and from the cable shielding.

In principle, as you can see, there is nothing complicated in the design and installation, just be patient and careful. I would like to remind you once again: we must turn it on for the first time from an external power source, check it, adjust the brightness, etc. We screw the assembled structure with self-tapping screws to the bottom of the tabletop: for better light reflection, the surface in this place can be covered with sticky aluminum foil. After that, we connect the structure to the computer and use it with pleasure.

In some cases, there is a need to provide additional illumination of the working surface. Keyboards with backlit keys can be purchased, but if such an option is suitable. If the price of such devices does not correspond to the user’s capabilities, it is enough to reserve time and do everything yourself. For this procedure you will need some knowledge of working with a soldering iron and connecting a diode strip.

Why do you need a backlight on your keyboard?

Additional illumination is necessary for:

IT employees;
gamers;
night shift dispatchers;
technical personnel testing equipment on site with the keyboard connected to the device.

Required Tools

Backlit Keyboard Reviews demonstrates the different options for backlit keyboards:

standard rectangular;
gaming;
laptop keyboard;
wireless analogues.

To repeat a similar experience, illuminating standard options without additional special effects, you need certain tools and materials:

LED strip (up to 1 m);
soldering iron;
batteries (in the case of a built-in backlight recharge option);
network cable (about 3 m);
adapter 2-4-pin to 1-6-pin;
Screwdriver Set;
insulating tape;
switch;
stationery knife;
glue (for some options with a change in the key panel);
tester for the final check of the functionality of all circuit elements.

Almost all the required materials can be purchased at any specialized store. This also applies to LED strips for Multi-color lighting systems.

Backlight power supply

Advantages of using diode strip

compact location inside the keyboard box;
light weight;
ease of installation;
resource consumption;
convenience when replacing a worn-out element;
light source brightness requirements;
resistance to multiple mechanical damage;
possibility of adding additional colors.

Is any keyboard suitable for transformation?

For the first experiments on installing a light element, experienced electronics engineers recommend practicing on mechanical keyboards from the following companies:

Assus;
Genius;
A4tech;
Gmej;

These keyboards have sufficient height and simplicity of design. They have a certain margin of safety, since they are designed for the average user.

Wireless backlit keyboard

A backlit wireless keyboard has its own specifics related to the signal element. When adding this option to the LED component, it is necessary to perform the following manipulations:

make accurate measurements of all keyboard parameters;
distribute all mounting points of the LED strip on the diagram at a sufficient distance from the pulse supply boards;
choose a reliable place to mount the battery;
decide how the backlight will turn off/on;
make some changes to the housing for the button output.

Where can I get an LED strip?

The standard tape consists of:

elastic polymer tape;
a row of series-connected diodes;
output points of power connection elements;
separation zone marked with special markings.

Enable keyboard backlight on Asus laptop

The rules for installing diode strip require:

disconnect the battery;
remove all fasteners (some are recessed and hardly noticeable at first glance);
carefully remove the hard drive;
remove DVD rom;
release the key panel from the fasteners;
disconnect the display cable suitable for the motherboard;
disconnect the cable;
remove WLAN.

No. 1 The easiest way to backlight

a twisted pair (similar to an Internet connection wire) is soldered to the output points of the internal connection of the diodes;
connection via a molex power connector to the hard drive;
the yellow-marked connector is designed for 12 volts;
The connector with red markings is reserved for 5 volts.

Switch fastening

Keyboard key illumination principle

Light from the diodes reaches the surface in two ways:

through the gaps between the keys;
through the transparent parts of the keys.

No. 2 Installation of LEDs in the body of the 760 keyboard

Before installing the backlight strips, you need to draw up a diagram of all the exit points of additional elements. This applies to:

switch;
wires to the power supply;
connection of the console system for Multi-color.

Thus, the diagram must include:

exit points for additional wires;
location of rubber key pads;
internal fastening points for all wiring and connections.

Since all the planks are connected into one assembly, a well-thought-out plan for laying this part is needed. So that its volume does not interfere with the installation of the panel with keys.

Multi-color rainbow backlighting of a regular keyboard

The multicolor lighting system is based on the use of RGB diode strip. For this option you will need:

keyboard with transparent key symbols;
RGB diode strip;
RGB controller designed for 12v;
power unit;
mode switching remote control;
power connector;
signal reception sensor.

koffkindom.ru

How to turn on the keyboard backlight on Asus, Lenovo, Hp, Acer laptops, do-it-yourself backlighting

Keyboard backlighting is one of the necessary functions that allows you to work with a laptop in rooms with low lighting levels or at night. This option has long moved from the category of “whims” and is increasingly taken into account when choosing a device.

How to turn on the backlight

Not all laptop owners know about the presence/absence of backlit keys on their laptops. To check, you must first pay attention to the top panel of the keyboard. Many manufacturers add special functions to the optional “F1-F12” row, indicating them with corresponding icons.

If there are no icons, then you can try the “Fn+F1-F12” button combination. It is worth considering the fact that in addition to backlighting, row “F” can also cause sleep mode or, for example, turn off the screen. If you mistakenly called the wrong action, just repeat the last combination and everything will return to its place.

This option can also be accessed by the keyboard shortcut “Fn+space (space)” or “Fn+right arrow”.

Turning the feature on or off depending on your model

Different brands and models of laptops differ in how they turn on the backlight, if any.

Asus. While holding down the Fn key, press F4 at the same time and enjoy the flickering letters on the working panel. To disable it, type the combination “Fn+F3”.

Lenovo. On the “space” key of the keyboard of laptops from this manufacturer, there is often a flashlight painted on it, which gives a hint. Pressing “Fn + Space” at the same time activates the function.

Acer. The “Fn+F5” button combination controls turning the keyboard backlight on and off.

DIY lighting

If the manufacturer of your device does not provide backlighting, then there are two options for solving the problem - order a ready-made one or make it yourself.

Memory card reader - what is it?

If for a desktop computer keyboard you can get creative and design both external and internal backlighting, then for a laptop you don’t have to choose. To illuminate the working panel of a laptop PC you will need:

LED of any color
100 ohm resistor
USB plug
soldering iron and glue

USB pinout

The 1st and 4th pins of the USB plug are “plus” and “minus”, respectively, and the 2nd and 3rd are intended for data transfer.

Execution Sequence

composs.ru

Do you often work at your computer in the dark? LEDs under the keys are what you need

Today, the backlight of a laptop keyboard is for many a determining factor in the purchase of this gadget. After all, this is a useful and convenient function for lovers of work and leisure at night or in poor lighting. But few users know how to turn on the keyboard backlight on a laptop and what can be done if this model does not have one.

It's worth noting that there are several ways to enable this useful feature. Differences exist depending on the manufacturer and the specific device model. Don’t forget that most budget models do not have such a useful feature, but don’t be lazy to check it again.

It is also possible to make the lighting yourself: all the parts can be bought in specialized stores. And then you will need a few simple operations. Or you can order a similar device from an online store - it won’t cost that much money.

How to turn on the keyboard backlight on a laptop

The first step is to determine whether your laptop has a keyboard backlight function. If it exists, then the whole process consists of pressing a special key combination. Each manufacturer in this case assigns its own button, but it must be located among the keys of the top row F1-F12. On them you can see special symbols printed in a different color (usually blue or red).

In order to turn on the keyboard backlight on a laptop (Acer, HP, Dell, Samsung, MSI and others), you need to hold the Fn button (located in the lower left corner) and press an additional key, unique for each manufacturer. For exact information, please refer to the user manual. It should be remembered that by experimenting with key combinations, you can disable or enable a number of other device functions (turn off WiFi mode, put the laptop into sleep mode, turn off the screen). You can undo changes by pressing the used keyboard shortcut again.

If you are sure that this function is available, but the desired combination does not enable it, then make sure that the Fn button works (for example, by trying another key combination you know). Check the availability of the appropriate drivers, BIOS settings (Setup Utility – System Configuration – Action Keys Mode – Enabled), try activating the button using the Fn+NumLock combination.

As already written, different manufacturers have different combinations for LEDs (we will give a few examples):

How to turn on the lighting on an HP laptop – Fn+F5.
How to turn on the lighting on an ASUS n76v laptop - there are three brightness levels, Fn+F3 and Fn+F4.
How to turn on the keyboard lighting on a Lenovo laptop – Fn+Space (spacebar).

Plus, you can make your own external LEDs. To do this, all you need is knowledge in the field of electronics, an LED, a resistor and a little time. However, it is worth considering that it is much easier and safer to purchase this accessory. After all, if you close the electrical circuit with the wrong side, then you will not only not achieve the desired result, but also risk damaging your computer.

As you can see for yourself, LEDs are an incredibly useful and convenient device. If you don't have it by default, you can always purchase additional hardware and also attach it to your laptop. And thanks to our tips, you can do this easily and quickly.

strana-sovetov.com

How to turn on the backlight on a laptop

If you often work on a laptop at night, and even in poor lighting, you will probably be pleased with the ability to backlit the keyboard on your laptop. This surprisingly useful feature appeared relatively recently; it is used for new models of equipment. Turning on the backlight is not difficult at all, it will not take you much time.

First, determine whether your laptop has a backlight function. On cheap models it may simply not be there. Information about the presence of backlight can be found in the instructions for the laptop. Then look to see if any key has a backlight icon - a light bulb and keys. This may be a different button for different models. Most often, such an icon is located on the F1 - F12 line. If you find it, then use it to activate the backlight together with the Fn key. The backlight button will not work separately.

If the icon is not visible, you will have to go through possible combinations. After checking all Fn + F 1...12 keys, try Fn + Spacebar, Fn + F6 + Right Arrow.

Please note that during the search process, pressing key combinations may activate different functions. This could be turning off the monitor, turning off Wi-Fi, or going to sleep mode. To cancel the action, press the same combination again.

Before buying a backlit laptop, check that both the English and Russian layouts are backlit. Some manufacturers produce separate backlit laptop keyboards. So, if your laptop does not have this feature, you can buy another keyboard and replace it by contacting a service center.

SovetClub.ru

Instructions: how to turn on the keyboard backlight on an Asus laptop

Most older laptop models do not have a backlit keyboard, and this is perhaps the biggest disadvantage of manufacturers, because it is simply not possible to fully work on a laptop at night. Currently, new models have begun to install backlighting on the keyboard, but not many users have been able to figure out how to turn on the keyboard backlight, so today we will talk about that. Of course, without any doubt, we can say that the keyboard backlight is a very convenient option, because even in the dark you can fully work on your device.

Management

If you are looking for a solution on how to turn on the keyboard backlight on an Asus laptop, then carefully read the instructions that we are about to give you. You probably know where the dedicated Fn button is located on your keyboard, but you may not know what it does. This key can be classified as an additional type, but you can turn the keyboard backlight on and off on your device using it. In fact, on all laptop models, using this key you will be able to clearly see the buttons even in the dark, so if your keyboard backlight still does not work (Asus laptop, for example), then it is worth getting acquainted with other proposed solutions to this issue which will be described below.

Special combinations

In order to solve the problem, you will need to select the correct combination of keys on the keyboard if the additional “Fn” button does not work. You should try to press all the buttons from the top row, starting with “F1” and ending with “F12”. On each additional key you will be able to see a certain value, for example, using these switches you can adjust the sound, adjust the brightness of the screen and make other changes. Most likely, additional lighting will be located in this row. To learn how to turn on the keyboard backlight on an Asus laptop, you will definitely need to experiment. First of all, hold down the “Fn” key, after which we begin to press additional buttons in order. First, you can look for a keyboard icon on the additional layout, but if you don’t notice such a designation, then you should try the experimental path.

Additional features

You must also remember that while you are deciding how to turn on the keyboard backlight on an Asus laptop, you can use other options, for example, turning off the screen or going into sleep mode. In order for undoing these operations to work, you just need to press the combination again and everything will return to its place.

Without pointer

In some cases, it may be that there is simply no picture of the keyboard on additional keys and, having tried all sorts of options, you still could not find out how to turn on the keyboard backlight on an Asus laptop. But if you know for sure that your device has this function, then you shouldn’t give up and try other options. Try the combinations "Fn" plus "Space". You can also try the first key together with “Right Arrow” or “F5”. If you want to know how to turn on the keyboard backlight (Asus laptop), but it turns out that this option is not provided, do not despair. Anyone can create the necessary lighting with their own hands; of course, it will be external, but you will still be able to see the keys perfectly. In order to achieve the result, you will need to use one or more LEDs. You also need an output for a USB connector. You can use just one LED, but in this case your backlight will not help you see the entire keyboard.

Finishing touch

The USB power supply provides five volts, and accordingly you need to select an LED of the same power. Or just use a resistor. For example, if you have chosen an LED that requires a power of 3.5 volts, then select it for 1.5 volts. It's important to remember one more thing. One LED may not be enough, in which case you need to use several at once. This can be done using a parallel connection. Experts have tested in practice the maximum number of these elements that can be connected to one USB output. In total, this number equals 25 diodes, so if you want to connect 5, then feel free to do so. If you yourself cannot figure out how to properly make manual backlighting, then you should contact specialists who can even provide internal lighting in a laptop, but such services will cost you extremely dearly. Although in practice the connection is very simple and you will not need to devote much time to developing such a function.