component

Paul's LED Nameplate

Unreviewed

by Kyle Bergstedt

USB-C powered desk nameplate PCB spelling PAUL in 36 white 0402 LEDs. Plug in an iPhone charger and the name lights up.

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paul-led-nameplate / plan.md
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Paul's LED Nameplate

Overview

A USB-C powered desk nameplate PCB that spells "PAUL" in 0402 white LEDs.
Designed as a gift -- plug in an iPhone charger and the name lights up.

Design decisions

  • Font: 3x5 pixel dot-matrix, 3 mm pitch between LED centers, 4 mm gap between letters
  • LEDs: 36 white 0402 LEDs (P=8, A=10, U=11, L=7)
  • Current limiting: 36 individual 220 ohm 0402 resistors (one per LED, ~14 mA each at 5V)
  • Power: USB-C receptacle (TYPE-C-31-M-12 / JLCPCB C165948) on the east edge
  • CC pulldowns: 2x 5.1k ohm resistors on CC1/CC2 so any USB-C host supplies 5V default power
  • Bypass: 100 nF 0402 cap on VBUS rail
  • Board: 64x24 mm, 2-layer, rounded edges
  • Machine contacts: 4 corner contacts for Adom workcell compatibility

Power budget

  • 36 LEDs x ~14 mA = ~504 mA total (well within USB-C 5V/900 mA default)
  • All LEDs wired in parallel: VBUS -> resistor -> LED anode, cathode -> GND

Silkscreen

  • Top: "PAUL" label + "NAME IN LIGHTS" subtitle
  • Bottom: "PAUL'S NAMEPLATE", "USB-C powered, 36 white LEDs", "v1.0, 2026"