LED buttons: mounting LEDs, LED selection and GGG diffusers

[Franco]

Ive got some clear FX buttons that I wish to light using blue LEDs and GGGs LED WIZ but I have a few questions.

1) Ive seen that Randy does some button blaster LEDs but im probably going to need 60+ so it will probably be cheaper to buy some in bulk from elsewhere. What kind of MCD rating and viewing angle should I be looking for?

2)Is it best to use one LED per button or two? (I imagine this may depend on the power and viewing angle of the LEDs used)

3) How do you mount the LEDs in the buttons? Im sure there was a tutorial a couple of years ago but I cant seem to find it.

4) I have seen that GGG do diffuser discs for butons which look like a good idea, can anyone vouch for these?

Thanks.

[Franco]

Doh, n00b alert, that tutorial ws in the FAQ at the top 

Knievel drills into the plastic part of the leaf button ther but I could quite easily make some nylon rings at work to hold the LEDs.

[Franco]

Anyone? 

[DaveMMR]

Ive got some clear FX buttons that I wish to light using blue LEDs and GGGs LED WIZ but I have a few questions.

1) Ive seen that Randy does some button blaster LEDs but im probably going to need 60+ so it will probably be cheaper to buy some in bulk from elsewhere. What kind of MCD rating and viewing angle should I be looking for?

2)Is it best to use one LED per button or two? (I imagine this may depend on the power and viewing angle of the LEDs used)

3) How do you mount the LEDs in the buttons? Im sure there was a tutorial a couple of years ago but I cant seem to find it.

4) I have seen that GGG do diffuser discs for butons which look like a good idea, can anyone vouch for these?

Thanks.

60 LEDs?  How many buttons you got there?  I couldn't imagine needing more than 20~25 - and that's on a 4-player panel.  If you're doubling because you're thinking you need two per button, well that's still a lot.   But you really only need one per button.

Personally, I use the RGB LEDs from Randy and his Electric Ice buttons.  They're plenty bright (you don't want them "blinding" people - just a little light is fine). 

[Franco]

Im building a 4 player cocktail and so far im planning:

Horozontal CP buttons P 7x2 = 14

Vertical CP buttons 3x2 = 6
 
Im also having a ring of 8 LED lit 5mm Perspex tubes in the CP around each joy so thats 8x4 = 32

LED in each Joy balltop = 4

That = 56 LEDs and im using two LED WIZs with a dedicated output to each LED so that leaves me another 8 which I am going to use to UV LED backlight some UV reactive plastic behind the controls.

So that = 64 LEDs, it would be 84 if i doubled the button ones up. Obviously it is the LED perspex rings that is bumping the count up.

The pic below shows the LED rings around each joy (white dots from this distance) and the white UV reactive plastic panels behind the controls. (Ignore the CP heights, its a WIP shot from my design phase)