Cold Cathodes

[squeakytoy]

Something else you can do is look through all the "wall wart" adaptors that you have lying around left over from all the electronics that you no longer use. Then just chop the plug off and re-wire. Of course, you will need to look for one that will give you the voltage that you want.

 

[Nick16]

when i get the adaptor, does anyone know how i am meant to wire them becuase this is now confusing me. becuase the different connections that come with the adapter wont fit, right? so do i have to solder bits or something? and what do i attach to what etc. on the pinned topic there is nothing visual for me to look at. the steps are not detailed enough.

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

i will get one from tescos or somewhere cheap. i do not need the inverter just the adapter which will connect it to the mains.

you will need an inverter which is usually supplied with the cathodes the Adapter will connect to the wires entering the iswitch then into the inverter

when i get the adaptor, does anyone know how i am meant to wire them becuase this is now confusing me. becuase the different connections that come with the adapter wont fit, right? so do i have to solder bits or something? and what do i attach to what etc. on the pinned topic there is nothing visual for me to look at. the steps are not detailed enough.

strip back the wires and depending on what adapter you get it depends what colour wires they have. Mine was white to black and red to yellow. Because its low voltage if you get it right it will work and if you get it wrong just swap them over.

 

[smithrc]

Hi Nick - Got your PM

If you have the voltage adapter and dont want to use it for anything else, cut the multi adapter off the end of it and then cut the molex conector of the cold cathode kit.

once you have the wires stripped connect the positive on the adapter to the yellow wire on the cold cathode kit, and the negative on the adapter to the black. (make sure the wire connections cant touch)

plug it in and off you go
If it dosnt work - flick the switch on the mains adapter that changes the positive and negatives around

Russell

 

[Nick16]

hi nick.go to asda or tescos and get a a/c d/c transformer about £6 you want 1 that you can change the voltage from 3 to 12 volts

just got mine going to set it up at the weekend

i looked in tescos and asda's and still didnt find an adapter. i dont want to pay maplins price as inc delivery its lyk £15!!!

 

[Rooster]

any pound shops near you ?

 

[Nick16]

friad not. if someone could purchase a v.cheap one for me and post it that would be great. i will then pay them via paypal. cos anything has to be cheeper than maplins

 

[Rooster]

friad not. if someone could purchase a v.cheap one for me and post it that would be great. i will then pay them via paypal. cos anything has to be cheeper than maplins

We have a choice here... shall be going into town on Sunday - happy to get you one, please let me know if you can wait that long !

 

[Nick16]

this sunday i.e 2 days or a week and 2 days? yes i will wait, find out how much they are, and the postage for me, i imagine it should not be too much, so it will probably be a yes. thanks rooster.

 

[Nick16]

rooster, dont worry, i have the adapter now but im stupmed as to what to do now. i think i have to cut the two molex clips off the end off the neons and the 2 small connecters off the adapter (male and female) and then twist the wires together but im not very sure!!

 

[Rooster]

ok re adaptor... good job I didnt part with money then !

As for wiring it up... the tube(s) have a single wire from each end... usually white, these go to an inverter PCB (usually encased in a bit of black heat shrink plastic tube) Also connected to this board will be a twin cable (red+black ?) with a hard drive type connector on the end.... this is where you want to feed your 12v or whatever you will be using.
So, chop off the PC power connector AND whatever is on the end of your adaptors lead.... these are usually supplied with a "figure 8" cable... one of which will have a white stripe - this will be "+" although this is not written in stone !
Unless you have a multimeter (and why not ? they are cheap and dead handy !) then just touch the wires onto the wires from the tubes inverter to check that it lights, if not then just reverse the wires !
Once this is done, insulate the joins with something appropriate (NOT sellotape ! LOL)

 

[huckFIN]

rooster, dont worry, i have the adapter now but im stupmed as to what to do now. i think i have to cut the two molex clips off the end off the neons and the 2 small connecters off the adapter (male and female) and then twist the wires together but im not very sure!!

This link might be useful.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...p;#entry2159893

 

[nitro7]

hope this helps nick

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll69/nitro7_bucket/PICT0087.jpg[/IMG
[img]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll69/nitro7_bucket/PICT0088.jpg

total cost £10.00

 

[Nick16]

defo helps with the black and yellow bits but my adapter leads are different. they are thicker and are almost 2 cables glued together, they both have white stripes running down them! il post pics up in a sec

 

[Nick16]

the connecters. i dont know where to cut them off.

[/img]

the whole thing.

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