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How Do I Disable My Gadgets' LEDs?

Posted by timothy on from the back-to-school-day dept.

pHatidic writes "My college dorm room is never dark, even with the lights turned off. This is because of LEDs. Between the Airport Express, laser printer, surge protector, and Logitech mouse there is the constant nuissance of light polution. The powerbook has to take the cake though, with a green LED built into the power adapter and a white pulsating LED indicating it's in sleep mode so bright that I can actually detect it even with my eyes closed. Short of actually unplugging all of my devices every day, is there any way to disable all of these LEDs so I can actually get some sleep?"

12 of 259 comments (clear)

  1. Black Electric Tape by photon317 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Cheap, Effective.

    --
    11*43+456^2
    1. Re:Black Electric Tape by TheWanderingHermit · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And if the tape doesn't block it out by itself, you can use it to tape a piece of paper or cardboard over the LED.

      Or, if you prefer (as I do), use the "handy man's secret weapon": duct tape. Duct tape fixes everything.

  2. Unplug it at the wall.... by gus+goose · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... nuff said.

    Why do people insist on running things 24x7...

    gus

    --
    .. if only.
  3. One idea by Izanagi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Get a night mask.

    --
    SCO (noun.)- A Slimy Corporate Ogre. Often seeks free money.
  4. Bluetack by soccrates · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Since tape is a little harder to cover the small LED's _only_ without making it look ugly, just whop a little bit of bluetack over it.
    Aesthetic Geek.

  5. Re:unplugging devices...with a power strip by Siniset · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You should really consider connecting everything to a power strip, and then shuting everything down ever night. After starting to do that, I'm saving at least 5 dollars a month on electric bills. Living in the dorms it doesn't really matter, as far as costs go, but it's good to get into the habit.

  6. Re:Everyone has suggested taping the LEDS.... by jebiester · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Less eyelids too - once you remove the tape

  7. Best, most obvious answer by JeffHunt · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How about turning all of that stuff off at night? Do you really need to use your laser printer while you're sleeping? It'll be quieter in your room, to boot!

    --

    "It was hell!" recalls former child.

  8. Answer is bloody obvious by Celt · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well it is...
    Cover lights in tape
    or
    open device, disconnect lights

    Why is /. posting a question that a 10 year old could answer, even a 5 year old might suggest the tape as a idea.

    --
    "WebTV: bringing the Internet into the shallow end of the gene pool since 1995" - Martin Bishop
  9. Re:The final deaththows of Slashdot.... by optikSmoke · · Score: 2, Insightful

    On second thought, I guess I'm complaining more about the fact that a question with such an obvious answer was even allowed on Ask Slashdot.

    Oh, wait.

    Nevermind.

    Ask Slashdot.

    Slashdot. Slashdot editors.

    My bad.

  10. Boiling down your options... by Yaztromo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Here are your options, in a nutshell:

    • Remove power to the devices in some manner,
    • Remove/disable all the LEDs,
    • Shield the LEDs,
    • Shield your eyes.

    That's it, unless you can find a way to install some form of ultra-massive gravity in your dorm room that causes all light to bend towards it (and away from your eyes), although on second thought this would probably destroy all your stuff in the process.

    Yaz.

  11. Make a fort by blogan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In college, I had the bottom bunk, so I just hung blankets from the bunk and had a place to sleep that was darker than you could imagine. My roommate could still have the lights on and it didn't affect me.