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Firmware - Build Guide

RGB underglow

Light shining down on your desk from the bottom of your keyboard. Learn how to solder RGB underglow LEDs.
This step is optional.

You should perform this step if you chose the WS2812B underglow RGB LEDs. If not, you can go to the next step using the button below.

If you skip this step, you can still add the parts of this step later by following the instructions on this page.

RGB underglow LEDs are distributed along the PCB, illuminating the bottom of your keyboard. They are marked by RGB followed by a number, for example RGB3. They are optional, you only need to do this step if you’ve purchased RGB underglow LEDs with your kit.

The underglow LEDs can be oriented in two ways. It is absolutely crucial that you get the orientation right. Familiarize yourself with the orientation markers on both the LED and the PCB: The LED will have a single angled corner, the PCB will have a dot marking one pin.

An angle on the top side of the LED hints at the orientation

An angle on the top side of the LED hints at the orientation.

The same angle on the PCB footprint will correspond with the orientation. There's also a dot, so you can still check the orientation after soldering

The same angle on the PCB footprint will correspond with the orientation. There's also a dot, so you can still check the orientation after soldering.

Once you have figured out the orientation, solder a little bit of tin to the first pad. This will make soldering the other pins easier.

Soldering one pad first helps align the LED later on

Soldering one pad first helps align the LED later on.

Place the LED on top of the pads. Make sure the orientation is correct.

Left: an incorrectly oriented LED, notice that the angle sits on the opposite end of the dot. Right: a correctly oriented LED, with the angle matching the dot

Left: an incorrectly oriented LED, notice that the angle sits on the opposite end of the dot. Right: a correctly oriented LED, with the angle matching the dot.

Solder the first pin, making sure that the other pins are aligned properly. While heating the pin with your soldering iron, use a pair of tweezers to align it.

Heat sensitive. Do not spend too long trying to get it oriented perfectly. The LED will break when it gets too hot. When in doubt, move on to the next LED and come back to this one later.

The first soldered joint on a WS2812B underglow LED

The first soldered joint on a WS2812B underglow LED.

Now solder the rest of the pins.

Remember, heat sensitive. Solder only one pad per LED and move onto the next LED to allow them to cool down from soldering, and come back for the next pad once you have done all other LEDs.

A side view of an underglow LED, showing two of the four joints

A side view of an underglow LED, showing two of the four joints.

Double-check that you soldered all LEDs in the right orientation. If they are all oriented correctly, you are done with the RGB underglow.

Not using per-key RGB? There are no settings to adjust, it'll just work. If you're only using per-key RGB without underglow, you'll find instructions for that on the Per-key RGB page.

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