Those with cold cathode/UV/Neon lights........

[bjc112]

Do you leave them on constantly?

I have 2 cathodes, an LED 80mm fan and two LED strips down the front of my case..

Now i turn the ones in front of my case off because i figure they are a bit more tricky to replace....

The 2 cathodes however for only 10-15 bucs a piece have a 30,000 hour lifetime... Why not leave them on?

It seems to be too much of a pain to rip my case window off and switch them off...



What do you guys do?

 

[Zim Hosein]

It seems to be too much of a pain to rip my case window off and switch them off...

I leave mine on all the time, but I did install an external switch for my cathode

 

[Eli]

Why would you ever turn them off?

You do realize that 30,000 hours is 3.4 years, right? Think you'll have your computer then?

I bet not.

BTW, LEDs have a lifetime of something like 150,000 hours. You definately don't have to worry about them "burning out". It would make more sense to turn the CC's off, but it's completely unnecessary, IMO.

 

[Beller0ph1]

They're pretty to leave on at night or when I'm watching a movie. However, only if the glow from my computer doesn't interfere with the screen. The external switch placed in a 3.5" bay or something is nice to have.

 

[MacBaine]

I leave the UV one on 24/7, but I have a switch for the blue CC that I use mainly during LANs and such. I have EL wiring inside too, which I mainly only use during LANs

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Eli
Why would you ever turn them off?

You do realize that 30,000 hours is 3.4 years, right? Think you'll have your computer then?

I bet not.

BTW, LEDs have a lifetime of something like 150,000 hours. You definately don't have to worry about them "burning out". It would make more sense to turn the CC's off, but it's completely unnecessary, IMO.

Exactly, i figured for the 10 bucs i would just constantly leave them on...

150,000 hours eh? Learn something new everyday...

I'm never turning them off now...

Zim,

The external switch seems nice, did you use a dremel and cut out a small hole in the case or somehting?

 

[neutralizer]

Hmm... my LED fan died awhile ago, I had it for only a month.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: neutralizer
Hmm... my LED fan died awhile ago, I had it for only a month.

Elllllllllllllllllllliiiiiii ^

 

[Zim Hosein]

The external switch seems nice, did you use a dremel and cut out a small hole in the case or somehting?

Yes, I did use a dremel, at the lowest speed since the front of my case is plastic, I didn't want to "warp" the opening. Once I had the opening as close to possible as I wanted it, I used a small metal file to make the fit perfect

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

The external switch seems nice, did you use a dremel and cut out a small hole in the case or somehting?

Yes, I did use a dremel, at the lowest speed since the front of my case is plastic, I didn't want to "warp" the opening. Once I had the opening as close to possible as I wanted it, I used a small metal file to make the fit perfect

Cool, sounds decent...

But i guess i'll just let em burn out...

 

[bjc112]

SVC

40,000 isn't to shabby for a $5 fan either...