Question about neon/cathode computer lights...

[Gagabiji]

Is there a way to rewire them so that you can plug them into a wall outlet? Like the kind you plug a regular light in to? I'm looking to light up a small space, and on froogle I didn't find much in the way of neon lights that you can plug into a wall. So, I was hoping someone on here knows a way to do this. Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[nick1985]

i have mine re-wired to run on my own self satisfaction.

 

[Gagabiji]

Could you tell me how you re-wired yours to run off a wall plug Nick?

 

[nick1985]

i didnt, im a fraud.

 

[w00t]

if its for the case you can make it so there is a switch.

 

[Gagabiji]

Oh well, thanks anyway Nick! BTW, do you (or anyone for that matter) know of a website that tells you how how to re-wire it?

wOOt No, I would not be using it inside the computer case. If I were, it would be simple matter of just hooking it up to the 12v rail.

 

[phisrow]

Pretty much any car/computer modding cold cathode or neon tubes run off a twelve volt rail. Pretty much all you need to do is obtain an adapter that provides a regulated(that is very important) 12 volt supply from mains current. This http://www.herbach.com/Merchan...amp;Category_Code=ADRB was chosen purely arbitrarily as an example. A cursury search for "12 volt ac adapter" on ebay, froogle, or whatever should obtain thousands of hits for functional substitutes.
Once you have an appropriate adapter 12 volts out, either 120 or 240 VAC in, depending on were in the world you live, you'll just need to connect the adapter to the cold cathode in the manner that you usually connected it to the computer. You should then be all set.

 

[Gagabiji]

Awesome phisrow, thanks a bunch! :beer:

EDIT: Got a question now that I have looked at it. None of the connectors look like the ones you see on a 12v rail. Am I missing something?

 

[Mrvile]

Or, just buy a seperate 100w PSU, hide it in your wall somewhere, and run the cathodes off that

 

[Gagabiji]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Or, just buy a seperate 100w PSU, hide it in your wall somewhere, and run the cathodes off that

We'll call that, "plan B."

 

[phisrow]

As for the connectors: No, you aren't missing something. The connectors are physically diffirent. You'll have to, unfortunately, graft an alternate connector onto one or the other of the devices. It should be pretty simple, just +12 and GND to worry about; but it will have to be done. Best thing might be to grab a cheap molex "Y" adapter and solder the output leads from the AC adapter onto the appropriate lines in the Y adapter to give you a couple of standard molex plugs. I'm sorry I didn't make that more clear in my original post.