the same you find in fancy computer cases

can they be fitted to the outside of the car??

i need lighting for my rear number plate and these are an option, where can i get them from?? and can you get them in white?? cause all the ones i seen are either blue or green.

are they quite bright too??

cheers

Yes you can get them in white, maplin electronics probably have them. Yes they are bright! But you might have to get a power invertor as they probably work from different voltage?

i got 2 sets of blue ones, that come with an inverter, i could always pinch the inverter off them cause i dont use them, weel iat least i think its an inverter

thanks for the help, will go look now

Maplins definatly sell them, and probably have the inverters... Have you thought of White LEDs? can get these from maplins, some prototype board, and a few resistors (I mean 'piggyback mod chips') a plastic tube with some rubber ends to seal the LEDS in, and you're sorted... well cheap.

i thought the cathodes were 12v DC and the inverter was to make them compatible with a PC - whats that? 5v AC??

No you get the invertors for the pc and you have to buty a seperate one for a car. Don't know if maplins will have em in store but thy'll be able to order them in as they robably dont get many people wantin white ones.

http://www.ebuyer.com

I can promise you they'll be cheaper than Maplins.

Components > Case's ands Modding > Then Case Lighting is the menu's to follow I think. They should also have the other pieces needed.

Got 2 red 12' inch cathodes for the inside of the car arriving in the post soon, cost 3 quid.

Are the plastic shells going to be robust enough though ? as they aren't really solid. Could maybe add another clear tube to them, would probably do the job.

Alex said:

Maplins definatly sell them, and probably have the inverters... Have you thought of White LEDs? can get these from maplins, some prototype board, and a few resistors (I mean 'piggyback mod chips') a plastic tube with some rubber ends to seal the LEDS in, and you're sorted... well cheap.

Click to expand...

haha, you havent heard about my wiring disasters then

that sounds a great idea, but i have trouble turning the telly on, so this would be beyond me, LED's do sound a better idea, as im assuming they would be directional and brighter??, am i right in thinking that

i seen some of the tubes on maplins website, 28 day delivery , looks like a trip to local store tomorrow

Cold cathodes on the outside are illegal, unless the car is stationary.

Cold cathodes for computers generally run off of 12V I think, in computers there are 5V and 12V lines.

Don't tell Gaz to make a basic PCB, he will be attempting to rewire his computer the following day....

The Ugly Duckling said:

Cold cathodes on the outside are illegal, unless the car is stationary.

Cold cathodes for computers generally run off of 12V I think, in computers there are 5V and 12V lines.

Click to expand...

yes you are correct, but as they are being used as number plate lighting i cant see them kicking up a stink, they will be well hidden behind the number plate and the glow will be contained

wow how cheap are e-buyer

pghstochaj said:

Don't tell Gaz to make a basic PCB, he will be attempting to rewire his computer the following day....

Click to expand...

ooooo, do tell

im still trying to figure out the hell im gonna wire them up , but that will be another question for another day - keep you on your toes

gaz, yeah the leds are very directional (with light) you could put some reflective plastic in the tube.

They are also directional in terms of current, but the Positive leg is usually marked with a flat spot on the led itself. find the current of and voltage required to activate the LEDs, simple Ohms law equasion (v=i*r or re-aranged for the resistance required = r=v/i), a bit of soldering... sorted!

I thought the flat spot was negative :S I am sure I learnt that as it's like a minus sign.

http://www.litewave.co.uk/

They do a huge amount of exterior and interior lighting for cars and motorcycles, you should be able to find something there

i just paid £5 for a set of the cathode ones, although im gonna give the led's a go cause it will save me trying to contain the light in some sort of box

if i blow myself or my car up im holding you responsible

pghstochaj said:

I thought the flat spot was negative :S I am sure I learnt that as it's like a minus sign.

Click to expand...

Well either way, it'll only work one way around, better check before soldering though

At least it doesn't matter with LEDs, worth thing that will happen is nothing, not like a capacitor :S

oh, i forgot to ask, do these cathode tubes get hot?

EDIT - i was in retard mode when i asked this question, the whole point of a COLD cathode tube is to be cold

Ive used the ebuyer tubes on the interior...wire in fine

I tried wiring some onto the outside of the last Cinq. They fell off and disintegrated at 30mph, If i could be arsed trying another method of fixing...I would, but yu will need to seal the electronics box (I used silicone sealant and it worked fine)

Oh, Gaz, the purpose of the inverter is to convert the low 12v voltage to a higher (say several thousand ~11kV) voltage but at a very low current, as the Cold Cathode tube needs a very high potential difference (voltage) between its poles (the wire in an effectively unconductive fluid) to make the neon gas break down and light up when yu apply the power to it....So its definately needed