Construction tip - LEDs on nine pin socket

[Paul Birkeland]

just the smallest bit of solder holding them

This is really the key, it doesn't take much to do the job, especially when you're attaching the LED's to tiny pieces of metal like tube socket pins, which heat up in a hurry.

[AllanMarcus]

Any way to order 2 of the LEDs from BH? (assuming for a reasonable price). I soldered mine rather tight, and I would like to "do it right".

[Doc B.]

You can order a pack of five LEDs here: http://bottlehead.com/product/hlmp-6000-leds/
The other three are worth having around for backup.

[AllanMarcus]

You can order a pack of five LEDs here: http://bottlehead.com/product/hlmp-6000-leds/
The other three are worth having around for backup.

Most awesome and very reasonably priced! Many thanks.

[cabcabaret]

I had a problem which turned out to be caused by this: http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=10120.0

It's not just a nice idea, it's quite important!

[Stillhart]

So some feedback:  you might want to include a spare of these in the kits going forward.  They're super flimsy and clearly they break enough that you have a page for selling replacements.  I'd be fine spending an extra couple of dollars on the kit to avoid having to wait days (and pay shipping) for a replacement of something that's extremely likely to break.

[CapnCook]

So some feedback:  you might want to include a spare of these in the kits going forward.  They're super flimsy and clearly they break enough that you have a page for selling replacements.  I'd be fine spending an extra couple of dollars on the kit to avoid having to wait days (and pay shipping) for a replacement of something that's extremely likely to break.

I second this. I struggled getting the leads into the center pin, and one of the leads fell off just from the bending it took. I would rather have paid the extra $5 at order time. and even saved on the additional shipping (net $1.50). I ordered the five pack - glad its available. But, now I have to wait for the replacements to arrive to continue. Getting the ground from the POT and the two LED leads in the same hole, ensuring the slack, all inside the small octet has been the toughest task thus far.

[Doc B.]

We are happy to ship extra LEDs with kits if buyers decide to order them at the same time. Some builders may find a need for them, but others may not want to arbitrarily pay extra for them. We sell far more kits than we do LED packets, which tends to indicate not everyone finds the need for extras. The option to have them available online so that one can add them to a kit order seems like the most democratic way to address this.