Adding Blue Cathodes...

[Monte20]

I was reading the moonlight stick about adding cold cathodes. great info and i plan on doing this. my only question the actual wiring of the lights to the voltage adapter. thats the one thing i didnt see in the sticky. my total experience with electricty is shocking myself on a electric fence, and changing remote batteries. lol. but i love the look of it, and the led craze had led to very expenisive parts at the lfs. so a DIY is in order. and i love to learn new stuff anyway.

 

[Rooster]

You'll have either a RED and a BLACK or, YELLOW and black wires on the cold cathode control box (inverter) presuming this came from a computer shop !
Doesnt matter which you have, the BLACK is alway the negative or "-"

Rather than faff about with plugs and sockets with the PSU (power supply unit) chop off the end and join it to the inverter wires (chop that plug off too, if it has one) NOT THE WIRES THAT GOTO THE TUBE !


Now just join them together... if you have a voltage meter, you can tell which wire is which.... if not, just give it a go.... youve got a 50/50 chance of getting it right first time, if not swap the wires round.
There no danger of a shock here, as its only 12 Volts or so.... but take care with the wires going to the tube... dont cut them at all !

 

[dylema]

A quick practical suggestion. I just did this mod, and I used a little wire joining thing that is shaped like an H and you put the ends of the wires into each side and do up a little screw. It is neat and much better than the twist and tape method.

 

[Rooster]

A quick practical suggestion. I just did this mod, and I used a little wire joining thing that is shaped like an H and you put the ends of the wires into each side and do up a little screw. It is neat and much better than the twist and tape method.

I assume you mean a connector block ? (AKA "chocolate block") In all honesty, I would shy away from these if theres any chance of it getting wet...

 

[dylema]

I assume you mean a connector block ? (AKA "chocolate block") In all honesty, I would shy away from these if theres any chance of it getting wet...

I don't know what it is called but that sounds right. Fair call as there is bare metal inside so maybe its best to fill the holes with silicon or shrink wrap plastic the whole thing.

 

[denis coghlan]

This might be a little help.

My cold cathod set up

let me know if you need to know anything else.

tanks

 

[j25uk]

I was reading the moonlight stick about adding cold cathodes. great info and i plan on doing this. my only question the actual wiring of the lights to the voltage adapter. thats the one thing i didnt see in the sticky. my total experience with electricty is shocking myself on a electric fence, and changing remote batteries. lol. but i love the look of it, and the led craze had led to very expenisive parts at the lfs. so a DIY is in order. and i love to learn new stuff anyway.

hey there monty take alook at my post about alternative to cathode i found a great product for 21 quid in ikea no wiring needed and does the job perfect if you need any more info let me know got the pics of the tank on link in the process of doing the pics of install its self