Introduction:

 

Yes here it is, the long awaited EL Keybord Mod Guide. Ever since I released the pictures of my keyboard mod I have been getting all kinds of requests for a guide.

You'll need a couple of things before doing this mod:

• Super Glue (preferrably something that will let you move it for a couple of seconds before it sets)

• Small Aligator Clips (You can buy them at Radio Shacks in packs of 10)

• 9V EL Cable Neon 10 ft kit (available at http://www.neoncasemods.com)

• Some kind of Keyboard (My keyboard is a Microsoft Natural Elite)

One thing to note about the EL Cable: it emits a high pitch whine, that may or may not bother you. If you have a lot of fans running in your system, it probably won't bother you. Also, the lower the voltage, the lower the high pitch whine and the dimmer the EL Cable becomes. I bought a 9V kit but it works at 12V (bright) and 3V (very dim).

The basic objective is to glue the EL Cable down below the keys so that it routes around the keyboard to light most if not all of it up.

The first thing you need to do is trim back the edges on the backside of the Kayboard cover where the EL Cable will be running under. If you don't do this your keyboard cover will not fit properly.

 

 

Next you start to route the cable while using the Super Glue to stick it to the board. You only have to glue every few keys.

 

One part I found particularly difficult to fit was under the arrow keys...so I routed the cable around the keys. Next you need to drill a hole somewhere in the bottom of the keyboard where you can route the power cable for the EL Cable out. The MS Natural Elite has a hollowed out back which allows me to route it out underneath the keyboard. And even though I have no pictures of it, I can also fit the Battery/Inverter box underneath the keyboard. (I'll try to get a picture of this up soon) It's possible to extend the power cable so that you can tape the cable to the Keyboard cable and mount the inverter somewhere in you case. (I may be doing this at some point).

 

Note: The Battery Powered Inverter Box allows you to run the EL Cable off of a 9V Battery, but you can also buy a transformer block and plug it into the wall (there is an extra plug-in port on the inverter). I bought a transformer block from Radio Shack that allows me to switch several different voltages between 12V and 3V (allows you to dim the light and lower the high pitch whine level). Here's the link: 3-12V/1000mA Regulated AC-to-DC Adapter. It comes with several different adapt-a-plugs, try each one and find the one that fits the tightest. Also, this tranformer allows you to switch voltages even while the EL cable is on.

Well that's it, pretty simple to do. Have fun.