Dell D630 backlit keyboard

In my already modified laptop Dell D630 Latitude I installed backlit keyboard. Keyboard is from Dell D630 XFR. It was water resistant backlit keyboard.

Keyboard was to big to fit in Dell D630, but I did liked its red backlight so I decided to modify it. It was to width, to high and to thick. First step was separating silicone buttons from electronic board.

Difference in size was not a great one, so I was able to cut electronic board to fit housing without damaging any of electronic paths in it. I was looking on it versus strong light beam to see how electronic paths run in layer board. I had to cut the board from all four sides.

Power plug was sticking out to much, so I cut it out and soldered backlit keys power wires directly to the board so it would not collide with laptop cooling pipes below. I also cut off black plastic keyboard support.

I could not cut off electronic circuit for backlit that has sticking out capacitors that collided with CD/DVD drive. I planned to substitute CD optical drive from slim 12,5mm version to ultra slim 9,5mm.

Photo comparing slim CD / DVD and ultra slim EIDE ATAPI drives

It resulted that changing of CD drive was not necessary. Capacitors fitted after i cut out hole in plastic housing (called d-dock) of  CD DVD drive.

Power cables are connected to touch screen cables. Rubber with keys is cut to fir new size of keyboard electronic board. Silicon rubber has beneath original factory sticking film so it was easy fix it back into place and it holds firm.

I also modified front laptop housing cover so new keyboard can fir beneath it.

Dell Latitude D630 backlit keyboard switched on.

Laptop has now both top red LED backlit above LCD and backlit below keys of the keyboard. They are switched on independently, so they can work together in the same time or just one of lights can be switched on at the time.

LED backlit lamps above LCD switched on.