Cold Cathode Kits

[newbuilder14]

I was thinking about getting these cathodes:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16800999371

To put in this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119077

With these cables:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16812183042

Would this be a reliable solution to make my case look 'cool?' Are the cathodes honestly gonna explode on me? :D

[chipdip]

I really don't that the cathodes will explode. I have only heard of one case where that has happened, and the lights were REALLY defective.

[newbuilder14]

Okay thank you. I will probably go ahead and get them. They make for some sweet lighting.

[fleeingpepper]

Non-cheap ones like the ones you picked out are more likely to not blow up....And it's not the cathodes that blow up, it's the inverters.

[newbuilder14]

So what are the most reliable kits? I really feel unsure about trusting my hardware on them, but I like the fact that you can turn them off and on. Anyone have anything bad to say about them?

If it helps, I'm looking at these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811994001

[newbuilder14]

I'm not sure if it is better to get a 35dBA case fan for $1 cheaper or get the cathode lights above - at least the fan will be a reliable choice. I really need some opinions on the reliability of these things.

[Mr.Ferrari]

35DBA?? You sure you can handle that kinda noise??

I used to use cathodes and other lighting alot in my previous cases/builds. Ive recently stopped due to my quest for a more cleaner looking computer ;P.

However the ones that failed on me the most were the logisys lights. They broke very easily and always tended to loose their brightness after a while.

I think you should be ok with them though.

I do hear great things about ULTRA cathodes, however they are very expensive. Vastech and thermaltake are also decent..

[newbuilder14]

If my aunt chooses to get me those Logisys ones off my wishlist I will use them.

Any last words on their safety?

Sure they are a risk, but so are most things in life. :D

[Mr.Ferrari]

Seriously..they are not dangerous...I mean its the same chance of one of the caps on your motherboard blowing up and burning everthing down, or your powersupply blowing up lol..

[Cricket]

If you're that worried about the chances of them bursting into flames, don't get them...it's called "Peace of mind".

:) Cricket

[newbuilder14]

The fact that I can leave them off unless I am taking pictures relieves me a bit. Chances are my aunt won't choose them off my wishlist anyway, so...

This is just too cool :cool: :
http://usera.imagecave.com/Technoholic/casepainted/DSC08037.JPG

[Cricket]

Think about it...they're just lights, that's all...just lights. What's more important? Pretty lights or a working computer?

:) Cricket

[newbuilder14]

Alright Cricket. You know what, all your advice to me has always worked, so I'm going with you on that one.

[Cricket]

Now you don't have to worry about your computer or your house burning down.

:) Cricket

[fleeingpepper]

If you ever are looking to a good alternative to cathodes, apparently there's a way to hook up automotive brake lights up to your computer (the ones with 40 LED's inside them and such). I've seen a few pics of computers with those and they are really, really bright.

[newbuilder14]

Good to know, thanks. :)

Also I have another idea: UV Reactive cables + UV Cable Sleeving + UV Reactive fans = Ownage? Question directed to those who mod cases and know what looks 'cool.' I'm looking for a solid blue lighting effect in my case.

Anyone know of good, quiet fans that give off blue light and would make my cables glow? Is there such a thing as a blue LED fan that can give off UV light?

Can I just use plain blue LED fans? - Would they make the UV blue cables react?

[Mr.Ferrari]

They will make the cables react..a bit. But essentially UV lighting is Purple. Not blue. UV lighting is what'll bring the best out.

Just one thing, a while back I used to be just like you, buying all this lighting and UV crap until one day all that brightness kinda pissed me off and I just threw it all away.

But thats just me. ;).

And for the fans. The quietest led fans IMO are the Yate Loon D12-SL's and anything from CoolerMaster.

[newbuilder14]

Well, I've been living with beige PCs all my life, and I like to get creative. Here is my list now:

1 of these http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/a2068.html
1 of these http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/10bluvresaca.html
1 of these http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/tlr-s82-eb.html
And, how many of these http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/ziptie-blu.html do you think I need? I was thinking maybe 10 or 15 at most.

[newbuilder14]

Any last comments on the things above? If not I will go ahead and choose those items to make my case look better.

Is SVC any good? How is their customer service, etc.?

[Mr.Ferrari]

List looks good, and get as many zip ties as you need, then get 5 more. Because if you ever need more, you'll end up paying a few bucks shipping. I would also take a look over at radioshack, thats where I get all my zip ties from.

As far as customer service...one of the best. I know a few guys there, always reply promptly to inquires and do their best with shipping.

Once I forgot 4 fan screws and they shipped me 100 for free.

[andper10]

Will you PM me when you get those fans in and remind me to check back here for a loudness/quietness report? I have a few noisy 80mm fans that I wouldn't mind replacing if I knew someone else that recommended a good replacement. -Thanks, and enjoy your case modding.

BTW, I have a cathode story. I bought a set of cool cathodes off ebay that were suppossed to be logsys brand, but they were unicom brand, and i plugged them in, and whenever i would turn them off or on, my system would restart. As far as I can tell, they didn't do any damage, but I unplugged them for good after that. The conclusion that I draw from that is get good brand name cathodes, and maybe make a little box coated with fire retardant to put your inverter into so that it won't burn everything down if it explodes ;).

[newbuilder14]

Sorry :( - I opted for a Newegg gift card instead. I will tell you one thing, though - the 80mm fan included in my Cooler Master Centurion 5 is not the quietest, but when you are 5 feet away from it you cannot hear it.

[andper10]

OK, Enjoy whatever you get with it!

[newbuilder14]

I have $45 to spend at Newegg thanks to my aunt, so if anyone has any suggestions, I'm here to take them. :) I was thinking about a cable sleeving kit but that looks like a pain in the neck.

[newbuilder14]

I have them in and turned on and they are fine. The effect is very cool. If I keep the switch off, but it is still plugged into the molex connector, would the inverter still be at risk of blowing up because it is connected to the molex connector?

[Mr.Ferrari]

No....

[newbuilder14]

Okay, lol. My case looks dark without them.

[xplosiv3]

This is something ive always found a cool lightin effect,without risking chances of cathodes Kits going wrong, and i always get bored easily with just the same colour just has a little flip switch on the back to change from 3 colours and has a fan controller

6461


and the wires are UV Wraped ....Green thou..as its called Chameleon.....no chioces there...but! you can buy UV Green cable ties :p

6463

[newbuilder14]

I appreciate your imput, however I personally find Aspire units to be low quality.

[Stuey]

Darn it, how did I miss this thread!!

Anyways, if the switch is off, no current flows to the inverters so even a defective unit should be perfectly safe.

Can we see some pics? And have you done the sleeving or not yet?

[newbuilder14]

I am anxious to post of pictures of my new wire management, Freezer 7 Pro, cathodes, and whatnot if I could just find my sister's digital camera. I will ask her in the morning.