This is a pretty simple one but, I thought I'd run it by the Electrotech pool of experts to get some points-of-view.
I've been thinking about building some turnkey computer systems for basic multi-media functions (mostly aimed at video editing for specialty applications such as a home-town soccer team or car club, etc.).
The equipment selection would be driven by the application but, virtually all would involve LED (and sometimes incandescent or other) indicators that I would like to bring out to a common panel so the actual devices, that don't normally require direct access, can be mounted out of the way but still be monitored (modem, external hard drives, power control indicators, etc.).
I'm loathe to try to open the cases to tap directly into the LED leads and thus am thinking either fiber optics or a photocell sensors and re-drivers to light the indicators on the monitor panel.
Is this something any have experience with and thus have ideas, horror stories, comments? I'm especially interested in dealing with methods for attaching the sensors (or light fibers) to the equipment's LEDs with maximum reliability plus ease of removal for equipment replacement and would prefer methods that do NOT require any modifications to the equipment. Also, the best methods for handling bi-color LED indicators (which I assume would be done best with colored gel type filters for the electronic sensing option). I would also have no objection to a mix of methods so long as the displays can maintain at least a fair amount of consistency.
I've been thinking about building some turnkey computer systems for basic multi-media functions (mostly aimed at video editing for specialty applications such as a home-town soccer team or car club, etc.).
The equipment selection would be driven by the application but, virtually all would involve LED (and sometimes incandescent or other) indicators that I would like to bring out to a common panel so the actual devices, that don't normally require direct access, can be mounted out of the way but still be monitored (modem, external hard drives, power control indicators, etc.).
I'm loathe to try to open the cases to tap directly into the LED leads and thus am thinking either fiber optics or a photocell sensors and re-drivers to light the indicators on the monitor panel.
Is this something any have experience with and thus have ideas, horror stories, comments? I'm especially interested in dealing with methods for attaching the sensors (or light fibers) to the equipment's LEDs with maximum reliability plus ease of removal for equipment replacement and would prefer methods that do NOT require any modifications to the equipment. Also, the best methods for handling bi-color LED indicators (which I assume would be done best with colored gel type filters for the electronic sensing option). I would also have no objection to a mix of methods so long as the displays can maintain at least a fair amount of consistency.