3k mcd = 3000 millicandelas = 3 candelas (a fairly bright, but not super bright LED)
I wish I could demonstrate to you how 'bright' this LED is, because I have no Idea of how bright would be bad for him.
I'll just keep looking thru my LED stash and look for reds/blues that light up enough to see the enclosure, while not being 'annoying'
thanks tho!