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under case glow: cathode, led, or el wire?

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peterhoang2002

Gawd
Joined
Jan 15, 2004
Messages
705
what do you think is the best way to produce and glow under the case? heres what i thought of..

  • el wire. attached around the perimeter of the underside of the case
  • 6 or so leds. 1 in fron, 1 back, 2 on each side
  • one 12" cathode mounted in the middle under the case

what would produce the best glow? im also open to other suggestions
 
i would say leds because a cold cathode would be overly bright, and i hear bad things about elwire.
 
A cathode in the middle gives off a good underglow but if you don't house it properly I can see that being busted quite easily. LEDs would be better but the cathode would be easier.
 
Well, it kinda depends on what look you are going for. EL Wire would give you a nice rim of light and a very light glow. CCFL down the center would give you a nice even spread of a nice glow, especially if you resessed it into the case a bit (im assuming your going to put this on wheels or something?)

LEDs are great for pointlighting, you could also do a plexiglass base with frosted edge to give you an even rim and then put the LEDs into the plexi from the middle.
 
My camera sucks, or else I'd post a picture; however, I'd go with a CCFL. My case has feet on it, so it's off my desk by about an inch. I taped a CCFL onto the bottom in the middle and it gives a nice underglow. If you got down with your head on the desk and stared right into it, it'd be too bright, but looking at it normally it's just fine. It has a nice, soft underglow.
 
this is going on a wave master case i just order. on second thought, im not sure if a cathode would fit under there unless i got new feet for it.

leds seem like the way to go considering i can get 50 leds for like 6 and then 20 holders for another 5. now if theres leds were rated at 3.2v, i could run 4 in a series off the 12v rail fine without any resistors right?
 
i would use 2x small CC's in the shape of a V with the point at the back of the case, while it soulds funny it will give an even glow on both sides, front and rear. trust me i have tryde it and it works grate
 
The only problem with running them in series without any resistors is that if you dont have a nice and stable 12v source, you could get your LED's screwed up. Maybe measure your 12v line that comes frrom your PSU?
I think the LED's would look the nicest though
 
If anyone guessed I was gonna post a pic of the now infamous server, you were right.

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wow thats like what i was thinking of doing but instead using less leds. i have a question for you, did u use led holder/mounts or did u just put the leds in the holes. if u didnt use mounts/holders how did u make them stay in place?
 
its good electronics pratice to always use a resistor to limit current though a LED. If your overdriving a LED with extra current you will kill your LEDs quicker.

it looks like that server is using LED holders :D
 
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