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Cold Cathode....computer locks up!

J

JLoser

n00b
Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
7
Just installed some cold cathode LEDs, now whenever I turn them on, computer locks up after a few seconds. Could this be a power supply? I have a Vantec 420W power supply. Have a floppy, harddrive, fan controller, dvd-rom and a CD-RW hooked up to it with two case fans. Anybody have this problem before?
 
More likely it's a short in a wire or something like that in the new stuff. Do they have inverters like the bigger lights do? How many of these did you put in.
 
Your power should be more then fine. I would double check the wiring.
 
I put in a dual blue cathode with and inverter and a single UV cathode with another inverter. Turn them on one at a time and computer locks up, doesn't matter which one I turn on.
 
How do you have them wired up? It is really sounding like a short somewhere. It would be after the switch since it only happens after you switch on the cold cathodes.
 
Tried a UV cold cathode fan guard with an inverter and no problems there, seems to happen when I turn on any of the two 12 inch cold cathode, PC Toys brand.........
 
Complete complete specs of your system...

Also, where these pre made or?

I want t know of everything in your puter that has power going to it.

Pics would also be nice.
 
Picture of the switch(es) and how you have it mounted would be nice. Almost sounds like it's grounding out to the case.
 
erm...everyone seems to be going on about shorts...how exactly will that cause the computer to lock up "after" a few seconds? a short would pretty much immediately cause the PC to shut off...most computer PSU's are designed that way.
 
I had something similar happen to me.

What I found to be the problem, I had the cold cathode on the same line as the harddrive, and when i would turn it on, it would lock the harddrive. I think it was dropping the voltage, and that would mess with the drive.
 
Originally posted by mobiux
I had something similar happen to me.

What I found to be the problem, I had the cold cathode on the same line as the harddrive, and when i would turn it on, it would lock the harddrive. I think it was dropping the voltage, and that would mess with the drive.
Click to expand...
poor hd =(
 
Sorry, don't have any pics...keyboard and mouse stop responding, have to do a hard reset. Thanks for all the help, will look the wiring after I get off work.
 
total system specs yo!

what I am wokderng if you are overclocking, and drawing a lot of current, and, when you flip on the ccfl, it drops the voltages too much.

Do you have a dmm?

I would try to increase the voltage going to ram and proc to see if this helps.

I am also willing to bet that you have a newer mobo with pc health on it, go into the bios, and check the rails, report back, while your in there, turn on the ccfl's and see if the rails drop.

Personally, the psu your using would never be on my to consider list. I would go all out antec...

So, please, post everything in your system, the fans, cards, everything.

Also, you never did mention if your switches where home made or not, and if you did all the wiring or if it was a prefab setup.

I am interested in what is the problem.
 
If the system boots fine with the CCFLs on, then the problem is likely a mon=mentary drop in the output from the PSU. The posts about the multimeter check, or increasing voltages to ram or CPU may help. Otherwise it may take replacing the PSU or capacitors on the affected lines.
 
the cathods have to be on their own power the mb does not like seeing power going up and down. try setting up a swithc that turns on a lcd when the cathode is off so the power supply is not suprised to jumps in power. try to start the computer with the cathodes on. also if you dont have any power extra get a connection to connect it to a floopy drive power.
 
Originally posted by cdrgns
the cathods have to be on their own power the mb does not like seeing power going up and down. try setting up a swithc that turns on a lcd when the cathode is off so the power supply is not suprised to jumps in power. try to start the computer with the cathodes on. also if you dont have any power extra get a connection to connect it to a floopy drive power.
Click to expand...

You mean LED.

A cathod will tkae mroe juice then an led.

Caps would be good...

I am awaiting my demands:)
 
sc0tty8, here are the specs..

Abit IC7-G mb with a 2.4 C o/c to 3.5
1 48x cd burner
1 16x DVD rom
1 WD 120g hd
1 floppy drive
1 Nexus fan controller
Radeon 9000 pro
1 92mm Vantec "Tornado" on CPU heatsink
3 80mm case fans, 1 92mm case fan, 1 120mm case fan
1 CCFL UV grill guard, 1 dual (blue) CCFL, and 1 single (UV) CCFL

Tried upping the core voltalge to 1.6v with no luck, ram voltage is at 2.8v. Also tried clocking it down but still same results. The switches are came with the kit. All the wiring was prefab. They are PC Toys brand. Have them hooked up the the same line as the HD.....Will go into bios and see if the rails drop when I turn on the CCFLs when I get home and will post. Thanks for the help.
 
Originally posted by sc0tty8
You mean LED.

A cathod will tkae mroe juice then an led.

Caps would be good...

I am awaiting my demands:)
Click to expand...

caps would indeed be good. and i hope he meant an LED, as an LCD takes up almost no power at all.
 
Take them off the hard drive power line. Fuck my hands are cold and I can't type. The more connections you add between the power supply and the hard drives, the more chance of a bad connection somewhere(this is the same for any device, but hard drives don't like being interrupted!). Ideally your hard drives should be connected directly to a psu line with no extenders or splitters or anything in between. I REALLY doubt the ccfls draw enough power to make the voltage drop enough to cause the computer to crash. And LEDs take very little power.
 
That was it.....took the CCFLs off the HD power line and everything is fine now. Appreciate all the help.
 
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