Hi all,
I thought I'd share my efforts to create a lit cover for my Kindle Keyboard. I tried a few different ways using brass tubing etc. with the light hinged but ended up with a much simpler removable light. A trip to 'The Source' (radio Shack in the US) produced a USB powered LED lamp on a flexible neck. They have 2 versions. One with 5 LED's and one with 2. The 2 LED version is even too bright at times so I opted for that one. What inspired me to use these lamps was the sale price of $2.95!
The flexible neck was originally 12 inches long so after peeling off the plastic coating on the usb connector, I was able to de-solder the connector and cut back the flexible neck. A bit of heat shrink sealed it up beautifully after re-soldering. I had an old broken USB hub from which I pillaged a female USB jack. If you need the pin configuration a quick Google search will tell you. The cover I used is the stock Amazon leather cover. I had to cut it open carefully on the inside in order to mount the USB jack and run the wires to the metal clips.I sanded the metal clips until the black coating was removed down to the bare metal. Both sides were sanded as I don't rightly know where the actual contact is made within the Kindle. Soldering to the base of the cover's clips was not as difficult as I had anticipated
and made for a great connection. Lastly I had a thin plastic sheet that I covered with cheap black fabric to cover up my surgery. It was a glued down with cheap Elmer's spray adhesive.
If anyone would like a more detailed instruction page, I'd be happy to throw one together
without the rambling
I think the total cost of this project would be about 6 bucks if one had to purchase the USB lamp, some heat shrink tubing and the USB jack. Obviously the cover is extra