# Fuuuuck LEDs on electronics **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 6, 2013, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279 "2013-06-06T11:06:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/21 "2013-06-06T15:31:07Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Black electrical tape is your friend. > > Been there. Done that. > > **Lightnin’** - with enough black electrical tape you can still solve that problem. There are few problems in the world that cannot be solved with enough black electrical tape. BTW, it is called \*gutapercha \*in Peru. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/22 "2013-06-06T15:31:37Z")
“Electric toothbrush temporarily manual. We apologize for the convenience.” With apologies to Mitch. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/23 "2013-06-06T17:32:04Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Perform some surgery. Take it apart and I’ll bet you can find a way to disable or cover the light. I thought you were about to recommend that he carve out his own eyeballs. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/24 "2013-06-06T18:51:05Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > _Glow to Hell_ I like it. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/25 "2013-06-06T19:45:30Z")
This, too, drives me insane. Every time I stay in a hotel, it is an iterative process to go to bed. Get in bed Turn out lights See annoying light Cover it up Repeat Goddamn! I like to sleep in the dark, dontchaknow! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/26 "2013-06-06T20:13:50Z")
I’m in complete agreement. Leds are overused. Looking around now, my flashlight has one when it charges, my beard trimmer, my DVD player, my computer, my monitor, my window ac, my fan, the charger for my tablet. When everything is plugged up, it looks like a rainbow threw up in my room. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/27 "2013-06-06T20:43:36Z")
Dude…I have a wall-wart phone charger, the blue LED on that sumbitch is so bright it keeps me awake if I don’t cover it with something. Why? Whyyyy? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/28 "2013-06-06T21:23:18Z")
All of these examples clearly come down to a case of “marketing thought it would be cool.” Before little glowy lights were put on everything, it was product descriptions - for years we had an electric can opener that had a zoomy “Stainless Steel Blade!” on its front panel, as if anyone would care once they got it home. Ditto for the three lines of gosh-wow on a blender or something like that, and a zillion other examples. It looks great and attracks the buyer in stores, then becomes redundant and irritating. At least our can opener didn’t light up the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/29 "2013-06-06T21:36:14Z")
I’ve had ATT Uverse for a while now and I recently moved a receiver into my bedroom. Dear god, the LED on the front of the receiver is bright blue and so bright that it lights up the ENTIRE room-- and I have a big bedroom! This is the, “Hi, I’m plugged in!” light, too, so it’s always on. The DVR light is red and barely noticeable in comparison. I taped over it, but you can still see it bleeding out of the sides. It’s ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/30 "2013-06-06T23:47:43Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I’ve had ATT Uverse for a while now and I recently moved a receiver into my bedroom. Dear god, the LED on the front of the receiver is bright blue and so bright that it lights up the ENTIRE room-- and I have a big bedroom! We have AT&T wireless phones all through the house and the HI I’M CHARGING NOW ring light, as you say, can light up a big room. Since there’s no easy way to put tape over it and the phones are too complex to disassemble and modify, my solution was to put our bedroom unit on a timer. Charging stand goes off at 10, back on at 7. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/31 "2013-06-06T23:49:43Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > We have AT&T wireless phones all through the house and the HI I’M CHARGING NOW ring light, as you say, can light up a big room. Since there’s no easy way to put tape over it and the phones are too complex to disassemble and modify, my solution was to put our bedroom unit on a timer. Charging stand goes off at 10, back on at 7. Not a bad idea, but what if I’m DVRing something in the middle of the night for some random reason? I mean, in practical terms, this probably almost never happens, but you know the minute I set the system on a timer will be the minute EVERY AWESOME SHOW EVER is on at 2AM. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/32 "2013-06-07T00:59:59Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Not a bad idea, but what if I’m DVRing something in the middle of the night for some random reason? I mean, in practical terms, this probably almost never happens, but you know the minute I set the system on a timer will be the minute EVERY AWESOME SHOW EVER is on at 2AM. I misread your post. I was talking about a wireless phone in a charging stand. Turning off the charge 1/3 of the day doesn’t affect it at all. The problem with cable boxes and DVRs is not only that they draw a buttload of power (30-90 watts, 24/7) and have no low-power standby mode, but can’t be unplugged without usually needing 10-60 minutes to come back to full service. (I assume they are downloading updated program info etc. continually; my last Comcast box needed 15 minutes to do anything but allow me to select a channel by manual number entry.) And obviously a DVR can’t do squat if it’s unplugged. There needs to be a movement to get the cable companies to implement better equipment, but as the awareness and understanding are near zero, the only solution is to get rid of the damned thing. My Roku draws 6 watts when active and something below 1 watt in standby. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/33 "2013-06-07T01:27:52Z")
It gets worse in the future apparently. I recall a Star Trek:TNG episode where they removed an access port on Data’s head, and there were blinking fucking LEDs inside his head, man! ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/34 "2013-06-07T01:42:55Z")
I think the scourge of piercing blue LEDs that appeared right after they were invented was the worst. If they need to be there for actual indication, I cover them with scotch tape and then sharpie over them until they’re the right darkness. If they’re on some device used outside in the sun (like a DS lite or something), crank up the lumens. Otherwise, be discrete! ---
**Author:** ![chewsick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@chewsick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chewsick)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/35 "2013-06-07T01:59:54Z")
I feel you, man. All electronics are unplugged or submerged beneath dirty clothes or something. Most alarm clocks are too bright as well. Often I need to recharge a notebook battery overnight, and since I often read/watch a TV on a notebook at bed, it’s a problem. In winter, it’s fine – I wear a stocking cap and pull the wool over my eyes. Normally, it’s a problem. That’s why you shouldn’t snub your nose at having a larger apartment. If you have the means, I highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/36 "2013-06-07T02:22:48Z")
Outside of the house, I loathe many LED gas station price signs. I worked at a service station in high school and college, so I know they’re a fuckload more convenient than the traditional plastic numbers. But a lot of the time, they’re TOO FUCKING BRIGHT! I dunno if it’s just my eyes, but it’s like they can’t properly focus on those clusters of obscenely bright LEDs and I have a much harder time actually making out the numbers. Can’t they put just a lightly tinted film/cover so the lights are clearer? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/37 "2013-06-07T12:18:06Z")
I’ve ranted about this before. I think the human race is still overcompensating for all those years before blue LEDs were available - we went without them so long, now we’ve gotta have them on everything. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/38 "2013-06-07T13:03:08Z")
yes, I hope we get over this fetish for blue LEDs. Apparently these idiots don’t care that blue and blue-violet light is extremely hard for human vision to resolve. The worst comes from those fuckers at Sony, who had the brilliant idea of giving all of their car stereos blue LED illumination and even worse, backlit the dot-matrix display in blue. Great job selling shit with displays that are unreadable even on a cloudy day. > [@](#): > > But a lot of the time, they’re TOO FUCKING BRIGHT! I dunno if it’s just my eyes, but it’s like they can’t properly focus on those clusters of obscenely bright LEDs and I have a much harder time actually making out the numbers. Can’t they put just a lightly tinted film/cover so the lights are clearer? the problem is that they’re using the “true” green or “emerald green” diodes, which like blue LEDs are extremely bright at normal drive levels. If they were smart they’d use PWM to dim them at night but apparently that’s too much to ask. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/39 "2013-06-07T15:51:38Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > those fuckers at Sony. Don’t mean to hijack the thread, but those same fuckers at Sony also decided that it would be a good idea to have their car stereos beep twelve fucking times when you turn off the car, with no way of disabling it. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279/40 "2013-06-07T16:29:43Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I’ve had ATT Uverse for a while now and I recently moved a receiver into my bedroom. Dear god, the LED on the front of the receiver is bright blue and so bright that it lights up the ENTIRE room-- and I have a big bedroom! This is the, “Hi, I’m plugged in!” light, too, so it’s always on. The DVR light is red and barely noticeable in comparison. We recently got Uverse. It’s in our study, where it doesn’t bother anybody, but cripes that modem base unit is lit up like a Christmas tree. > [@Nanoda](#): > > If they need to be there for actual indication, I cover them with scotch tape and then sharpie over them until they’re the right darkness. If they’re on some device used outside in the sun (like a DS lite or something), crank up the lumens. Otherwise, be discrete! I’ve found that a little square cut from a Post-It dims the green ones the right amount. I haven’t tried this on a blue one yet. And **Dag Otto** , twelve beeps! Every time you turn off the car? How do they even come up with these things? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuuuuck-leds-on-electronics/660279.md?page=3)