DIY Cold Cathode Desk Light
I was toying with the idea of purchasing a battlelight, i like to game in the dark, but i also like my desk to be illuminated enough to see the keyboard properly. My keyboard is backlit, which means i can see which key is which but it just doesn't cut it. I want more light focussed on my desk and keyboard area without the room being drowned in light. I also like the new LCD TV's which have backlighting.
The choice was simple enough, either cough up ~£20 for a battlelight or build my own using spare parts i had lying around.
The ingredients:
2 x cold cathode tubes
1 x 12v power inverter
1 x simple switch
1 x molex connector (a fan one preferable)
A soldering iron
Double sided mounting tape
Electrical Tape
I had a couple of cold cathode kits lying around that had been used in other PC's, i had to butcher them so i could use the double socket power inverter to connect two cathode tubes, but also the switch with from the single socket power inverter kit.
When i had the parts i soldered the new leads to the PCB on the power inverter, i then split the live wire and connected the switch. Once everything was soldered in place i covered each of the joins with electrical tape. Proper job !
When done the finished product looked like this:
http://petesmith.blogsite.org/photo/...video=ture&v=0
Then i fired up the PC switched on the battlelight and basked in the glow! :mrgreen:
http://petesmith.blogsite.org/photo/...video=ture&v=0
More images can be found here if your interested.
Re: DIY Cold Cathode Desk Light
Similar idea to what i had. How did you power the 2 cold cathodes? I was unsure where and how to connect the 4pin molex connector.
Re: DIY Cold Cathode Desk Light
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hicks12
Similar idea to what i had. How did you power the 2 cold cathodes? I was unsure where and how to connect the 4pin molex connector.
I ran a molex extension cable via the water cooling hole in my case from the PSU. Some PSU's have an external molex plug which would make it even easier.
Re: DIY Cold Cathode Desk Light
nice
quick question where did you attach the tubes? back of the monitor?
Re: DIY Cold Cathode Desk Light
Lokks nice but doesn't it get in the way of reading whats on the screen without eye strain?
Re: DIY Cold Cathode Desk Light
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pob255
nice
quick question where did you attach the tubes? back of the monitor?
Yes. One towards the top and another right at the bottom but on the back so as not to blind me.