fan controller to control cathodes??

[johnny02004976]

ive just bought a Zalman fan controller to run the fans on my radiator which is fine. however on the end of the controller there are 2 switches which can be used to control fans (set to either 12v or 5v) but i was wondering if those switches can be used to control my cathodes.



i had the plan of cutting the two wires which link the cathodes inverter to the PCI switch plate and connecting them to the switch on the end of the controller.

would this work (assuming it was selected to 12v)

[Madafwo]

Yeah, would work fine, was thinking of doing the same myself. Just a plain old switch, just hook it up to the right legs of the switch and it will be fine. was thinking of doing it as I want two sets of lights in my system, one UV and one standard, this would be the easiest way to do it.

But yeah, to answer your question it would be fine.

[johnny02004976]

thats perfect cheers mate, gonna start stripping wires now

[Butcher]

Have you tried it madafwo? I would have said, no it won't work. Switching to 5V will either make the inverter cut out due to low voltage, or the cathode fail to glow due to low voltage. AC tube lights like cold cathodes don't react well to varying voltage.

[IAmATeaf]

Looks like the switches can do off 7v and 12v in which case if you wire the cathode to the 12v then you should be able to switch the tube off with the switch in the off position.

[Butcher]

Oh, for on-off yeah should work fine, it's just a switch.

[chuckskull]

Yeah works fine, if you have a 4pin molex connector on your inverter, just tear the two wires out and put them in into the appropriate place on the back of the controller.

I have one myself, all you have to remember is that it's a powered switch, not just a normal one.

[johnny02004976]

Yeah works fine, if you have a 4pin molex connector on your inverter, just tear the two wires out and put them in into the appropriate place on the back of the controller.

I have one myself, all you have to remember is that it's a powered switch, not just a normal one.

yeh, well the two wires from the inverter goes to a powered molex and then the other two goes to the switch on the PCI plate, so basically all im doing is swapping switches

im gonna do it tonight so i'll post on how it goes

[Clunk]

i read somewhere that pwm fan controllers can kill cathodes...might be worth googling it

[chuckskull]

yeh, well the two wires from the inverter goes to a powered molex and then the other two goes to the switch on the PCI plate, so basically all im doing is swapping switches

im gonna do it tonight so i'll post on how it goes

Be very careful, on most the PCI switch only breaks the circuit after the inverter. make sure any power goes in before the inverter.

[johnny02004976]

well i can only try the cathodes im using atm arn't the ones im going to use so i can just test the ground on these ones

anyone used the optiglow stuff from scan??

[Madafwo]

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This one calls it a Fan and Light controller

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When I say something, it tends to be after a lot of research.

[johnny02004976]

from what i read mate it looks like were in business, i havnt got round to trying it yet with some spare cathodes ive been to busy with my new job, but i certainly try it in the next day or two

[chuckskull]

from what i read mate it looks like were in business, i havnt got round to trying it yet with some spare cathodes ive been to busy with my new job, but i certainly try it in the next day or two

I was going to do this myself earlier (same controller), but the PSU I bought truned out to be borked so I got sidetracked, I'll probably do it whenever it's replacement turns up