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CCFLs

X

XcalibeR

n00b
Joined
Jan 22, 2005
Messages
52
I've got a question about UV lights. I want to get a dual 12" kit for my pc, but I don't know which ones to get. I know, sounds dumb, but go with it for a few minutes. I want one that gives off as little visible light as possible, but is still pretty bright to light up my cables (gonna get a OCZ ModStream PSU). I've seen three main choices, Ultra, CoolerMaster Aurora, and Vantec Spectrum. From the few pictures I've seen, the Vantec seems to have a lot of visible light, and the Ultra seems to be the best in that regard. However, those are justa couple pictures, and could be brightness adjusted, etc. So If anyone has any firsthad expereince with any of these, and could advise me on which one is best, I would be most grateful :)
 
i dont have any first hand experience, but i have an idea. your could take a limiter, theyre called something like that, and just have the 5v line running into the CCFL, instead of the 12v. it may also be possible to just cut the 12v and leave the 5v running into the CCFL.

i am by no means an electrician, but you might be able to do that. the limiter i was referring to is basically a little wire that goes between the power cable and the powered device, and the wire has a capacitor or resistor (again, im not an electrician) that prevents the full 12v from reaching the attached device.
 
I have the CoolerMaster Aurora in my PC at home. I can post some pics of it in action if you'd like.
 
i have the svc type, doesnt really make the uv reactive things glow a lot and gives off a bit of the purp light.
 
I have dual Sunbeam 12" CC's and a 4" one in my Lian-Li and they don't put out hardly any light and light up my reactive cabling/sleeving very nicely.

Here is the site I buy from:

Performance PCs
 
Im getting one of the CoolerMaster Aurora dual kits to add to my liquid blue neon CCL (need to make my cables glow) because I have heard good things about the CM kits. Jab has them on sale right now too for 12.99. I will also try out the Logisys. Well see how they stack up once I get them, but I dont expect much since they are only 5.99.
 
TSS Modder said:
i dont have any first hand experience, but i have an idea. your could take a limiter, theyre called something like that, and just have the 5v line running into the CCFL, instead of the 12v. it may also be possible to just cut the 12v and leave the 5v running into the CCFL.

i am by no means an electrician, but you might be able to do that. the limiter i was referring to is basically a little wire that goes between the power cable and the powered device, and the wire has a capacitor or resistor (again, im not an electrician) that prevents the full 12v from reaching the attached device.
Click to expand...

[teaching]It's a resistor that you, my friend, are thinking of. A resistor, well, resists. A capacitor actually stores electricity for when it is most needed.[/teaching]

He is right, if you dont want it to give off much light you could easily limit it. Take a resistor of (what you think) to be appropriate size and put it in-line with the feed wire (the red one) if it still gives off too much light, go for one with a higher resistance, and vica versa if it doesnt give off enough light, go with one thats of lower resistance.
 
Hey Xcaliber. I took some pics last night of my setup with the Aurora's in them. it's really hard to tell how bright they are from the pics because a camera has a really hard time picking up the UV but they turned out alright. I am at work right now so when I get home I will post them.
 
MasterFrmMO88 said:
[teaching]It's a resistor that you, my friend, are thinking of. A resistor, well, resists. A capacitor actually stores electricity for when it is most needed.[/teaching]

He is right, if you dont want it to give off much light you could easily limit it. Take a resistor of (what you think) to be appropriate size and put it in-line with the feed wire (the red one) if it still gives off too much light, go for one with a higher resistance, and vica versa if it doesnt give off enough light, go with one thats of lower resistance.
Click to expand...

thank you teacher.

this is what i come to the [H]ard Forums for... to learn. :)
 
i bought UV ones at www.thinkgeek.com and they are nice and dim, but light up my uv reactive stuff reallly well. i have the lanparty ut mobo with the uv reactive slots and it glows really good and my rounded cables are uv also and they show up really nice. i can hardly notice the light from my computer even though it is a foot away from my keyboard. i think they look good. i did not want anything that would be blinding while i am trying to sleep.
 
MasterFrmMO88 said:
[teaching]It's a resistor that you, my friend, are thinking of. A resistor, well, resists. A capacitor actually stores electricity for when it is most needed.[/teaching]

He is right, if you dont want it to give off much light you could easily limit it. Take a resistor of (what you think) to be appropriate size and put it in-line with the feed wire (the red one) if it still gives off too much light, go for one with a higher resistance, and vica versa if it doesnt give off enough light, go with one thats of lower resistance.
Click to expand...

There are problems with limiting a inverter's power.

It's not as simple as reducing the input voltage like a LED, this would just reduce the voltage being supplied to the CCFL and all CCFL's need a certain amount of voltage to drive the thing and keep the filaments hot. with the limits of these CCLF's the filaments don't get nearly as hot as ordnary FL's so their tollorance to Dimming is vastly reduced. and your probably gonna find it's gonna go out with in 10% of dimming.

For more information on dimming FL's Check here http://members.misty.com/don/f-dim.html
 
XcalibeR said:
I've got a question about UV lights. I want to get a dual 12" kit for my pc, but I don't know which ones to get. I know, sounds dumb, but go with it for a few minutes. I want one that gives off as little visible light as possible, but is still pretty bright to light up my cables (gonna get a OCZ ModStream PSU). I've seen three main choices, Ultra, CoolerMaster Aurora, and Vantec Spectrum. From the few pictures I've seen, the Vantec seems to have a lot of visible light, and the Ultra seems to be the best in that regard. However, those are justa couple pictures, and could be brightness adjusted, etc. So If anyone has any firsthad expereince with any of these, and could advise me on which one is best, I would be most grateful :)
Click to expand...


I got mine from:
http://www.bestbyteinc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LIG-CFL-U12K

It does not make a lot of non-UV light and the price was resonable,

As for dimming, CCFL are florcesent, and can't be dimmed much.

I even got a set of blue ones for the trunk of my car, (talk about a good mod, now I can see in it at night.)
 
Well, I got the logisys and the CM aurora today dual UV CCLs...I will test them against my current thermaltake (in another case) and report the findings.
 
Ok, plugged them all in side by side. Shucks...one of the CM aurora's was broken when I got it from Jabtech. Oh well...I can still see one. The Thermaltake is in the middle...some light, some UV. The galaxy I also have was just dim. not alot of UV even. The Logisys was the brightest with light. not that this is bad. I know from my reef-aquarium background that more UV is given by bulbs that are bluer and not as purple...but for the purposes of what we want to know here...the Logisys are the brightest...almost not what you would expect for UV...very blue and purple...not blacklight-ish. The Coolermaster was by far the best however. It gives out a dim deep purple light...not very bright (in fact the second weakest looking when you look at it. But when I put it inside my case...WHOAH! my cables all lit up like the fourth of July! By far the best one is the CoolerMaster Aurora. Next to test...Sunbeam and Vantec. I dont expect much from the Vantec, as everything I have had of theirs ends up being a POS (Stealth 520 PS, rheobuses, CCL fans), but Sunbeam tends to pack a good value...

Next I am going to test side by side a group of those "Liquid" CCFLs. I have a blue XG Liquid, the Kingwin 'Lightning', and I am waiting on the Sunbeam Liquid CCFL...all in blue.
 
I've bought several brands and the best IMO are the Ultras. They produce plenty of light, but the best feature is the switch is mounted to a PCI slot cover.
In other words you don't have to mod your case or drive covers, give up a drive bay, or buy a premodded switch unit. Since most people aren't using all their PCI slots these days, they are very nice.

A life size shot of a new set of Ultras I'm going to put into my case.
http://www.iupload.net/102004/Ultra CCL 1.JPG

The same set in a fully darkened room taken without flash.
http://www.iupload.net/102004/Ultra CCL 2.JPG
 
The logisys and Coolermaster also have the PCI brackets...the CM even includes a 3-way switch w/ mic pickup and sound sensitivity dials.
 
EngineChauffer said:
I have dual Sunbeam 12" CC's and a 4" one in my Lian-Li and they don't put out hardly any light and light up my reactive cabling/sleeving very nicely.

Here is the site I buy from:

Performance PCs
Click to expand...
Andf I thought I was the only one that bought from that site :) Great seller, always ships the parts I need very quick and I get them in 2-3 days, for cheap too.
 
DaRkF0g said:
Andf I thought I was the only one that bought from that site :) Great seller, always ships the parts I need very quick and I get them in 2-3 days, for cheap too.
Click to expand...
I buy from them too, great place to shop. :)
 
My new Lian Li PC-V2000 came from Hank as well...custom modded with dual 120mm blowholes up top...looks sweeeeeet. I think I have spent $600 with performance-pcs in the past month...sheesh...
 
Yeah, I have spent about 300 there in about 1 1/2 mo. also.

I am done now. I bet I have spent a grand to make my case pretty. Its pretty depressing when you add it all up. I prefer not to even look at my purchase history there... lol

:p

He is an awesome seller, I agree. He sends out stuff the same day. Gets from Fla. to Pgh PA in about 2-3 days.
 
Any suggestions for 4" CCFLs that don't put out much light? I have blue CCFLs already in my case (and am definitely going for a blue theme) but I bought a DFI LanParty nF4 Ultra-D which has UV-reactive paint on the board. I don't want to lose the blue light, but I do want my motherboard to glow. Any suggesstions?
 
blink182prj said:
Any suggestions for 4" CCFLs that don't put out much light? I have blue CCFLs already in my case (and am definitely going for a blue theme) but I bought a DFI LanParty nF4 Ultra-D which has UV-reactive paint on the board. I don't want to lose the blue light, but I do want my motherboard to glow. Any suggesstions?
Click to expand...
how many blue CCFLs do you have? if you have enough (2-3) then one UV probably wont overpower the blue ones.
 
I would at least get a set of two 12" UV CC's

You could even put them right below your blue ones. I don't know about your case, but I have a Lian Li PC65B and I could easily put two under the window and two on the left side of the window if I wanted. Since I just have UV stuff in my case (fans, sleeving, reactive cables) I have two 12" UV CC's and two 4" UV CC's. Lights up everything nice and bright.
 
I think you might have more luck finding UV lighting that sticks to its band, and doesn't venture much into visible light, in LEDs(Though of course, not nearly as much power overall).
 
I have 4 uv and 2 blue but the blue are obscenely strong and I can't look at them directly lookee that light on top is acutally a purple uv but cus my blue is so strong it makes it blue
DSC00084.JPG

DSC00085.JPG

DSC00086.JPG
 
people who have Cooler Master Ultra Aurora, how did you attach them to the case? do they come with any sticky things?
 
You guys don't think two 4"ers will do the job of just highlinghting the motherboard? I don't have any reactive sleeving or anything that needs UV...just the motherboard.
 
blink182prj said:
You guys don't think two 4"ers will do the job of just highlinghting the motherboard? I don't have any reactive sleeving or anything that needs UV...just the motherboard.
Click to expand...
i think 4 inchers would work out great. just place then 'strategically' around the mobo. if you get 2 of them the blue should still take predominance over the UV.
 
MrSlacker said:
people who have Cooler Master Ultra Aurora, how did you attach them to the case? do they come with any sticky things?
Click to expand...
You can use that. I used velcro.
 
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