Christmas lights...

smith.p.sean · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:24 pm Post subject: Christmas lights...

O man, new crazy idea in head... could i use chrismas lights in my comp for little leds....? like red ones. Would they work or would they required more juice and how would i set them up.. i have all the soldering stuff i need... i just need some instructions and if no one knows then i will experiment and post on it.

Google · Sponsor

JayDubya · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:48 pm Post subject:

Hmmm. Good idea but I don't think it will work well. Christmas lights use AC (alternating current) and your computer supplies DC (direct current) Unfortunately the two are not compatable without converters, transformers, or inverters.

What you need are car lights

Get some nice red brake lights from a local auto shop and you can hook them up to your 12v (yellow line) from your psu. These things will be brighter and carry more than the xmas lights.

I know that most car lights are rated at 13.8v or 14.4v but 12v will be fine. It looks very cool.
_________________
JayDubya aka JW Jay JD ^> ﺵ

smith.p.sean · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:04 pm Post subject:

:) sweet, thanks a ton... this should be fun and by the way, how much do they run?

Josh · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:09 pm Post subject:

Antoher thing on christmas lights is that most of them are multicolored, not just one color of red (well not here anyway

).

And xmas lights use a series circuit, not parallel, so you cat just get rid of the lights you dont want, as none of the others will light, but im sure you know that.

You are better off getting some neon string, its cheaper and ALOT easier...cool idea tho!
_________________
»4 RS«»1Ж «»1 DENE«»1 FREAKIN LAME OH«»1 MONEY MONEY«
(-)

JayDubya · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:24 pm Post subject:

ACtually, most christmas lights are a mix of series and parallel connections. You will have to go to a local auto store to price out the lights. I usually get them for free b/c I work at a car dealership.
_________________
JayDubya aka JW Jay JD ^> ﺵ

Silicon Skum · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:27 pm Post subject:

2old2care · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:32 pm Post subject:

Actually Xmas lights come in varied voltages. Hence the reason they are in series. The ones that are in parallel are the 120V models. And note I did not say AC because incandescent bulbs really don't care. They go both ways....AARRG

_________________
.
Liquid-Cooled Q9450 and an EeePC
.

smith.p.sean · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:37 pm Post subject:

HAHA ok 2 old... or ne one else for that matter.. I am about to lug this old scanner bulb into the power supply... is it going to blow up in my face casting scalding stuff all over me or is it going to light up... and if it does... is it going to blind me... or perhaps give me cancer lmao?

2old2care · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:38 pm Post subject:

Well, SS welcome...and it seems we think alike...and at the same time.

He may be able to utilize them LED ropes you can get at the home fix it store.

I agree that the PSU is no place to be getting lighting power of any sort, really.
_________________
.
Liquid-Cooled Q9450 and an EeePC
.

2old2care · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:39 pm Post subject:

smith.p.sean · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:41 pm Post subject:

HAHA lmfao... um i think so... is that a i shouldnt try it... or is that a im going to scare the kid and see if hes really as dumb as i think he is... lmao

smith.p.sean · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:43 pm Post subject:

oooh... and thanks SS i didnt see that post... welcome and thansk for helping me not scald and burn myself with something lmao... altouh my hair is standing on end and i keep twitching now... hm...

2old2care · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:45 pm Post subject:

What supply? what kinda scanner bulb? They've change though the years. I'm not real sure but I thinks the new ones use an inverter. I just throw them out and buy new ones. If I want light I get a CCFL from the comp store they're only 10-20 USD.
_________________
.
Liquid-Cooled Q9450 and an EeePC
.

smith.p.sean · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:46 pm Post subject:

i have some already... plus im a modder... we shall see how everything works out lmao i got my dual 12 inch cold cathodes 300 watt for 5.99 :)

2old2care · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:50 pm Post subject:

See, there you go....maybe you should go off and kill some kittens, instead of playing with switching power supplies.

Yea the CCFLs have gotten cheap. And they come in all the colors.
_________________
.
Liquid-Cooled Q9450 and an EeePC
.

smith.p.sean · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:57 pm Post subject:

:) :) :) :) :) :) kittens will wait damnit it works :) there is nothing like being a headstrong teen modder and having one of ur off the wall ideas work!!!! dude... im sure this thing is not meant to be looked at directly cause its SOOOOO bright lmao... i mean... holy crap, ill take a pic once i grab a mini cd... soo cool it plugs right into the same switch as my cold cathode... the little box that comes with them... the same size and shape and everything so i just plugged it in and voila... im thinking about putting it in my keyboard with this nifty on and off switch for night time... hm... the possibilities... does ne one have ne broken scanners they dont want :)

Silicon Skum · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:02 pm Post subject:

smith.p.sean · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:06 pm Post subject:

no they arnt christmas lights, that was my origional thought... this is an old scanner light bulb.. and it has the exact same connection and build as a cold cathode... it plugs very perfectly into the cold cathode box and works just like one...

JayDubya · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info, SS. I was just thinking about the cleanliness of the case. It is possible to solder connections of the xmas lights into the psu, but the string would make a great mess.
I have found that most brake lights are rated at about 15watts. It does put a strain on the psu, but not as much as a cd burner (I know that the light will run constantly)
Maybe a cold cathode is the way to go. Maybe the xmas lights will still work and will look good. I guess its just one of those things you have to try.
_________________
JayDubya aka JW Jay JD ^> ﺵ

smith.p.sean · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:08 pm Post subject:

im liking my scanner bulb jw it works great its soo bright lmao ahahah mauhahaha ill post pics in a sec.

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

well done SS........good call.......and you can pick up some sheap LEDs at radio shack for next to nothing........=]
_________________

2old2care · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:10 pm Post subject:

My neighbor lights up the night in December!!!! I DO NOT want to see Xmas lights in or on a computer!!!!

Or I will kill d...d.....d....dem....domo thingys.....
_________________
.
Liquid-Cooled Q9450 and an EeePC
.

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

HEY buddy.........be careful........Domo is WATCHING you......but yeah....LEDs all the way
_________________

MedTek · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:44 pm Post subject:

GL on the switch on the keyboard...and i gotta see what you stered up today :)
_________________
HAD TO GET RID OF MY SIG BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE WAS TOO LEET (FILESIZE LMAO!)
NOOBTWEAKER