[bios2k]

Hello Everyone,

Here is my intro and sorry for my english :S

I bought 2 WRT1900AC Router used.
1 - WRT1900AC V2 find for 100$ on local kijiji I use it for my main router
2 - WRT1900AC V1 Find on ebay for 50$CAN missing powersupply (that I've fix with a 12v 4a power that I have)

Why 2 ?, the second one is in my living room connected as wireless client @ 1300mbps for stream MKV on my media PC

I flash both with Kong build that run very stable!

Well like everyone I've search on internet and found out that LED become low and can't even see it.

so I decide to open both of my router and see If I can fix something. Well Both router show sing of burned LED. I'm not a PRO of LED but this is a poor engineering!!!

On WRT1900AC V1 All LED are super tiny SMD that are probably not made for 24/24 7/7 duty, so that explain why they die so fast.

On WRT1900AC V2 All function LEDs remain the same model except for the 4 port LAN port, they choose a bigger SMD led that will live the life of the router (that explain why V2 have bright light for LAN and dim for Status LEDs.

So I decide to fix both,
I've ordered SMD LED on ebay. the model you need is 0603 LED (I choose SUPER BRIGHT WHITE). I'm not bad with solder iron but damn this is sooooo small!!

So here is some pictures of my current WRT1900AC V1 SMD LED Change (not all done)
It take about 10min each LED since I don't have a super setup and just a basic solder iron.

hope this will help others to fix LED, there is no gain to do that except you can see led better then original state

[bios2k]

Here some pictures

[bios2k]

Half job done

[draigun]

Very cool - I've managed to teardown my WRT1900ACv1, but never looked beyond the LED housing inside. Good to know that these are SMD LEDs.

[ilukeberry]

excellent fix!!!

All WRT1200AC,WRT1900AC,WRT1900ACS,WRT3200ACM have same problem.

[ilukeberry]

btw how do you remove LED housing ?
Can you maybe write short how-to replace LEDs? or even better make video of it

[klik]

Excellent job mate!
Same problem on my WRT1900ACS
I have to order the SMD's and get to work.
Thanks for your helpful post.

[CaperJoe]

I am new to this forum and this issue but I do have a quick, likey stupid question. Does the dim LED issue remain when running the Linksys stock firmware? I just find it odd that a modren PCB manufacturer would overdrive the LED's or use ones that couldn't handle a duty cycle of 100%

[CaperJoe]

http://community.linksys.com/t5/Wireless-Routers/WRT1900AC-and-WRT1900ACS-front-panel-LED-brightness-adjustment/td-p/1011800/page/6

[bios2k]

You need to remove the front part (blue) just remote the 2 front feet and pull the front.,
you will see the LED reflector
the reflector is simply cliped from the back of the pcb, with your thumb push gently the clip and you will manage to remove the reflector.

you will now expose the LED. they are very very small. this job is not for a Noob and you need to know basic of soldering.

Here is a good exemple to how to unsolder 0603 parts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JM4oCpWnjU

in this video, they use flux but I did it without
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqHleZjTaH8

my wrt1900ac V1 took me 45min because they are all 0603 LED (including LAN light).

My second WRT1900AC V2 took me 15min to replace 8 LED because LAN LED are much bigger and will last many years before fading.

[vit5421]

BTW, the LEDs on wrt1900acsV2 looks absolutely fine and bright. I guess it was fixed

[xam_max]

Thanks for your helpful post, I fixed my WRT1200AC v2!

[wdavery]

Now that its been at least a year since you guys have fixed this issue, how are the replacements holding up?

[wdavery]

Damn! I'm jealous of those switches you've got. I can't find one anywhere. Ebay, Kijiji, retailers, all totally wiped.

Interesting note on not using phosphor, I'll have to consider that if I swap out the LEDS

[spuriousoffspring]

Check out Digi-Key. That's were I was going to get mine from before I abandoned the project for a replacement router.
https://www.digikey.com/products/en/optoelectronics/led-indication-discrete/105

I was looking at the 0603 SMD LED in either White, Blue, Red or Green

Digi-Key 0603 SMD LED 10 Pack Part Numbers:
RED: 754-1541-1-ND
BLUE: 754-1804-1-ND
GREEN: 754-1949-1-ND
WHITE: 350-3447-ND

eBay has them for cheap, too.
Here's one of many:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/0603-1608-SMD-SMT-LED-Chip-Warm-White-Red-Blue-Orange-RGB-Mix-Kits-Light-Diodes/322491863335?var=511471336770&hash=item4b16035127:m:mRwkbXIsKnQzse5zF4RnTQA